testingtest‧ing /ˈtestɪŋ/ adjective 
It’s been a testing time.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- But they were not allowed to take readings off the island of Novaya Zemlya, a former Soviet nuclear testing site.
- Groove Tubes are special because of our unique testing procedures, not because of the way they were built.
- However, local testing programmes can give information on individual schools.
- In goal, Peter Liles gave a solid performance under very testing conditions.
Longman Language Activatora test of your knowledge or skill
a set of spoken or written questions or practical activities, which are intended to find out how much someone knows about a subject or skill: · Several students were caught cheating on the test.· The committee is calling for national tests for American schoolchildren.spelling/reading/biology etc test: · I have a chemistry test tomorrow.driving/driver's test: · Did Lauren pass her driving test?test on: · Listen carefully, because there will be a test on this next week.
also examination formal an important test that you do at the end of a course of study or at the end of the school year: · Students are not allowed to talk during the examination.· He's upstairs, revising for an exam. in an exam British /on an exam American: · How did you do in your exams?entrance exam (=an exam you must pass to enter a school or university): · In Japan, entrance exams are very important, and many children go to extra classes to prepare for them.history/French/biology etc exam: · We have a biology exam tomorrow, and I haven't done any work for it yet.final/mid-term exam American (=exams taken at the end or the middle of a particular class): · Final exams will be just before Christmas.
American a quick test that a teacher gives to a class, usually to check that students are learning the things they should be learning: · We have a history quiz every Monday.pop quiz (=a quiz that is not expected by the students): · He likes giving pop quizzes, to see if the kids are remembering anything.
also oral British an exam in which you answer questions by speaking, instead of writing, for example to test how good you are at speaking a foreign language: · You can either take an oral exam or do a 25 page essay.· Nicky got an A in her Spanish oral.
British an exam that tests your ability to do or make things, rather than your ability to write about them, for example in subjects such as chemistry or cooking: · We've got our chemistry practical tomorrow morning.
British the last exams that you take at the end of a British university course: · During my finals I was revising till 3 o'clock in the morning most days.
American the test you take at the end of a particular class, or the test you take in the middle of that class: · This class will require two papers, a midterm, and a final.
especially British a method used to find out how good a student is at a particular subject, for example by giving them written work, tests, or exams: · Assessment is by means of a written exam at the end of the course.continuous assessment (=assessment throughout a student's course of study, instead of only at the end): · Most schools nowadays prefer to use continuous assessment, because it gives a fairer picture of how the student has done during the whole year.
the system of using exams and tests to find out how good someone is at a particular subject: · The government plans to introduce compulsory testing in junior schools from the age of 7.· I believe that some sort of testing is always necessary in order to motivate students.
a test on something to check it or find out about it a process that is used for finding out important information about something, for example whether a machine is working properly, whether a substance is safe, or whether someone has an illness: · a ban on nuclear teststest to determine/show/find etc: · Teachers can use the program to create tests to check children's progress.· A blood test can be done to determine who the baby's father is.carry out a test/do a test: · Doctors did several tests to find out what was wrong.test on: · We carry out safety tests on all our products.test for (=to find out if something exists): · There is a simple test for diabetes.eye/blood/skin etc test: · A blood test will show if you are a possible bone marrow donor.hearing/sight etc test: · Nine-month-old babies are given hearing tests by health visitors.
a scientific test to find out how something is affected when you do something to it: · In one experiment, the men were not allowed to sleep and then were tested on how well they were able to concentrate.· The elderly people were taught meditation in the 12-week experiment.do/carry out/perform an experiment: · They are doing experiments to learn more about the affects of alcohol on the brain.experiment on (=an experiment using something): · The Institute plans to conduct no further experiments on monkeys.
a test in which a new product, such as a drug, a weapon, or a vehicle, is used by a small number of people in order to find out if it is safe and effective: · Results of the drug trial will be available soon.trial of: · Probert is overseeing the trials of the new explosives.clinical trial (=a trial of a drug or treatment that is done carefully by doctors on humans): · Until now, the drug was only available to people taking part in clinical trials.
formal when something such as a process, system, substance etc is being examined, in order to see whether it exists, is safe, or is working properly: · The U.S. conducted atomic weapons testing in Nevada during the 1950s.· The aircraft is still in the early stages of testing and production.drug/genetic/AIDS etc testing: · Athletes will be subject to random drug testing.
an occasion when you test a new method or system to see if it works well: · The national railroad is doing a few trial runs to test new equipment.
a test in which a new idea or plan is used in a limited number of places or situations, in order to see if it is worth continuing or doing in a more general way: · The results of the pilot have been encouraging.pilot study/project/program etc: · The government sponsored a pilot project to find out how the education reforms would work in schools.
a process in which a new system or product is tested using different groups of people in order to see how effective and popular it will be: · Extensive piloting has shown us our study book will be a useful aid to students.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY It’s been a testing time.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a nuclear testing areaCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
a testing situation, experience etc is difficult to deal with: It’s been a testing time. a nuclear testing area· The model was finished in 1794 and Murdock looked for a testing ground.· The transfer of the Kit to Novaya Zemlya, a major nuclear testing ground, was carried out in secret.· Because of the interesting, usually technical, demands made on the performers, their ballets often become testing grounds for future soloists.· In brief, it was a fertile testing ground for those wishing to demonstrate prowess in their mastery of econometric technique.
· The row centres on a technicality - whether the proper testing procedure was carried out.· Groove Tubes are special because of our unique testing procedures, not because of the way they were built.· But he said Yates denied taking steroids and that there had been irregularities in the testing procedures.· Market testing procedures in central Government have often taken far too long.· Many companies participating in Compacts will use a variety of testing procedures in order to select appropriate candidates for jobs.· Most of the electrophysiological properties are only apparent when appropriate testing procedures are used.· Whereas the scientific enterprise is legitimated by agreed testing procedures, the theological enterprise has been characterized by dogmatism.· This covers the testing procedures and assessment criteria to be applied before licences can be granted.
· He disparaged the customs service testing programme as mere display, a gesture of solidarity with the President's anti-drug campaign.
· Generally Helen would extrapolate on one of the more testing programmes coming out of her department.· However, local testing programmes can give information on individual schools.· More central to the concerns of this book is the question of whether testing programmes are a suitable procedure for accountability.· In terms of sampling the curriculum, examinations do rather better than most testing programmes.· Deciding whether testing programmes are economic in their use of resources is a more difficult problem.· Some aid will go to paying for practical steps already taken, like fish testing programmes.· As a way of ascertaining whether minimum levels had been achieved state-wide testing programmes were initiated.· Many of the states have linked the testing programmes to the minimum competency testing mentioned in Chapter 1.
· The last two or three years have been a testing time for the 180 people who work at Angered.· When testing time arrives, you have a choice.· It is a testing time for Stockton.· Nizan's apprenticeship was a testing time.
It’s been a testing time.