A “cake walk” is a term that originated in the US during the 19th century. It was originally a game played at carnivals and fairs, in which participants would walk around a circle of numbered squares while music played. When the music stopped, a number would be drawn from a hat, and whoever was standing on that square would win a cake as a prize.

Over time, the term “cake walk” came to be used more generally to describe any activity or task that was very easy or required little effort. For example, someone might say that a particular test was a “cake walk” if they found it very easy to complete.