Why do people say they "wrote" the MCAT or test?

SDN Members don't see this ad. (About Ads)

I have always found this puzzling. It seems like the correct term would be to "take" or "took" a test. Are people who use "wrote" ESL students?

I suspect it is the case as I would make the same mistake in Spanish classes.

hey, whatever makes it more confusing and difficult...

so let's say "wrote" instead of "took"

Originally Posted by BrettBatchelor

I have always found this puzzling. It seems like the correct term would be to "take" or "took" a test. Are people who use "wrote" ESL students?

I suspect it is the case as I would make the same mistake in Spanish classes.

They are not necessarily ESL students; in different places people say different things; for example in Canada I think most people say they "wrote" an exam. In my highschool (British Curriculum) we used to say that we "sat for a paper" or "sat for an exam" instead of "took an exam".
It is not about a correct versus incorrect term. It is just a reflection of how many different peole with different backgrounds post on this board.

Yeah, I've had professors say "write" "sit for" and "take" an exam.

Originally Posted by BrettBatchelor

I have always found this puzzling. It seems like the correct term would be to "take" or "took" a test. Are people who use "wrote" ESL students?

I suspect it is the case as I would make the same mistake in Spanish classes.

Where exactly did you take this test to Brett? It's simply cultural. Canadians say the same. You write on a test so you can say you wrote the MCAT. But you don't take the MCAT and walk out of the room, so is saying "taking the MCAT" any better?

And I live in Los Angeles!

Indians say "gave" (atleast Gujarati Indians). I "gave" the MCAT.
Sounds kinda weird in English...

well you know that some some poeple just say................i aced the test

regionalize and culture thing. So people wrote the exam, others took the test, and even some smacked that bitch and turned it over.

I know in britan that is a popular term "wrote" additionally in aristocrtatic society some of my uppity friends use that.

I filled out the MCAT.

Originally Posted by TheProwler

I filled out the MCAT.

In German, what one would say would translate to: "I made the MCAT"

How about when people say "I was waiting on line"? What is that? It's "in line."

Canadians I know generally say they wrote the MCAT and attended university whereas I would say I attended college, etc.

In my area we "take" exams but "writing" exams sounds a lot better - you wrote something down, not took it (stole it?) and ran out of the room.

Another difference I've noticed is "I got an A" vs. "I made an A". I always used the former but lately I think that "making" an A sounds a lot better - it reflects the work that goes into it, not like someone just gave you an A!

Originally Posted by Steiner

How about when people say "I was waiting on line"? What is that? It's "in line."

Waiting in a que is also a popular term.

Never fear - the AAMC is making every effort to standardize the wide array of language used in reference to this event. Indeed, soon we will all "click" for the MCAT. Although, I do believe they are keeping the phrase, "smacking that bitch and turning it over," which is generally accepted by people and aliens of all cultures, races and religions around the galaxy.


Caboose.

Originally Posted by BrettBatchelor

I have always found this puzzling. It seems like the correct term would be to "take" or "took" a test. Are people who use "wrote" ESL students?

I suspect it is the case as I would make the same mistake in Spanish classes.

Actually, in Spanish "take" makes sense; that is the way you would say it.

Originally Posted by Caboose

Never fear - the AAMC is making every effort to standardize the wide array of language used in reference to this event. Indeed, soon we will all "click" for the MCAT. Although, I do believe they are keeping the phrase, "smacking that bitch and turning it over," which is generally accepted by people and aliens of all cultures, races and religions around the galaxy.


Caboose.

haha. yeah it's just a cultural thing.

Yeah, Canadians and Brits would say that they "wrote" the exam.

As someone pointed out in many of the romance languages you "do or make" the exam. I like the idea of "doing" the MCAT. Hehehe.

well in my region they say

wo kao le MCAT

Originally Posted by radioh3ad

well in my region they say

wo kao le MCAT

yea cultural. My british friends always say "wrote."

I studied in the UK for a year, and "writing" and "sitting for" exams was standard. It's particularly fitting, because in the UK university system, that's what you do ... sit and write and write and write and write. And then sit and drink.

Originally Posted by tomorrowgirl99

Waiting in a que is also a popular term.

Perhaps in Quebec. Elsewhere, people wait in a queue.

Originally Posted by DrDarwin

Perhaps in Quebec. Elsewhere, people wait in a queue.

I noticed that too.

Thanks for the responses. I just cringe everytime I see someone say they "wrote" an exam because it doesn't sound normal to me.

I get the same feeling when people use the word 'exam' in place of 'test'.. I heard a lot of that when I went to college on the East coast... so it's a double whammy when people say "WROTE an EXAM".. drives me doubly nuts..

But, hey, if you can't beat them, join them.

Back in Michigan, they used to say "tennis shoes" and "pop" (soda) .. now it's "sneakers" and "soda"... !!!

I ate the mcat

what aboot Canada?

some of you guys are really retarded.

I won't say who exactly.

when you go to sit for the MCAT. You take a pencil (Hb) and you write on the test and you write on the paper. Hence afterwards you say you wrote the test. Its called proper english.

If you "took" the MCAT it means you picked it up and moved it somewhere. If I recall, that is a crime and AAMC can give you a zero and charge you for doing so.

