e-x-a-m-i-n-a-t-i-o-n
EXAMINATION A detailed inspection or analysis; formal test of knowledge or ability; close scrutiny or investigation. Worth 20 base points with the valuable X.
20
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
Examination embodies humanity's quest to measure, understand, and validate knowledge. From ancient Chinese civil service exams selecting imperial officials to modern standardized tests shaping futures, examinations serve as society's sorting mechanism. This word captures both the anxiety-inducing ritual of testing and the broader concept of careful scrutiny—whether a doctor examining patients, scientists examining evidence, or consciousness examining itself. Every examination represents a threshold moment where preparation meets opportunity.
The examination system evolved from medieval universities where oral disputations tested scholarly merit. The written examination emerged in 19th-century Prussia, spreading globally as education industrialized. Today's digital age transforms examinations again—online proctoring, adaptive testing, continuous assessment. Yet the core tension remains: examinations simultaneously democratize opportunity (merit over birthright) and perpetuate inequality (test preparation advantages). This paradox makes "examination" a contested cultural battleground.
Beyond academia, examination permeates life. Medical examinations safeguard health; quality examinations ensure safety; self-examination promotes growth. The examined life, Socrates argued, is the only one worth living. In law, cross-examination seeks truth; in science, peer examination validates discoveries. Even leisure involves examination—wine tasters examining vintages, collectors examining authenticity. This universal human impulse to inspect, analyze, and verify makes examination fundamental to progress.
In Scrabble strategy, EXAMINATION showcases premium 11-letter potential. The high-value X (8 points) anchors impressive scoring, especially when placed on multiplier squares. Though too long for standard bingos, it builds from shorter words like EXAM, NATION, or EXAMINE already played. The word's length allows multiple bonus square hits in a single play. Competitive players memorize long words containing X, knowing these less common plays can deliver game-changing scores when board position allows.
EXAMINATION derives from Latin "examinare," meaning "to weigh accurately," from "examen" (tongue of a balance, swarm of bees). The root connects to "exigere" (to weigh, measure, examine). The image of bees swarming out for inspection gave Romans their word for careful scrutiny. Entering English via Old French in the 14th century, it first meant "judicial inquiry" before expanding to academic testing in the 1600s. This evolution from weighing precious metals to weighing minds reflects society's shift from measuring material to intellectual worth.
•Students worldwide take over 1 billion high-stakes examinations annually, shaping countless futures
•The longest examination ever lasted 2,000 hours—China's traditional jinshi imperial exam
•Finland abolished standardized examinations, yet ranks among world's top education systems
"The doctor's thorough examination revealed what three specialists had missed—sometimes patience trumps technology."
"After examination of the evidence, the committee reversed its decade-old policy."
Other long words with academic and analytical themes:
Total base points: 20 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 6 (E, A, I, A, I, O) | Consonants: 5 (X, M, N, T, N)
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like EXAMINATION