durch die Prüfung fallen

You always use the verb fallen combined with the preposition durch. Because it describes a change of state (from candidate to failure), you use sein as the auxiliary verb in the perfect tense. So, you would say ich bin durchgefallen. You can mention the specific subject by putting it between durch and fallen. For example: durch die Fahrprüfung fallen. It is a very flexible phrase that works for any kind of formal assessment.

Use this when talking about university exams, school tests, or your driving license. It is perfect for chatting with friends about your results. You can also use it in a professional setting when discussing certifications. If you see a friend looking sad after a test, this is the phrase you use to ask what happened. It is the 'go-to' expression for any student in Germany.

Do not use this for general life failures. If you fail to show up to a date, you don't 'fall through' it. If a business project fails, you use scheitern instead. This phrase is strictly for situations where there is a formal examiner or a grade involved. Also, avoid it if you want to sound extremely bureaucratic. In official university letters, they will usually use the more formal nicht bestanden.

German academic culture can be quite rigorous and formal. Failing an exam often feels like a heavy blow because many degrees have strict 'three strikes' rules. If you durchfallen three times in a core subject, you might be barred from that major entirely. This gives the phrase a bit of a weightier, more dramatic feel than the English 'to fail'. It reflects the high stakes of the German education system.

If you want to sound a bit more casual, you can use durchrasseln. This sounds like you crashed through the exam with a lot of noise. It is a bit more self-deprecating and humorous. On the other hand, durchfliegen (to fly through/fail) is used in some regions. If you want to be very blunt, you can just say ich bin durchgesackt. All of these emphasize the downward motion of failing.