Check out

TEST

["Think of a short word for evaluating something before finalizing it, like a trial run in school."]

"Check out" is a phrase that can mean to examine or inspect something, which aligns with the word "test." Here, the clue plays on the double meaning of "check out"—while it often means to leave a place or review something, in this context, it hints at testing or evaluating, leading to the answer. The wordplay is straightforward, relying on the less common but valid definition of the phrase.