Is this your crossword clue?
"exam" is also used as a crossword clue. If that's what you saw, the answer is often test (4 letters).
Definitions
a set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge
Used in a sentence
“Thin sections were stained with lead citrate and then examed using 1200EX electron microscope (JEOL, Tokyo, Japan).”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer1 curated clues
01“School test”4 letters
Not quite right?
"Search similar patterns."
E___