midyear exams; first-term exams
Refers to exams held at the end of the first academic term (前期) in Japanese schools or universities, typically around summer.
前期試験が終わったら夏休みだ。
Once the first-term exams are over, it's summer vacation.
後期試験 refers to exams at the end of the second term, while 前期試験 is for the first term.
期末試験 is a general term for end-of-term exams, whereas 前期試験 specifically means first-term exams.
Compound of 前期 (first term) and 試験 (exam).