Exams · Study
scrape through
barely pass
To scrape through an exam means to pass it with only a small margin.
This vs that
I scraped through the exam.
I passed the exam with flying colours.
Hear it in real life
Did you pass your driving test?
Yes, but I only scraped through.
I scraped through the statistics exam with 51 per cent.
Which sounds natural?
Psst — which one would you actually say?
'Scrape through' naturally suggests relief mixed with disappointment about the result.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: I scraped over the exam with 51 per cent.
Say: I scraped through the exam with 51 per cent.
Use 'scrape through' to describe a narrow pass.
Say it together
Whole chunks natives use with it.
scrape through an exam
I scraped through the exam, but I clearly need more practice.
She scraped through her final test by two marks.
Phrases to borrow
More for talking about exams.
sit an exam
I have to sit an exam next Friday.
Exams words
Study · Exams: the words around “scrape through”.
More connectionsEasy to mix up · More exams words7
Easy to mix up
Your turn: say it out loud
I only scraped through.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
scrape through
barely pass
“I scraped through the statistics exam with 51 per cent.”
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