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Graduation Trivia
Toss your cap with 150 graduation trivia questions covering caps, gowns and hood colors, Pomp and Circumstance, famous commencement speeches, graduation movies and songs, Latin honors, and surprising graduation traditions from around the world.
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Questions (150 of 150)
๐กmedium
The word "valedictorian" comes from a Latin verb meaning what?
๐ขeasy
Which Latin honor sits between cum laude and summa cum laude?
๐ดhard
In what year was the Intercollegiate Code standardizing US caps, gowns and hoods adopted?
๐กmedium
What is the formal term for enrolling at a university, the counterpart to graduating?
๐ดhard
Until 1909, what booby prize did Cambridge award the lowest-ranked student in the Mathematical Tripos?
๐กmedium
The "Wear Sunscreen" speech often credited to Kurt Vonnegut was actually a 1997 newspaper column by whom?
๐กmedium
Which Latin song, whose title means "So let us rejoice," is sung at graduations across Europe?
๐ขeasy
Which rapper released the 2007 album "Graduation" featuring a cartoon bear on its cover?
๐ดhard
At what age did Nola Ochs become the world's oldest college graduate in 2007?
๐กmedium
Who played Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate" despite being only about six years older than Dustin Hoffman?
๐ดhard
After passing final exams, Dutch students traditionally hang the national flag with what attached?
๐กmedium
Which university gave Taylor Swift an honorary doctorate when she delivered its 2022 commencement speech?
๐ขeasy
Which singer had a 2000 hit with "Graduation (Friends Forever)"?
๐ขeasy
What is the name of the decorative bundle of threads hanging from a graduation cap?
๐ดhard
Which hood color represents theology and divinity in US academic regalia?
๐ดhard
John F. Kennedy delivered his 1963 "Strategy of Peace" commencement speech at which university?
๐ขeasy
What two-year degree is commonly earned at US community colleges?
๐กmedium
Which aerial demonstration team traditionally roars over the US Air Force Academy graduation?
๐ดhard
What is the name of the University of Coimbra's festival whose name means "Burning of the Ribbons"?
๐ขeasy
Which Apple co-founder gave a famous 2005 commencement speech at Stanford about "connecting the dots"?
๐ดhard
Which Japanese artist designed the cover art for Kanye West's "Graduation"?
๐ดhard
In the UK, what is the common nickname for the oral exam in which a doctoral thesis is defended?
๐ดhard
At Cambridge degree ceremonies, graduands are presented while holding what part of the Praelector?
๐ดhard
Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" first appeared on which 1997 album?
๐กmedium
Vitamin C's "Graduation (Friends Forever)" borrows its melody from which classical piece?
๐ดhard
Besides a doctoral hat, what ceremonial item do some new doctors in Finland receive?
๐ดhard
What older name for the mortarboard comes from its resemblance to a wooden serving platter?
๐ขeasy
Which tech billionaire dropped out of Harvard and returned in 2007 to receive an honorary degree?
๐กmedium
Admiral William McRaven's 2014 University of Texas speech urged graduates to start each day by doing what?
๐ดhard
Which late-night host spoke about losing "The Tonight Show" in his 2011 Dartmouth commencement speech?
๐กmedium
In 1841, which Ohio school became the first US college to award bachelor's degrees to women?
๐กmedium
Which author's 2008 Harvard speech was titled "The Fringe Benefits of Failure"?
๐ขeasy
Which Simon & Garfunkel song was written for "The Graduate"?
๐ดhard
Which composer wrote the "Academic Festival Overture" to thank the University of Breslau for an honorary doctorate?
๐กmedium
Which band's 1998 graduation favorite "Closing Time" was secretly about the birth of the songwriter's child?
๐กmedium
What is the name of Dustin Hoffman's character in "The Graduate"?
๐ขeasy
Which Latin honor means "with highest praise"?
๐กmedium
What is the name of Germany's final secondary-school exam and qualification?
๐ขeasy
Danny and Sandy graduate from which high school at the end of "Grease"?
๐ขeasy
What piece of jewelry bearing a school crest and graduation year do many students buy?
๐กmedium
Who directed "American Graffiti" (1973), set on the last summer night for a group of 1962 grads?
๐ขeasy
What is the flat, square-topped graduation cap called?
๐ดhard
Who was the first American woman to earn a PhD, from Boston University in 1877?
๐กmedium
What hood trim color represents engineering in US academic regalia?
๐ขeasy
In which month are most US college commencements held?
๐กmedium
How many velvet bars appear on each sleeve of a US doctoral gown?
