to take an exam; exam; CL:次[ci4]
考 (kǎo) · 6 strokes
Depicts an old man (耂) with a cane (丂). Originally the same character as 老. Based on the original meaning "old father". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
试 (shì) · 8 strokes
Simplified form of 試. Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 式 represents the sound.