- Quest was formed from the blending of quiz and test, the two assignment milestones that it is between. Its formation is similar to brunch, which is a meal between breakfast and lunch, just as a quest is between a quiz and a test. The term is used when a teacher cannot decide whether to call the assignment a quiz or a test. The speaker coined the term because there was no term to describe an assignment that was larger than a quiz, smaller than a test, and pledged. The word is currently associated with high school teachers at Parkway Central High School in St. Louis, Missouri.
Quest
blending; noun
A pledged assignment that is too large to be a quiz, but too small to be a test
Etymology : Quiz: Quiz is of unknown origin but is possibly from Latin qui es? Meaning who are you, which was the first question on oral exams in old grammar schools. Test: unknown origin
Source : “Do not worry too much, on Wednesday we’re having a quest, not a test” (teacher 11/26/08)
Last modified: 4 December 2008