๐ขeasy
What is another formal name for a graduation ceremony?
๐ขeasy
Which Adam Sandler character must repeat grades 1 through 12 to inherit his father's hotel empire?
๐ขeasy
Which Disney Channel franchise's third film was subtitled "Senior Year"?
๐ขeasy
What is the name of the college honor list for students with top grades in a term?
๐ดhard
Who wrote the 1963 novel on which "The Graduate" was based?
๐ขeasy
Who starred as Benjamin Braddock in the 1967 film "The Graduate"?
๐ขeasy
At the end of "Monsters University," what happens to Mike and Sulley?
๐กmedium
Steve Jobs told Stanford's 2005 graduates he had dropped out of which college?
๐ขeasy
In "The Graduate," what one-word career tip does a family friend give Benjamin?
๐กmedium
Italian university graduates traditionally wear what on their heads on graduation day?
๐ขeasy
What is the unofficial day when graduating seniors collectively cut class called?
๐ดhard
Which author wrote the ritual for Canada's "Calling of an Engineer" iron ring ceremony?
๐กmedium
Although it ends a student's studies, what does the word "commencement" literally mean?
๐กmedium
Kanye West's "Graduation" outsold which rapper's album "Curtis" when both were released the same day?
๐ขeasy
What colorful velvet-trimmed garment is placed over doctoral graduates' shoulders?
๐กmedium
At which college did billionaire Robert F. Smith pledge in 2019 to pay off the graduating class's student loans?
๐กmedium
What does the Latin phrase "alma mater" literally mean?
๐ดhard
What was the core message of Neil Gaiman's 2012 commencement speech at the University of the Arts?
๐กmedium
What color is the traditional student cap Swedish high school graduates wear?
๐กmedium
Which comedian goes back to college alongside his son in the 1986 film "Back to School"?
๐ดhard
The title "Pomp and Circumstance" comes from a line in which Shakespeare play?
๐ขeasy
At Hawaiian graduations, graduates are often piled high with what flower garlands?
๐กmedium
Graduates of which academy are credited with starting the cap-toss tradition in 1912?
๐ขeasy
What phrase do people use for the school they graduated from?
๐ขeasy
Which "Legally Blonde" character delivers the Harvard Law graduation speech at the end of the film?
๐ดhard
How many "Pomp and Circumstance" marches did Edward Elgar complete during his lifetime?
๐ขeasy
Founded in 1636, which is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States?
๐กmedium
Who became the first African American to earn a PhD from Harvard, in 1895?
๐ขeasy
Which English composer wrote "Pomp and Circumstance"?
๐ดhard
Who founded the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fez in 859 AD?
๐ดhard
"Pomp and Circumstance" was first played at a US graduation in 1905 at which university?
๐กmedium
In academia, what does the label "ABD" mean for a doctoral student?
๐กmedium
At Harvard's commencement, one student oration is delivered in which ancient language?
๐กmedium
What do graduating Canadian engineers wear on the little finger of their working hand?
๐กmedium
What hood trim color represents medicine in US academic regalia?
๐ขeasy
In most US schools, students graduate high school after completing which grade?
๐ขeasy
Which talk show host delivered Harvard's 2013 commencement address?
๐ดhard
Which oddly named hood color represents business and commerce in US regalia?
๐ขeasy
What does the degree abbreviation "B.A." stand for?
๐ดhard
In the climax of "The Graduate," what does Benjamin use to bar the church doors?
๐ดhard
Who drafted the Intercollegiate Code that standardized American academic regalia?
๐กmedium
Which slang word for a diploma comes from the material diplomas were once printed on?
๐ดhard
Which official opens Harvard's commencement by rapping a staff and calling the meeting to order?
๐ขeasy
What processional march is played at nearly every American graduation?
๐กmedium
What is France's high school leaving exam, nicknamed "le bac"?
๐ดhard
Which city hosts "Scarlet Sails," a massive graduation festival featuring a ship with red sails?
๐ดhard
What Latin phrase marks a degree awarded "for the sake of honor"?
๐ดhard
Jim Carrey's 2014 commencement speech was delivered at which Iowa school?
๐ดhard
In 1678, Elena Cornaro Piscopia became the first woman to receive a doctorate, from which university?
๐ดhard
Under the US academic code, what sleeve style distinguishes a master's gown?
๐กmedium
Kente cloth stoles, popular with African American graduates, originate from which country?
๐ดhard
At what age did Michael Kearney earn his bachelor's degree in 1994, setting a world record?
