Do well on/in exam/exams

[Aamir Tariq]

I would like to integrate two questions into one.

First exam vs exams.

Some people use singular form (exam), some use plural form.

Let's suppose I say.

I want to score well on my exam.
I want to score well on my exams.

(or)

She did well on her exam.
She did well on her exams.

Tell me which form is more common. And is there any difference in the meaning?

(Note:- By exam/exams I mean when a student is taking papers during a week or two. Like when you are having your mid-term exam/exams, final-term exam/exams, annual exam/exams. Like you have your English paper on Monday, Physics paper on Tuesday, Mathematics paper on Wednesday and and it goes on depending on the number of papers you are supposed to attempt. So is this an exam or can these papers also be refereed to as exams?

The second question

"in" vs "on" exam/exams

Secondly, is it ok to use "in" instead of "on" when we are talking about exam or exams.

I want to do well in my exams.
I want to do well in my exam.

Is preposition "on" more common among the Americans and "in" among the British people when we are talking about exam/exams.

Best Regards,
Aamir the Global Citizen

 

[emsr2d2]

I find both "on" and "in" natural in those contexts.

 

[Tarheel]

I would think it would depend on whether you are talking about one or more than one exam. (Back in high school (a long time ago) we would use the word test more often than exam.)

 

[GoesStation]

The singular refers to a single exam. The plural refers to more than one.

 

[Aamir Tariq]

I would think it would depend on whether you are talking about one or more than one exam. (Back in high school (a long time ago) we would use the word test more often than exam.)

We do have tests in our school systems but tests are conducted to prepare students for their upcoming exams. Students have their transcripts after they have their exams. A transcript is a result card (also called "Progress report" or "report sheets" in some schools) displaying how much they scored on each of their papers.

 

[jutfrank]

The BrE way: She did well in her exams.

 

[Tdol]

For me a paper is one part of an exam- if you have two parts to your English exam, these would be the papers.

 

[Aamir Tariq]

I would like to add an additional question to the same thread, because it is similar to the original question. What about academics?

"She performed well in/on her academics."
"He did well in/on her academics."

Can preposition "on" be used with "academics?" in any of the versions spoken in the English speaking world. Is is common and natural in the USA?

 

[GoesStation]

To this American, academics are people who work in an academic capacity for a college or a university. I hate to think what she did well on her academics might mean.

 

[Aamir Tariq]

To this American, academics are people who work in an academic capacity for a college or a university. I hate to think what she did well on her academics might mean.

Oh, you mean it doesn't make sense. What I meant by "She did/performed well in/on her academics" was She did well in/on her normal course of studies or her curricular activities. Like she delivered her presentations well, she did well on her exams/tests/papers, etc.

 

[Rover_KE]

Then say 'She performed well in her academic subjects'.