Cool MateExperiment vs Investigation vs Research vs Study vs Test
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Experiment
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Investigation
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Research
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Study
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Test
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
| Experiment | Investigation | Research | Study | Test | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈsperɪmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈsperɪmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈsɜːtʃ//ˈriːsɜːtʃ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːsɜːrtʃ//rɪˈsɜːrtʃ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstʌdi/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstʌdi/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/test/"]/🇺🇸 /["/test/"]/ |
| Meaning | A test to find out something new. | Looking into something to find out more about it. | The act of studying something carefully to learn more about it. | To learn about something by reading, practicing, or working. | An exam to check knowledge or skills. |
| Example | The scientist conducted an experiment to test her hypothesis. | The police launched an investigation into the missing person's case. | The research on climate change is very important for our future. | I need to do my study for math class. | I have a math test tomorrow and I need to study. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 | A2 | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | noun | noun |
| Collocations | animal, field, laboratory, carry out, conduct, do, confirm something, demonstrate something, find something, by experiment, during an/the experiment, in an/the experiment, animal, field, laboratory, carry out, conduct, do, confirm something, demonstrate something, find something, by experiment, during an/the experiment, in an/the experiment | careful, close, detailed, carry out, conduct, pursue, demonstrate something, reveal something, show something, on investigation, under investigation, investigation into, the subject of an investigation, careful, close, detailed, carry out, conduct, pursue, demonstrate something, reveal something, show something, on investigation, under investigation, investigation into, the subject of an investigation | careful, detailed, in-depth, piece, carry out, conduct, do, demonstrate something, find something, identify something, degree, effort, programme/program, research in, research into, research on, an area of research, focus your research on something, somebody’s own research | full-time, part-time, graduate, course, programme/program, take up, group, programme/program, leave, study for, an area of study, a field of study, further, begin, undertake, continue, area, business, cultural, do, lecture in, teach, department, course, programme/program, current, new, present, commission, fund, support, take place, aim at something, aim to do something, group, session, according to a/the study, in a/the study, under study, an area of study, a field of study, the author of a/the study | demanding, difficult, gruelling/grueling, do, sit, take, result, score, conditions, in a/the test, on a/the test, test in, exhaustive, extensive, rigorous, number, series, have, undergo, carry out, take place, confirm something, demonstrate something, result, data, statistics, test for, test on, exhaustive, extensive, rigorous, number, series, have, undergo, carry out, take place, confirm something, demonstrate something, result, data, statistics, test for, test on, good, critical, crucial, pose, provide, put somebody/something to the test, case, the acid test, the litmus test, stand the test of time |
| Antonyms | certainty, fact | disregard, neglect, overlook | ignorance, inactivity | ignore, neglect, overlook | guess, ignore, neglect |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'experience' which refers to knowledge gained over time., Using 'experiments' as a verb instead of the noun form., Saying 'experimenting of' instead of 'experimenting with'. | Confused with 'invest' which means to put money into something., Using 'investigation' as a verb instead of a noun., Mixing up 'investigation' with 'inspector', which refers to a person. | Using 'research' as an uncountable noun instead of a countable noun (e.g., saying 'a research' instead of 'a piece of research'), Confusing 'research' with 'search' (research is more in-depth and analytical), Using 'research' inappropriately in non-academic contexts | 'Study' is often confused with 'study for'; learners may incorrectly say 'study the exam'., Learners might forget to use 'study' with an object, saying 'I study' instead of 'I study math'., Misusing prepositions, saying 'study at school' instead of 'study in school'. | Confused with 'testify' — they mean different things., Using 'test' as a countable noun incorrectly., Mixing up 'tested' and 'testing’ in verb forms. |
| Usage notes | Used in scientific contexts but can also refer to trying new ideas in everyday life. More formal in academic writing. | Use 'investigation' in formal contexts, like police work or research. Avoid in casual conversations. | Used in academic and professional contexts. Avoid using 'research' as a verb in casual conversation; instead, use 'study' or 'look into'. | Used in academic and everyday contexts. Avoid using in highly informal situations where simpler words could suffice. | Used in educational contexts for quizzes or exams. Can also refer to trials in scientific or real-world situations. Avoid in informal contexts unless using slang. |
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Frequently asked questions: Experiment vs Investigation vs Research vs Study vs Test
What's the difference between Experiment, Investigation, Research, Study, and Test?
Experiment: A test to find out something new. Investigation: Looking into something to find out more about it. Research: The act of studying something carefully to learn more about it. Study: To learn about something by reading, practicing, or working. Test: An exam to check knowledge or skills.
Which is more advanced: Experiment, Investigation, Research, Study, and Test?
Investigation is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Experiment, Investigation, Research, Study, and Test the same CEFR level?
Experiment: A2, Investigation: B2, Research: A2, Study: A1, Test: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Experiment, Investigation, Research, Study, and Test?
Experiment: noun, Investigation: noun, Research: noun, Study: noun, Test: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Experiment: The scientist conducted an experiment to test her hypothesis. Investigation: The police launched an investigation into the missing person's case. Research: The research on climate change is very important for our future. Study: I need to do my study for math class. Test: I have a math test tomorrow and I need to study.
Can I use Experiment, Investigation, Research, Study, and Test interchangeably?
Not always. Experiment, Investigation, Research, Study, and Test are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.