考试 (kǎo shì) means 'exam' or 'test' — a formal assessment of knowledge, skill, or ability. The character 考 (kǎo) originally meant 'to examine' or 'to investigate', and 试 (shì) means 'to try', 'to test', or 'trial'. Together, they form a compound noun emphasizing the act of evaluating someone’s understanding or performance under structured conditions. It’s used broadly in academic, professional, and certification contexts — from school midterms to national civil service exams.

This word is neutral in register and commonly appears in both spoken and written Chinese. While it can refer to any kind of formal test, it usually implies official or standardized evaluation — not casual quizzes or self-checks. You’ll often see it paired with verbs like 准备 (zhǔnbèi, 'to prepare for'), 参加 (cānjiā, 'to take'), or 通过 (tōngguò, 'to pass'). It rarely stands alone without context; instead, it appears in phrases like 期末考试 (qīmò kǎoshì, 'final exam') or 驾照考试 (jiàzhào kǎoshì, 'driving license test').