1. fail (in) an examination 考試不及格，沒通過考試。如：
Half the students failed (in) the English examination. 有一半學生英語考試沒及格。
2. make an examination (of) (對……)進行檢查。如：
He made an examination of the room. 他檢查了房間。
They made a thorough examination of the airplane after the accident. 發生事故後，他們徹底檢查了這架飛機。
3. on examination 經過調查(查看)後。如：
On examination I found the goods of poor quality. 一檢查我就找出了這些質量低劣的貨物。
The metal looked like gold, but on closer examination was found to be brass. 那金屬像金子，但仔細看原來是黃銅。
4. pass an examination 考試及格，通過考試。如：
Did he pass the maths examination? 他的數學考試及格了嗎?
None of the students passed the examination. 沒有一個人通過考試。
5. set (sb) an examination (給某人)出考題。如：
Who set the examination? 誰出的考題?
Our teacher set us a difficult examination in English. 老師給我們出了很難的英語試題。
6. take [sit, sit for] an examination 參加考試。如：
Of those who took the exam, only thirty percent passed. 參加考試的人中間，只有百分之三十的人通過了。
We have to sit (for) a history exam next week. 下周我們要參加歷史考試。
註：“參加考試”通常不用 take part in an examination, 另外比較：
sit for an examination 參加考試，參考
enter for an examination 報名參加考試，報考
7. under examination 在檢查中，在審查中。如：
The prisoner was still under examination. 囚犯仍受審。