final exam

Meaning

A cumulative test given at the end of a school term or course. It usually covers all the material learned throughout the semester and carries a high percentage of the final grade.

Examples

• I need to spend the whole weekend studying for my chemistry final exam.

  I need to spend the whole weekend studying for my chemistry final exam.

• The teacher said our final exam will be worth forty percent of our total grade.

  The teacher said our final exam will be worth forty percent of our total grade.

• Do you want to form a study group to prepare for the history final exam?

  Do you want to form a study group to prepare for the history final exam?

• I was so relieved when I finally finished my last final exam of the semester.

  I was so relieved when I finally finished my last final exam of the semester.

• Our professor decided to assign a project instead of a traditional final exam.

  Our professor decided to assign a project instead of a traditional final exam.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I have to do a final exam tomorrow.

  ✓ I have to take a final exam tomorrow.

  In English, you 'take', 'write', or 'sit' an exam, but you do not 'do' an exam.

• ✗ I failed in my final exam.

  ✓ I failed my final exam.

  The verb 'fail' is transitive here and does not require the preposition 'in'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If I don't pass the ___ tomorrow, I might have to retake the whole course.

  💡 The big test at the end of the term.

  Show answer

  final exam

• The professor emailed us the syllabus, which lists the date for the ___.

  💡 The last major test of the semester.

  Show answer

  final exam