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"Контрольная работа" is a school test work for checking how the pupils learned the theme. For example, math or physics work can contain equations to solve, theorem for the proof etc, literature - to write some essay after reading a book.
"Тест" (a test) is more like a list of questions with options to check (a, b, c or d?)
2 + 2 =
a) 2
b) 4
c) 3.14
d) a dog
"Экзамен" (an exam) is the final work in any form in the end of the school year/semester/study or "Вступительный экзамен" - an entrance exam.
In case anyone is interested, in Spain (at least in Catalonia), we make the same three-fold distinction. A "control" is just a short exam about the last lesson; an "examen" is a full exam involving problems and developed asnwers; a "test" is a "pick the right answer"-style test.
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Interesting. So "control" in the US would be a "(pop) quiz"; an "examen" would be an "exam"/"essay test"/"written test", and "test" would be a "multiple choice test".
A test in a university, which can have only two results - pass or fail - is called зачёт. The word may also refer to the positive result ('pass'), whereas незачёт means 'fail'. Russian university students сдают зачёты и экзамены. Сдал зачёт - passed the test, не сдал - failed
How would you say for example a software test, in which you would test if it is a good software?
A particular test is called тест or испытание. The latter is applied to equipment and/or materials. The process is called тестирование or испытания (the plural form of испытание). Испытание can also be applied to humans in which case it also means 'a tough experience' or 'an ordeal'
I put "quiz" instead of "test." I was marked wrong. It's really not what we'd call a "quiz"?
Quiz = викторина. Контрольная работа or simply контрольная may involve solving problems, not just answering questions
This robotic voice is terrible. I couldn't hear half of the word контрольная
Not knowing it's a set term for a school test, I thought that this was a job requiring controlling (like quality control, etc). This really put me off.
What's the shorter version of it? (even in common language or some school slang)
Well, it's common for people to omit the "работа" and just call it a "контрольная". I'll think about it some more, but no shorter abbreviation comes to mind now.
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Why can't "это " here be translated as "it is...." rather than "this is...."? Our censors deemed it incorrect.
Since no native English speaker answered your question in 2 months, I'll try. I can imagine only one situation where someone would say "It is her test." It's the appropriate answer to the question "What makes her so nervous?" or "Why is she so upset?". In both cases, a Russian would answer "Это всё её контрольная" or "Это из-за контрольной". Without such context, "это её контрольная" would be understood as "This/that is her test".
You're correct. Context is the key.
"She is going through the depths of hell... It is her test."
If you are asking about it/that distinction, the answer is "Yes, it would".
A note from a Russian native:
"What's our homework?" = "Что нам задали [на дом]?"
"Have you done your homework?" = "Ты уроки сделал?"
"Here is your homework" = "Вот твоё/ваше домашнее задание"
The expression "Домашняя работа" is used as a heading in activity books to enable the teacher to tell your homework from "Классная работа" (= "classroom work").
I guess the reason for that is that it is still not a homework until the teacher says so...
Alex, that would be too literal. I think they rather use "домашнее задание"
"контрольная работа" is more like an exam or a test such as a proficiency test for example.
But as Dmitry said, you are probably referring to the "Это её" bit, right? Than, yes. it does apply:
Это её домашнее задание (literally "this is her home task").
Try relating Russian words with similar words in English and you will understand the thought behind Russian words more easily. For example, knowing работа means "work" and supposing you don't know what "контрольная" means, doesn't it look a lot like the English word "control"?
So it kinda sounds like a "control work". So now you know it is not a homework. Now, there comes one bit that I'm not sure if it applies in English (I'm not native), but control is a word also used for separating different types of things/people/animals. Like quality control, for example.
This is a work that separates people by their memory knowledge level.
Depending on the context, it can be genitive (possessive) or accusative (direct object).
So in this case, it is possessive genitive. Thank you Dmitry, and have a lingot for your kindness!
A quiz is held after a short lecture and a test after a full lesson and it can be subjective or objective. Subjective test is also known as short test which consists of numerous essays and computations. While the objective test is consists of multiple choices. Then an exam is given in the mid semester and in final.