๐ขeasy
What Latin term refers to a school's graduates as a group?
๐ดhard
What is the name of the Russian school ceremony where a first-grader rings a bell for departing graduates?
๐ขeasy
What are students in their final year of US high school called?
๐ดhard
What is the soft, multi-sided velvet cap often worn by doctoral graduates instead of a mortarboard?
๐ขeasy
What does the degree abbreviation "M.D." stand for?
๐ดhard
In 1823, Alexander Twilight became the first African American to graduate from a US college. Which one?
๐ดhard
Which hood color represents dentistry in US academic regalia?
๐กmedium
The mortarboard cap gets its name from a flat board used by which tradespeople?
๐ขeasy
What title goes to the second-ranked student, who traditionally gives the welcoming address?
๐ดhard
Oxford University's degree ceremonies are held in which building designed by Christopher Wren?
๐ขeasy
At many US ceremonies, graduates move their cap tassel in which direction once their degree is conferred?
๐กmedium
George Marshall's June 1947 Harvard commencement speech launched what famous program?
๐ขeasy
What four-word line did Steve Jobs borrow from the Whole Earth Catalog to close his 2005 Stanford speech?
๐ขeasy
What title is given to the top-ranked student who delivers the farewell speech at graduation?
๐ดhard
Under the US academic costume code, which hood color represents nursing?
๐กmedium
In Japan, what item from a boy's school uniform is traditionally given to a crush at graduation?
๐ขeasy
What twisted ropes, worn around the neck at graduation, signal academic honors?
๐ดhard
Who won the Best Director Oscar for "The Graduate"?
๐ดhard
What is the term for a student who has completed all requirements but has not yet formally graduated?
๐ขeasy
What annual book of student photos do classmates traditionally sign before graduating?
๐กmedium
Founded in 1088, what is considered the oldest university in the Western world?
๐กmedium
Which Australian director turned the "Wear Sunscreen" column into a 1999 spoken-word hit?
๐กmedium
Which "Gilmore Girls" character was valedictorian of Chilton Academy?
๐ดhard
In what year did Harvard Business School launch the world's first MBA program?
๐ขeasy
Which Dr. Seuss book, published in 1990, is one of the most popular graduation gifts ever?
๐ดhard
Nursing's graduation pinning ceremony traces back to medals awarded by which pioneer?
๐ขeasy
Zack Morris and friends graduated from which fictional high school in "Saved by the Bell"?
๐ขeasy
What ancient oath do many new doctors recite at medical school graduation?
๐ขeasy
What slang term describes the drop in motivation that strikes students close to graduation?
๐กmedium
The University of al-Qarawiyyin, called the oldest existing degree-granting university by Guinness, is in which country?
๐ขeasy
What does "Ph.D." stand for?
๐ดhard
Danish high school graduates traditionally tour their town, visiting each classmate's home, aboard what?
๐ขeasy
What does "GED" stand for?
๐ดhard
The class ring tradition is credited to the Class of 1835 at which institution?
๐ดhard
Which hood color represents science in US academic regalia?
๐กmedium
What is the name of China's grueling national college entrance exam?
๐กmedium
In "Say Anything..." (1989), which aspiring kickboxer romances valedictorian Diane Court?
๐กmedium
Under the US academic costume code, what hood trim color represents law?
๐ดhard
In what year did Harvard hold its first commencement ceremony?
๐ดhard
On what date in 2007 were Kanye West's "Graduation" and 50 Cent's "Curtis" both released?
๐กmedium
David Foster Wallace delivered his famous "This Is Water" speech at which college in 2005?
๐กmedium
The trio melody of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" March No. 1 is sung in Britain as what patriotic song?
๐ขeasy
What formal high school dance usually takes place shortly before graduation?
๐กmedium
In what year did Mark Zuckerberg give Harvard's commencement address?
๐กmedium
What was the title of Kanye West's 2004 debut, the first in his college-themed album trilogy?
๐ดhard
What color overalls do most Norwegian high school graduates ("russ") wear during their celebration?
๐ขeasy
Which Green Day ballad became a staple of graduation slideshows in the late 1990s?
๐ขeasy
What official document do graduates receive to certify their completed studies?
๐ดhard
What make of red sports car does Benjamin drive in "The Graduate"?
๐ขeasy
Which 2019 Olivia Wilde comedy follows two overachieving seniors on the night before graduation?
๐กmedium
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "Graduation Day," the Mayor transforms into what during the ceremony?
๐กmedium
What does the law degree abbreviation "J.D." stand for?
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