Writing exams in mechanical pencil.

reznov

Can I write my exams in mechanical pencil? Essays and everything? Would that lose me any marks?

spurious

It won't lose you marks, but examiners hate it.
Pencil smudges with all the movement of the scripts and the fine ones are very hard to read.
Blue or black biro is the way to go - never red or green which are colours used at different stages of the marking process.

**Timbuk2**

Well the examiner can't refuse to correct it if it's in pencil but you'd be annoying them greatly by writing essays in pencil, it's not easy to read pencil (especially in low light) and for things like essays there's no good reason why you should. Just use pen, blue or black, if you make a mistake put a single line through it and write the correction.

Even in maths, if you aren't doing diagrams, then I can't see why pencil is necessary. I also find you can write quicker in pen than in pencil.

FaoiSin

spurious wrote: »

It won't lose you marks, but examiners hate it.
Pencil smudges with all the movement of the scripts and the fine ones are very hard to read.
Blue or black biro is the way to go - never red or green which are colours used at different stages of the marking process.

Spurious I was wondering if I do the questions which are asked to be answered on the exam paper on extra paper could I be penalised. I hate the Project Maths Squares

ChemHickey

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Well the examiner can't refuse to correct it if it's in pencil but you'd be annoying them greatly by writing essays in pencil, it's not easy to read pencil (especially in low light) and for things like essays there's no good reason why you should. Just use pen, blue or black, if you make a mistake put a single line through it and write the correction.

Even in maths, if you aren't doing diagrams, then I can't see why pencil is necessary. I also find you can write quicker in pen than in pencil.

What are your opinions on erasable pens? A lot of people say it fades but I've been using them for the year in accounting and maths and they haven't yet? they're extremely handy in accounting!

should they be ok or should I just stick with the normal?

UL_heart_throb

reznov wrote: »

Can I write my exams in mechanical pencil? Essays and everything? Would that lose me any marks?

do not do this, honestly, even if your hand writing is super neat. Go to the stationary store tomorrow and try all the pens you can until you find something super comfortable and get it even if it costs a 5er and get some spare inks for it if you hate biro.

reznov

Alright thanks both of you! I find mechanical pencil is quicker to write with. But I understand why it may be frowned on from the examiners point of view. It will inevitably lose me marks.

YeahhhFaoiSin, are you actually planning to write anything for Project Maths?

wow.

whiteandlight

YeaaahFaoiSin wrote: »

spurious wrote: »

It won't lose you marks, but examiners hate it.
Pencil smudges with all the movement of the scripts and the fine ones are very hard to read.
Blue or black biro is the way to go - never red or green which are colours used at different stages of the marking process.

Spurious I was wondering if I do the questions which are asked to be answered on the exam paper on extra paper could I be penalised. I hate the Project Maths Squares

It's possible albeit unlikely. At this stage of the year have you not been writing on it plenty? It's not that hard to get used to if you practise

**Timbuk2**

ChemHickey wrote: »

What are your opinions on erasable pens? A lot of people say it fades but I've been using them for the year in accounting and maths and they haven't yet? they're extremely handy in accounting!

should they be ok or should I just stick with the normal?

I have no idea, as I've never used them! Do they look like normal pen when you write with them? Do they smudge easily?

They're probably ok. For accounting I used to just use a normal black pen, and one of those tippex mouse things - very quick to correct mistakes. I think my teacher advised against using tippex though, but you don't have to wait for the mouse tippex to dry and it's unlikely that the 'tape' will fall off!

spurious

YeaaahFaoiSin wrote: »

Spurious I was wondering if I do the questions which are asked to be answered on the exam paper on extra paper could I be penalised. I hate the Project Maths Squares

I don't correct Maths, but any of the subjects I have corrected, you would never be penalised for answering on an extra piece of paper rather than the 'intended' space, so I doubt it, but I wouldn't like to chance it, just in case.

It would be a very harsh stance to take.

Mycroft H

reznov wrote: »

Alright thanks both of you! I find mechanical pencil is quicker to write with. But I understand why it may be frowned on from the examiners point of view. It will inevitably lose me marks.

YeahhhFaoiSin, are you actually planning to write anything for Project Maths?

wow.

Pencil smudges and has a distinct lack of contrast.

Blue/Black as already mentioned. Use one for writing and use the other for highlighting.

It will be frowned upon in third level, believe you me

FaoiSin

reznov wrote: »

YeahhhFaoiSin, are you actually planning to write anything for Project Maths?

wow.

