noun
1
BAD : It happened a few years ago when I was making my universityentrance exams.
GOOD : It happened a few years ago when I was taking my university entrance exams.
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take/sit (for)/have/do an examination (NOT make ): 'Of all the students who took the exam, only 45% passed.' 'I sit my final exams next July. Note that sit (for) an examination is not used in American English.
2
BAD : Unfortunately, I didn't pass in the exam.
GOOD : Unfortunately, I didn't pass the exam.
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pass/fail an examination (WITHOUT in ): 'She passed all six examinations at the first attempt.'
Compare: 'I passed the written paper but failed (on) the oral test.' 'She did well in chemistry but failed (in) maths.'