"writing" a test?

[johndoe3344]

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This isn't really a premed thread, per se, but I've seen it used so much regarding the MCATs.

I've never heard this expression before. EVER. Until I came to these boards. And even after seeing it so much, it still sounds completely bizarre to me. Can someone tell me if this is foreign slang? Or western slang? ...Something?

I like to TAKE my tests.

 

[drzing]

its a canadian thing...thats just what they say

 

[Raryn]

The Brits say it too. They don't "take" a test, they "write" a test.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

If you really think about it, "taking a test" doesn't really make too much sense. I'm sure when other outside of America hear this, they probably think of someone going into a classroom and walking out with the test.

 

[scattun]

I think "take tests" might actually just be an americanism, with most English places in the world saying "write tests/exams."

 

[armybound]

I heard there's only 1 MCAT

 

[Ignition]

Some of my pet peves:

1) "Writing" exams;

2) Taking the MCATs.

 

[Compass]

Taking a test = walking away with it to everyone but us Americans, apparently...

 

[armybound]

Taking a test = walking away with it to everyone but us Americans, apparently...

Well, to Americans, "writing a test" = writing the questions to a test.

It would be most accurate to say you answered a test, completed a test, or wrote the answers to the questions on a test, but who really cares as long as people know what you mean.

 

[DRIN]

If you really think about it, "taking a test" doesn't really make too much sense. I'm sure when other outside of America hear this, they probably think of someone going into a classroom and walking out with the test.

Neither does taking a (word for bowel excrement)

 

[schrizto]

Hey, I have seen it only on SDN too, and have found it weird. Good that you pointed it out.

 

[Schemp]

Neither does taking a (word for bowel excrement)

Haha, good point. Do they use "take" for the verb there, or "doing," maybe "making" or "releasing."

Okay I'm done.

 

[Food]

This isn't really a premed thread, per se, but I've seen it used so much regarding the MCATs.

I've never heard this expression before. EVER. Until I came to these boards. And even after seeing it so much, it still sounds completely bizarre to me. Can someone tell me if this is foreign slang? Or western slang? ...Something?

I like to TAKE my tests.

Yeah, it's a British thing. Just like crumpets, cheerioh, tally-hoe, and By George! Get over it.

 

[rockaction]

It bothers me like none-other. "Taking">>>>>>>>"Writing"

 

[Food]

It bothers me like none-other. "Taking">>>>>>>>"Writing"

Yeah, let us be the ones to tell the English how to speak English.

 

[cardinalsrock]

canadians eh?

"writing" tests ... strange foreigners

 

[LiveUninhibited]

I really hate stupid expressions, but writing makes as much sense as taking, if you think about it... unless the test is on a computer... then you typed it. Maybe taking a test is short for, "took designated time to do it," as tests are scheduled for a specific duration of time.

 

[UnfeatyOblation]

Writing a test sounds more like writing the questions than the answers.

 

[johndoe3344]

Writing a test sounds more like writing the questions than the answers.

Exactly! So what if like... a teacher told people that he "wrote a test" the other day. How would people know if he meant that he wrote a test, or that he took a test?

 

[planktonelement]

lol at pluralizing MCAT....
I saw "I'm taking the MCAT" because that's how I grew up saying it. I don't have a problem with people saying they are going to be "writing the MCAT" though. It's really not anything to get worried about.

 

[phungy]

this thread is teh luls