I know. Taking a stand against all the people using the cheap circling the question method

spurious

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

I have no idea, as I've never used them! Do they look like normal pen when you write with them? Do they smudge easily?

They're probably ok. For accounting I used to just use a normal black pen, and one of those tippex mouse things - very quick to correct mistakes. I think my teacher advised against using tippex though, but you don't have to wait for the mouse tippex to dry and it's unlikely that the 'tape' will fall off!

Don't use Tippex. If you make an error, just put a single or double line through it (no need to completely obliterate a quarter of the page) and if you must, write 'error' or 'mistake' beside it.

Sometimes wrong answers that were on the right lines can get you the one or two marks that might bring you up a grade, if the examiner can see them.

reznov

YeaaahFaoiSin wrote: »

I know. Taking a stand against all the people using the cheap circling the question method

Man you're braver than I thought.
I'll pray for you tonight.

Pray for me too.

ChemHickey

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

ChemHickey wrote: »

What are your opinions on erasable pens? A lot of people say it fades but I've been using them for the year in accounting and maths and they haven't yet? they're extremely handy in accounting!

should they be ok or should I just stick with the normal?

I have no idea, as I've never used them! Do they look like normal pen when you write with them? Do they smudge easily?

They're probably ok. For accounting I used to just use a normal black pen, and one of those tippex mouse things - very quick to correct mistakes. I think my teacher advised against using tippex though, but you don't have to wait for the mouse tippex to dry and it's unlikely that the 'tape' will fall off!

Yes they're great! you should try them sometime. but there is only one good brand however!

I haven't tried one of those tippex mice for ages! I'll look into it!

Togepi

I've been using those tippex mice all year but I'm not using them for any exams. Just a simple line through any mistakes (no scribbling stuff out), so it's still legible. If the corrector can read it and see that you had the right idea it can actually bring you up!

reznov

I burn any pages with even the slightest mistake.
Wouldn't want the examiner to form an inadequate impression of my abilities.

GaryIrv93

I've actually found that I can right neater and also faster (I think) with pencil, so I'm thinking should I do that during the LC in a few weeks? I've heard most examiners hate it, but they're paid to correct exams, no matter what it's written with in fairness. if you prefer pencil, and don't actually lose marks for it, then I'd say do it.

**Timbuk2**

Just don't, ask anyone who has corrected exams, the whole thing being done in pencil would be a serious headache, and nevermind what pencil (which smudges) will look like after weeks of exams being stacked, transported, moved, etc.

Most of my exams in college specifically say that pencil is forbidden (and lecturers say they don't accept pencil), so may as well get used to writing in pen at this stage, writing in pencil is what you're steered away from at an early stage of primary school.

biohaiid

spurious wrote: »

It won't lose you marks, but examiners hate it.
Pencil smudges with all the movement of the scripts and the fine ones are very hard to read.
Blue or black biro is the way to go - never red or green which are colours used at different stages of the marking process.

So for quotes in English and stuff you shouldn't write them in red?
How about highlighting?
I always highlight mine at the end if I have time but I dont know if its 'right'.

spurious

GaryIrv93 wrote: »

I've actually found that I can right neater and also faster (I think) with pencil, so I'm thinking should I do that during the LC in a few weeks? I've heard most examiners hate it, but they're paid to correct exams, no matter what it's written with in fairness. if you prefer pencil, and don't actually lose marks for it, then I'd say do it.

That's a fantastic strategy. Piss the examiner off.
I don't know why people have not thought of this before.

When your paper is the last of a nine hour correcting session and the writing is all blurred or invisible, they are really going to be generous in the discretionary marks.
A stroke of genius.

spurious

biohaiid wrote: »

So for quotes in English and stuff you shouldn't write them in red?
How about highlighting?
I always highlight mine at the end if I have time but I dont know if its 'right'.

Don't write any numbers in red or green. That's what really causes the confusion, numbers and underlining, as they are the marks used for marking.

There is absolutely no need to write quotes in a different colour, just put them in inverted commas.

Canard

spurious wrote: »

Sometimes wrong answers that were on the right lines can get you the one or two marks that might bring you up a grade, if the examiner can see them.

I've never really understood this - surely if I write something in, say, a geography short question and I get it right, but I scribble it out and get it wrong, the examiner has to accept my final answer? If not I could just write everything that comes to mind and hope one is right.

Do you mean that if you scribble something out, and dont write something new, you can get marks for it?

tyty

I was wondering about which pen to use as well. Should it be ink or is a (decent) ball pen enough?

spurious

Patchy~ wrote: »

I've never really understood this - surely if I write something in, say, a geography short question and I get it right, but I scribble it out and get it wrong, the examiner has to accept my final answer? If not I could just write everything that comes to mind and hope one is right.

Do you mean that if you scribble something out, and dont write something new, you can get marks for it?

As a slightly ludicrous example, let's say you're answering a question on volcanoes and you've been asked for two examples.
Most of the information you give in your answer is accurate, if a little bit confused. At one stage you give two examples as

"Mount St. Helena's in Japan the volcano in Pompeii which is in Italy and went off in Roman times and a big one called Mount St. something that went off a few years ago. It is in Japan.'

Now, you have errors in the name of the volcano and the country it is in, but essentially you have the information there, albeit fairly confused.

In that sort of situation, an examiner might see that you had 'Mount St. Helena's' and decide it is close enough and give you the marks or half the marks, even though you got the wrong country.

They can't give you anything though if it's all slathered in Tippex.

You wouldn't get anything for multiple crossed out answers hedging your bets. From correcting you get a feel for who are the candidates who have got confused and who are the ones chancing their arm.

spurious

tyty wrote: »

I was wondering about which pen to use as well. Should it be ink or is a (decent) ball pen enough?

A ball pen is fine, though ink with good handwriting is a pleasure to correct.

deathbythelc

I was planning on using pencil for my Maths exam but reading this I'm rethinking it. Everything just gets so messy in pen with Maths.

Regarding the green/red pen being used for correcting, if you used a random colour like purple to write the question numbers and quotes would that be ok?

Togepi

Actually, how many people are planning on using pencil for Maths? I was going to, I'd assume far more people use it for Maths than in other subjects, so t's probably a little more understandable. I'm sure I used it last year for Maths too.

ChemHickey

Togepi wrote: »

Actually, how many people are planning on using pencil for Maths? I was going to, I'd assume far more people use it for Maths than in other subjects, so t's probably a little more understandable. I'm sure I used it last year for Maths too.

I did the mock in erasable pen and it looks perfectly normal! It's great! Only wondering if they'd wear, butthey don't seem to from my use!

finality

spurious wrote: »

As a slightly ludicrous example, let's say you're answering a question on volcanoes and you've been asked for two examples.
Most of the information you give in your answer is accurate, if a little bit confused. At one stage you give two examples as

"Mount St. Helena's in Japan the volcano in Pompeii which is in Italy and went off in Roman times and a big one called Mount St. something that went off a few years ago. It is in Japan.'

Now, you have errors in the name of the volcano and the country it is in, but essentially you have the information there, albeit fairly confused.

In that sort of situation, an examiner might see that you had 'Mount St. Helena's' and decide it is close enough and give you the marks or half the marks, even though you got the wrong country.

They can't give you anything though if it's all slathered in Tippex.

You wouldn't get anything for multiple crossed out answers hedging your bets. From correcting you get a feel for who are the candidates who have got confused and who are the ones chancing their arm.

I'm a bit confused about this too. What if, for example, I tried to do a maths question 5 different ways, then crossed out 4 of them and one of the crossed out methods was right. Would I get the marks? Or what about physics?

spurious

finality wrote: »

I'm a bit confused about this too. What if, for example, I tried to do a maths question 5 different ways, then crossed out 4 of them and one of the crossed out methods was right. Would I get the marks? Or what about physics?

In Maths you get attempt marks anyway, the actual right answer is only worth a small amount of marks.
I can't speak for Physics, sorry.

seriouslysweet

Why would anyone want to piss off their examiner?

GaryIrv93

spurious wrote: »

That's a fantastic strategy. Piss the examiner off.
I don't know why people have not thought of this before.

When your paper is the last of a nine hour correcting session and the writing is all blurred or invisible, they are really going to be generous in the discretionary marks.
A stroke of genius.

I wouldn't intend to piss the examiner off though? Time management is one of my main problems, especially in Geography. But I've found that I can actually write neater and a bit faster with pencil. I tried this last night. If I write quickly with pen, my handwriting ends up very sloppy. That can piss an examiner off even more than handwriting in pencil. At the end of the day though, it's your own personal choice what you use to write with, in pencil or biro. I've no intention whatsoever to piss an examiner off.

FaoiSin

reznov wrote: »

Man you're braver than I thought.
I'll pray for you tonight.

Pray for me too.

I already set aside time everyday to pray for you. Not much else I can do

Manic2

So does this mean I shouldn't number/give headings in red/green?

I usually number the question in red and then put headings in green and then write with blue pen.
And I was going to use pencil in maths.

