試験を受ける

Using this phrase is as simple as ordering coffee on an app. You just take the noun 試験 (shiken), add the object marker を (o), and finish with 受ける. Since 受ける is a standard Ru-verb (Group 2), it is very easy to conjugate. If you are talking to a boss, use 受けます. If you are texting a friend about your stress, 受ける or 受けるんだ works perfectly. You can also use it in the continuous form 受けている if you are currently in the middle of a multi-day exam period. It is like saying 'I am going through the testing process' right now.

Imagine you are posting a 'study-gram' photo of your messy desk. Your caption might be 明日、試験を受けるから、全然寝られない (I'm taking an exam tomorrow, so I can't sleep at all). Or maybe you are on a Zoom call for a job interview. You might say 先週、日本語能力試験を受けました (I took the JLPT last week). Even in a Netflix drama, you'll hear a character screaming about the pressure of 試験を受ける before the big climax. It is everywhere because testing culture is huge in Japan. Whether it is a driving test or the JLPT, this is your go-to phrase.

Use this phrase whenever there is a formal evaluation involved. It works for midterms at a university or a certification for a hobby. If you are sitting for a professional license, like becoming a lawyer or a nurse, this is the correct term. It is also perfect for standardized tests like the TOEFL or the JLPT. Basically, if there is a proctor, a timer, and a specialized sheet of paper, you are 'receiving' that exam. It is safe for all levels of formality as long as you conjugate the verb correctly for your audience.

Do not use this phrase for casual quizzes you take for fun. If you are doing a 'Which Disney Character Are You?' quiz on Buzzfeed, 受ける feels too heavy. In those cases, クイズをやる is much better. Also, don't use it for medical 'tests' like a blood draw or an X-ray. For those, the word 検査 (kensa) is used instead of 試験. If you tell a doctor you want to 試験を受ける, they might think you want to join a clinical trial as a lab rat. Stick to academic and professional contexts to avoid funny looks.

Learning Japanese is like playing a video game; you have to use the right items. Using する (suru) makes you sound like the boss of the school. Using 取る (toru) makes it sound like you are physically stealing the test papers from the teacher's desk. Neither is a good look if you want to pass! Just remember that the exam is a gift (a stressful one) that you receive.

If you want to sound more academic, try 受験する (juken suru). This specifically refers to entrance exams for schools or universities. It is a bit more formal and focused on the goal of getting in. Another one is 試験に臨む (shiken ni nozomu), which means 'to face an exam.' This one has a heroic, determined vibe. It is like you are a samurai stepping onto the battlefield of multiple-choice questions. For a very casual vibe, students sometimes just say テストがある (I have a test), which focuses on the existence of the event rather than the action of taking it.

Sometimes you might need to take a 'makeup exam' because you were sick. That is a 追試を受ける (tsuishi o ukeru). If you are taking a 'mock exam' to practice for the real thing, it is a 模試を受ける (moshi o ukeru). You can also add adverbs to show how you feel. 緊張しながら試験を受ける means taking the exam while feeling nervous. If you are a glutton for punishment and take exams frequently, you might be a 試験をよく受ける人. Adding these small words helps you express the specific flavor of your academic suffering.

Is 試験を受ける formal? It is neutral, so you can use it with anyone from your BFF to your principal. Does it mean I passed? No, it only describes the action of taking the test, not the result. Can I use it for a driver's license? Yes, it is the standard way to describe the written or practical driving test. What if I fail? You still 'received' the exam, so you still use 受けた. To say you failed, you would say 落ちた (ochita), which literally means 'fell.' Just don't fall off your chair while receiving the paper!