at the exam vs in the exam

[ostap77]

"He had been working a lot. So he didn't fail at the exam."

I would have said in the exam. Am I rigth? What's the difference?

 

[david82]

I'd simply say "so he didn't fail the exam.."

 

[ostap77]

I'd simply say "so he didn't fail the exam.."

What about the preposition?

 

[riquecohen]

What about the preposition?

It´s better without the preposition. Your original quote seems to be a non sequitur. Did you mean to say that he didn´t pass the exam?

 

[ostap77]

It´s better without the preposition.

How about this one?

" I blanked in the oral exam."

OR

"I blanked at the oral exam.'

 

[TheParser]

"He had been working a lot. So he didn't fail at the exam."

I would have said in the exam. Am I rigth? What's the difference?

NOT A TEACHER

(1) Yes, prepositions are very difficult, for they differ from English-

speaking country to English-speaking country, and even within the

same country (California: stand in line; New York: stand on line).

(2) If you wanted a preposition for your sentence, I should

suggest:

How did you do on the test?

(3) The in vs. on difference is really confusing. If you wish to become

fluent in American English, try to keep a list of how those two prepositions

are used in American writing. Little by little, you will start to see a

pattern.

 

[ostap77]

It´s better without the preposition. Your original quote seems to be a non sequitur. Did you mean to say that he didn´t pass the exam?

Yes.

 

[ostap77]

NOT A TEACHER

(1) Yes, prepositions are very difficult, for they differ from English-

speaking country to English-speaking country, and even within the

same country (California: stand in line; New York: stand on line).

(2) If you wanted a preposition for your sentence, I should

suggest:

How did you do on the test?

(3) The in vs. on difference is really confusing. If you wish to become

fluent in American English, try to keep a list of how those two prepositions

are used in American writing. Little by little, you will start to see a

pattern.

So "in" and "on" are interchangeable in AmE? I would never say "at the exam". Is it wrong?

 

[ostap77]

So "in" and "on" are interchangeable in AmE? I would never say "at the exam". Is it wrong?

I got the feeling that you use "on the test" because a test comes on several sheets of paper and you're going to write on it. You use "in the exam" to emphasize your phisical presence in a class where your test took place. Right?

Guess same thing "stand on line" and "stand in line"?

 

[TheParser]

So "in" and "on" are interchangeable in AmE? I would never say "at the exam". Is it wrong?

NOT A TEACHER


(1) Sorry if I gave the impression that "in" and "on" are interchangeable.

No, they are usually not.

(2) I think that most Americans prefer "on the test/examination."

(3) But: "How did you do in your job interview?"

(4) As far as "at the exam," it would -- in my opinion -- be

"wrong" if you are referring to the test paper itself.

 

[ostap77]

NOT A TEACHER


(1) Sorry if I gave the impression that "in" and "on" are interchangeable.

No, they are usually not.

(2) I think that most Americans prefer "on the test/examination."

(3) But: "How did you do in your job interview?"

(4) As far as "at the exam," it would -- in my opinion -- be

"wrong" if you are referring to the test paper itself.

So you wouldn't use "in the exam" to show phisical presence inside the class?

 

[TheParser]

So you wouldn't use "in the exam" to show phisical presence inside the class?

NOT A TEACHER

(1) If you wanted to refer to the examination room, I think

-- think! -- that you would be correct in using the preposition

"at":

I was surprised by the large number of people at the examination.

=

I was surprised by the large number of people in(side) the examination

room/area.

 

[ostap77]

NOT A TEACHER

(1) If you wanted to refer to the examination room, I think

-- think! -- that you would be correct in using the preposition

"at":

I was surprised by the large number of people at the examination.

=

I was surprised by the large number of people in(side) the examination

room/area.

"I didn't do well in the oral exam"? Since you don't have any test paper.

 

[TheParser]

"I didn't do well in the oral exam"? Since you don't have any test paper.

NOT A TEACHER

(1) I think -- think! -- you're correct.

(2) "Oral exam" is something like an "interview," isn't it?

 

[ostap77]

NOT A TEACHER

(1) I think -- think! -- you're correct.

(2) "Oral exam" is something like an "interview," isn't it?

Yup!:up: