in/on the exam

W

welder

Senior Member
Spain - Spanish
Hello,
could you tell me which one is right, please?

Lucy got a good mark IN her Science exam
or
Lucy got a good mark ON her Maths exam

Thanks a bunch.
 
    • Maybe a transatlantic discrepancy, but i would say...

    "on her Science exam/test"
    but
    "in Science class"

    "How did Jane do on her math test?"
    "John got an A on his English exam"

    My English is 100% American, so it's more than possible they say "in" in the UK and Ireland.
     
    Yeah, "in" makes me think something has been nestled inside of a sheet of paper somehow. :D
    lol, poor Spanish speakers with in and on, I really feel bad for them, especially in a situation like this where we don't agree on common usage.

    Anyone else want to pine in on this?
     
    obz said:
    Maybe a transatlantic discrepancy, but i would say...

    "on her Science exam/test"
    but
    "in Science class"

    "How did Jane do on her math test?"
    "John got an A on his English exam":tick:

    My English is 100% American, so it's more than possible they say "in" in the UK and Ireland.
    Click to expand...

    I agree with Obz.

    John got an A on his final exam, but only a B in the science course.

    :)Bigote
     
    To me, they are both fine, and interchangeable! And you could even say ''She got a good mark for her maths paper'', although you can't ''do well'' for something, it must be in or on.
     
    Avalar said:
    although you can't ''do well'' for something, it must be in or on.
    Click to expand...

    Sure you can. It's a different context, but you can do well for something.

    He pitches pretty well for a first baseman.
    She plays the violin very well for a drummer.

    etc.

    But I digress, as it is a different usage all together.
     
    Maximus07 said:
    I think maths in plural sounds awkward and for me ''She got a good mark for her maths paper'' at least to my American ears sounds totally unnatural.
    Click to expand...

    Where I'm from in England, they're both totally normal - I guess it's just a regional thing.

    obz said:
    Sure you can. It's a different context, but you can do well for something.

    He pitches pretty well for a first baseman.
    She plays the violin very well for a drummer.

    etc.

    But I digress, as it is a different usage all together.
    Click to expand...

    You're right, what I said only applies to sentences like the ones suggested earlier.
     
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