Randa Farhat Dec 21, 2017:

Salam Alaa
I just saw this question.. I think it's possible in this case that the Arabic word in the Syrian translation is اجتياز -which is correct, (not اختبار). It is possible you have an unclear copy or that this was a typo?

Stephen Franke Dec 7, 2017:

Full agreement w/ both Ludina's & Fuad's comments Greetings to all in this interesting thread.

May I add my absolute agreement with both Ludina's and Fuad's insightful comments. FWIW, some of the Jordanian and Omani students in a pre-academic ESL course I teach at a l coal university affirm that the very-basic (i.e. un-embellished) entry of the term of only "examination" on a transcript equates to "just pass" and without distinction. Khair, in shaa' Allah. Regards, Stephen H. Franke, San Pedro, California

Alaa Zeineldine (asker) Dec 7, 2017:

Thanks to all contributors, especially Fuad, whose question put me on the right track for cracking this term.

Morano El-Kholy Dec 6, 2017:

I absolutely agree to both Ludina's and Fuad's suggestions.

Ludina Sallam Dec 6, 2017:

I just came into this discussion. Just want to say that I would definitely explain the whole matter to the client.

Fuad Yahya Dec 5, 2017:

That is just what I expected: the “source” text is a faulty translation by a translator whose main qualification is access to a Google app. You are basically providing a second-hand translation where the second hand doesn’t know what the first hand had meant. I would use “Pass” and provide a “best-of-my-ability” note to the client.

Alaa Zeineldine (asker) Dec 5, 2017:

Probably "pass" I looked up the Russian word "зачет". While it does mean "examination", it can also mean "pass". This is probably what the original Arabic translator should have used. This opens up an interesting discussion. Since my mandate is to translate from Arabic into English, should I go by the original Russian term (and perhaps add a note mentioning that fact), or just stick to the Arabic (and perhaps add a note mentioning the Russian term)?

For now, I will use "pass", but I will look out for feedback.

Alaa Zeineldine (asker) Dec 5, 2017:

I should also add that the translated Arabic transcript comes from Syria.

Alaa Zeineldine (asker) Dec 5, 2017:

Good question Fuad. The Arabic source was actually translated from Russian. The college is Lugansk State Medical University in the Ukraine. I do not know Russian, but here is what the grade looks like in the original transcript: "зачет".

Fuad Yahya Dec 5, 2017:

Which college? Some academic terminology is peculiar to certain regions.