An important distinction must be made: "LoRa" is the physical-layer radio modulation (CSS, Chirp Spread Spectrum, proprietary to Semtech), whereas "LoRaWAN" is the MAC-layer protocol and network architecture (an open standard from the LoRa Alliance) built on top of LoRa.

LoRa and LoRaWAN sit at different layers of the stack. LoRa is the Semtech-owned physical-layer technology based on Chirp Spread Spectrum modulation (the silicon-level IP is licensed only by Semtech and a handful of partners). LoRaWAN is the open MAC-layer protocol plus end-to-end network architecture defined by the LoRa Alliance. A useful analogy: LoRa is to LoRaWAN what raw Ethernet wiring is to TCP/IP — devices can use LoRa without LoRaWAN through proprietary protocols, but the standardised, interoperable ecosystem is LoRaWAN.

On exam questions, treat any mention of CSS, bandwidth or spreading factor as a LoRa (physical-layer) concept, and anything about classes, OTAA, ADR or Network Server as a LoRaWAN (MAC-layer) concept.