替考 (tì kǎo) literally means 'substitute exam'—it combines 替 (tì), meaning 'to substitute or replace', and 考 (kǎo), meaning 'to take an exam'. The term specifically refers to the act of cheating by having another person sit an exam in one’s place, usually for academic or professional certification purposes. This is a serious academic violation in China and many other countries, often resulting in severe penalties including disqualification, expulsion, or legal consequences.

替考 most commonly appears in discussions about education integrity, standardized testing (e.g., college entrance exams, civil service exams, or language proficiency tests), and anti-cheating policies. It carries strong negative connotations and is rarely used in neutral or positive contexts. While the characters individually are common, the compound 替考 is almost exclusively used as a noun denoting this specific unethical practice—not as a verb or adjective.