Meaning
To sit for and complete a test or examination.
Cultural Background
The 'Suneung' day is so important that the whole country coordinates to help students. Even the stock market opens an hour late to reduce traffic. Students often receive gifts of 'Yeot' (sticky candy) or 'Chapsal-tteok' (rice cakes) before an exam so they will 'stick' to the passing list. Avoid eating 'Miyeok-guk' (seaweed soup) on exam day. Because seaweed is slippery, Koreans believe you will 'slip' and fail the test. The phrase '{시험|試驗} {잘|잘} {봐|보다}' is the most common way to wish someone luck, rather than 'Good luck'.
Drop the marker
In casual talk, just say '{시험|試驗} {봤어|보다}?' It sounds much more natural than including the '{을|을}' particle.
Don't say 'Take'
Never use '{가지다|가지다}' or '{취하다|取하다}' for tests. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating from English.
Meaning
To sit for and complete a test or examination.
Drop the marker
In casual talk, just say '{시험|試驗} {봤어|보다}?' It sounds much more natural than including the '{을|을}' particle.
Don't say 'Take'
Never use '{가지다|가지다}' or '{취하다|取하다}' for tests. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating from English.
Use 'Well'
Koreans rarely just say 'I took a test'. They almost always add '{잘|잘}' (well) or '{못|못}' (poorly) to indicate the result immediately.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '{보다|보다}'.
{어제|昨日} {한국어|韓國語} {시험|試驗}을 ( ).
The sentence starts with '{어제|昨日}' (yesterday), so the past tense '{봤어요|보다}' is required.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I will take a math test tomorrow'?
Choose the correct sentence.
The future tense of '{시험|試驗}을 {보다|보다}' is the standard way to express this.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {시험|試驗} {잘|잘} ( )? B: {네|네}, {잘|잘} {봤어요|보다}.
Since B answers in the past tense ('{봤어요|보다}'), the question must also be in the past tense.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at the DMV to take your driver's license test.
Taking any license test is always '{시험|試驗}을 {보다|보다}'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises{어제|昨日} {한국어|韓國語} {시험|試驗}을 ( ).
The sentence starts with '{어제|昨日}' (yesterday), so the past tense '{봤어요|보다}' is required.
Choose the correct sentence.
The future tense of '{시험|試驗}을 {보다|보다}' is the standard way to express this.
A: {시험|試驗} {잘|잘} ( )? B: {네|네}, {잘|잘} {봤어요|보다}.
Since B answers in the past tense ('{봤어요|보다}'), the question must also be in the past tense.
You are at the DMV to take your driver's license test.
Taking any license test is always '{시험|試驗}을 {보다|보다}'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, for small quizzes, you can say '{퀴즈|quiz}를 {보다|보다}' or '{쪽지|쪽지} {시험|試驗}을 {보다|보다}'.
Not exactly slang, but it is very informal and common in dialects. It's safe to use with friends.
Then you use '{시험|試驗}을 {내다|내다}' (to give/set a test) or '{시험|試驗}을 {감독하다|監督하다}' (to proctor a test).
It comes from the idea of 'facing' or 'observing' the questions, a tradition from old civil service exams.
Related Phrases
{시험|試驗}에 {합격|合格}하다
builds onTo pass an exam
{시험|試驗}에 {떨어지다|떨어지다}
contrastTo fail an exam
{시험|試驗} {공부|工夫}를 {하다|하다}
similarTo study for an exam
{시험|試驗} {범위|範圍}
specialized formExam syllabus/range