So basically this is all unadvisable?

reznov

YeaaahFaoiSin wrote: »

I already set aside time everyday to pray for you. Not much else I can do

Whenever I open up the Project Maths papers I think you. You're my Leaving Certificate idol.

spurious

Manic2 wrote: »

So does this mean I shouldn't number/give headings in red/green?

I usually number the question in red and then put headings in green and then write with blue pen.
And I was going to use pencil in maths.

So basically this is all unadvisable?

Ideally do not put red or green anywhere near the exam paper.
They are the colours the examiners use.
If you write in blue and/or black, then everything is clear.


Pencil is OK for calculations, graphs, drawings, but where possible, outside those, biro or pen should be used.

snoreborewhore

Would people please get over what people should or shouldn't write with in an exam. Wanna use a mechanical pencil? Go for it. Wanna write in pink pen? Sure. If you don't want to piss the examiner off, don't write complete and utter crap in your exam. No ones going to mark you any less for writing in pencil and if they do then they seriously need to re evaluate their lives.

Mycroft H

snoreborewhore wrote: »

Would people please get over what people should or shouldn't write with in an exam. Wanna use a mechanical pencil? Go for it. Wanna write in pink pen? Sure. If you don't want to piss the examiner off, don't write complete and utter crap in your exam. No ones going to mark you any less for writing in pencil and if they do then they seriously need to re evaluate their lives.

Your risking the pencil getting smudged from all the movement of the scripts. There is a lack of contrast with a pencil to start with.

Do you really really wan't to irk an examiner when they have a bag full of other scripts to correct?

Geo10

My mam's friend corrects every year. Last year she said she had someone practically get full marks and they wrote everything in red ink pen. She said the examiner doesn't give a damn what you want to write with as long as you have the correct info

spurious

Geo10 wrote: »

My mam's friend corrects every year. Last year she said she had someone practically get full marks and they wrote everything in red ink pen. She said the examiner doesn't give a damn what you want to write with as long as you have the correct info

Your Mam's friend really should not be discussing with her mates what she sees or does not see during the marking process.

Anyway, I've answered from an examiner's point of view what you should write in. Blue or black biro/pen.

Use crayon if you want.

FaoiSin

My God is it that hard to understand that the more clear your answers are the easier is on the examiner.

Easier on Examiner = Happy Examiner = More likely to be generous with marks

Togepi

spurious wrote: »

Use crayon if you want.

That was my plan all along! Think I might use paint for English though, mix things up a bit. Only using red and green though, they're my favourites.

implausible

biohaiid wrote: »

So for quotes in English and stuff you shouldn't write them in red?
How about highlighting?
I always highlight mine at the end if I have time but I dont know if its 'right'.

I HATE this, it's as if the candidate thinks the examiner is an idiot who can't spot a quotation:rolleyes:. Besides, quotes are not the most important things in an essay, so why highlight/write them in red/put a flashing neon light on them? It is beyond me how a student who has to produce 10+ pages has time to do this anyway

Just use quotation marks and set them off if they're long.

Canard

I dunno, by that logic I guess you could say the examiner should know which poet you're answering on by the poems you're naming. Its just nice to make it organised I think.

WhatNowForUs?

I fail to see how people have time to change colours during an exam. i'll have to look at these exams and see what the're about these days. By the way its seen as bad practice in various fields in the real world to use tip-ex.

Togepi

WhatNowForUs? wrote: »

I fail to see how people have time to change colours during an exam. i'll have to look at these exams and see what the're about these days. By the way its seen as bad practice in various fields in the real world to use tip-ex.

I just change from blue to black when I'm quoting. It doesn't take up that much time, besides, my hands need a short break from writing every now and then so changing pen is a bit of a relief!

finality

spurious wrote: »

Ideally do not put red or green anywhere near the exam paper.
They are the colours the examiners use.
If you write in blue and/or black, then everything is clear.

Was never told not to use red. I've always used it for question numbers and to underline answers in maths (my exam papers can be a bit chaotic), and it makes things a lot clearer.
I suppose I'll use blue for this from now on.

Canard

I suppose you could use highlighter if you want but that might look a bit weird.

whiteandlight

Anything but red or green. Also please do not write in the column for the correctors! It makes it a pain to correct. In a similar vein do not write in columns in maths, like (i) on the left and (ii) on the right. Both marks have to go in the column on the right and it is easy for an examiner who has 400 odd other papers to forget to make a mistake when you have parts all over the page. Label each part and do them one underneath each other, neatly. If you are doing sections of different questions rather than completing one question at a time, make sure you put the question number with each part too.