If you "sit" the MCAT. You went in and sat on it. Hmmm makes it difficult to write the MCAT, unless you have the HB up your *****.

In Quebec the translation is waiting in a tail, or waiting in line. Just to remind you, that is a different language and not ENGLISH.

BTW, I answered this thread... so now we know who is retarted. ME.

Originally Posted by docbill

Hence afterwards you say you wrote the test. Its called proper english.

you're not writing the test.. you're writing ON the test/answer sheet...... unless of course you really are one of those AAMC people.. then i guess you could walk around and tell everyone you wrote the test

point taken. I mean point written!

Originally Posted by docbill

point taken. I mean point written!

Originally Posted by DrBowtie

I have always found this puzzling. It seems like the correct term would be to "take" or "took" a test. Are people who use "wrote" ESL students?

I suspect it is the case as I would make the same mistake in Spanish classes.

Take/took doesn't make sense because when you write an exam you don't actually take it anywhere, you leave it there. If you actually took the exam, you would get a zero... unless it was a take home exam

Saying wrote/write is common around the world, even in other languages. The use of the term write/wrote typically derives from the fact that an exam is traditional completed in writing. Though our advancement in technology we are now able to use scan-trons and computers to do this, but this doesn't make the term took/take any more viable. Saying took/take would be considered ESL if anything, because most speakers of true English do not use that term. If you haven't noticed, Americans seem to have a language of their own. English speakers like to call it... American

Originally Posted by MOUTHLOVER

Take/took doesn't make sense because when you write an exam you don't actually take it anywhere, you leave it there. If you actually took the exam, you would get a zero... unless it was a take home exam

Saying wrote/write is common around the world, even in other languages. The use of the term write/wrote typically derives from the fact that an exam is traditional completed in writing. Though our advancement in technology we are now able to use scan-trons and computers to do this, but this doesn't make the term took/take any more viable. Saying took/take would be considered ESL if anything, because most speakers of true English do not use that term. If you haven't noticed, Americans seem to have a language of their own. English speakers like to call it... American

And this thread from 2005 was bumped because...?

Never heard of writing an exam. But that's an interesting way to put it. Im rather fond of smacked the bitch. But that's a personal choice

Originally Posted by Indryd

Yeah, I've had professors say "write" "sit for" and "take" an exam.

This. It's just a cultural thing.

I say aluminum, you say aluminium.

Why do you say "take" the MCAT? Do you physically take it from the testing center?

Originally Posted by muhali3

Why do you say "take" the MCAT? Do you physically take it from the testing center?

Would LOVE to see someone try

In Soviet Russia, MCAT writes you!

Originally Posted by tenndoc

Would LOVE to see someone try

A souvenir, perhaps?

I wrote the MCAT... I attended [Insert University]...

Let me give you some examples...

Boston UNIVERSITY
Harvard UNIVERSITY
New York UNIVERSITY
Cornell UNIVERSITY
Northwestern UNIVERSITY
Wayne State UNIVERSITY

A college is a part of a university... for example, College/Faculty of Arts and Sciences, College/Faculty of Medicine etc etc etc.

In Canada...
College = Smaller, cheaper, easier to get into, trade professions offered, associates and limited bachelors degrees
University = Larger, more expensive, harder to get into, bachelors, masters, PhD, MD, JD, PharmD etc. etc. offered.

In the US...
College vs University....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_...22_terminology

Originally Posted by CodeBlu

I wrote the MCAT... I attended [Insert University]...

Let me give you some examples...

Boston UNIVERSITY
Harvard UNIVERSITY
New York UNIVERSITY
Cornell UNIVERSITY
Northwestern UNIVERSITY
Wayne State UNIVERSITY

A college is a part of a university... for example, College/Faculty of Arts and Sciences, College/Faculty of Medicine etc etc etc.

Unless it's a standalone institution like a LAC.

On a related note I plan on finger blasting the MCAT.

I heard someone say "I pet the MCAT."

Regional colloquialisms like these usually don't bother me, but 'wrote the MCAT' does for some reason. You didn't write the test, the AAMC did. Supposing you did write anything, they would be your answers, not the test. To all the people who say you don't actually physically take the test anywhere, I would ask them if they've ever taken a class, course, lesson, walk, jog, hike, a day off, a vacation, or a holiday. 'Take' means more than just physically apprehending an object, but 'write' means only to produce something written. Please find me another instance when the object for 'write' is anything but the actual thing written.

Originally Posted by JohnnyRomanes

I heard someone say "I pet the MCAT."

did it bite?

I caressed the MCAT, and it spurned me like a jealous lover. But, with infinite patience, the beast yielded. The MCAT came to me, and I rode the MCAT.

Originally Posted by zwitterion34

In Soviet Russia, MCAT writes you!

Originally Posted by nvshelat

Indians say "gave" (atleast Gujarati Indians). I "gave" the MCAT.
Sounds kinda weird in English...

Same in Russian. And yeah, it does sound pretty weird in English.

Originally Posted by Caboose

Never fear - the AAMC is making every effort to standardize the wide array of language used in reference to this event. Indeed, soon we will all "click" for the MCAT.

I am going to click the MCAT at the end of May.

Best,
C