'For' and 'on'?

[ooohlala]

Is

'I don't know if I'm going to do well for the test' the same as

'I don't know if I'm going to do well on the test', even though the latter sounds more correct (and I know that)? I just want to know if the grammar makes sense.

 

[riquecohen]

The latter is correct.

 

[ooohlala]

Well, does that make the former wrong? That's what I want to know.

 

[riquecohen]

Yes.

 

[ihop]

Well, I got a doubt here. Why can't it be "in"?

 

[bhaisahab]

Well, I got a doubt here. Why can't it be "in"?

"In" is OK as well.

 

[ihop]

Wow! Thank you.

 

[Pedroski]

'I don't know if I'm going to do well for the test'

When you take the test you will not be doing anything for the test, you take the test for yourself, to, hopefully, pass with flying colours. So I find 'for' wrong here.

Just occurred to me, whilst in the supermarket: 'I don't know if I'm going to do well for myself in the test'

'I don't know if I'm going to do well on the test' A test is something we participate in, not on. We take part in a test, not on a test. So, at least in my dialect, it would have to be:


'I don't know if I'm going to do well (when I am) in the test.'

But: the test is written, presumably, on paper.

'I don't know if I'm going to do well on the test (paper).' The bits in brackets get left out, forgotten, elided.

I prefer 'in'.