What's the difference between saying "試験を受ける" and "試験を受験する"


Recently I asked a question on HiNative and said "試験を受けました" but a native
Japanese speaker corrected it to "試験を受験しました".

I'm positive I've seen someone say 試験を受ける before, so why did that native
correct my sentence?




試験を受験する is a bit more formal than 試験を受ける, and more suitable for something like
a university entrance examination. It implies an examination that is backed up
by a formal institution, one with a big consequence, etc. You will probably
need to specifically apply to be able to take it. It is less suitable for a
routinely done test, something closer to a quiz at the end of a lesson.

Still, something like 大学入試を受ける is fine, too. The person who corrected it might
have wanted to teach the word 受験する, nothing more.




試験を受験する is a bit more formal than 試験を受ける, and more suitable for something like
a university entrance examination. It implies an examination that is backed up
by a formal institution, one with a big consequence, etc. You will probably
need to specifically apply to be able to take it. It is less suitable for a
routinely done test, something closer to a quiz at the end of a lesson.

Still, something like 大学入試を受ける is fine, too. The person who corrected it might
have wanted to teach the word 受験する, nothing more.

