The term EXAM TOUGH can be broken down into two crossword solutions: ORAL (4 letters) and TOUGH (5 letters). An ORAL exam is a type of assessment in which a student is asked to answer questions verbally, usually in front of an examiner. ORAL exams are often used in educational settings to assess a student's knowledge on a particular subject. TOUGH is an adjective that means difficult or challenging. Therefore, the term EXAM TOUGH could be interpreted as an exam that is difficult or challenging.