'Don't use a gel pen'

I had a geography exam today and at the start of it the invigilator said 'May I also remind you not to use gel pens'. Now for all of my exams so far I have used this roller ball gel pen just because I can write really smoothly and easily with it, so I can write faster and my hand doesn't hurt as much as when I use a biro. Now I've never been told we couldn't use gel pens, so it wasn't really a 'remind'er for me. I then proceeded to use my gel pen because there was no way I was going to write the whole exam in the only other pen I had - a crappy biro which would slow me down.

Though, now I'm just wondering - why exactly would we be warned not to use a gel pen? Any of you know?

Reply 1

Stranded

11

Serenity

I had a geography exam today and at the start of it the invigilator said 'May I also remind you not to use gel pens'. Now for all of my exams so far I have used this roller ball gel pen just because I can write really smoothly and easily with it, so I can write faster and my hand doesn't hurt as much as when I use a biro. Now I've never been told we couldn't use gel pens, so it wasn't really a 'remind'er for me. I then proceeded to use my gel pen because there was no way I was going to write the whole exam in the only other pen I had - a crappy biro which would slow me down.

Though, now I'm just wondering - why exactly would we be warned not to use a gel pen? Any of you know?

No idea

I use gel pens too. They write smoothly.

Reply 2

_Gnasher_

It is because all of the exams this year (that I know of) are scanned and then sent out to all of the markers. Gel pens don't show up as well as other pens, therefore, it is to make sure that the marker doesn't get a script to mark where they can't actually read what is written.

Reply 3

Miss.P

13

In all my exams I use a ink pen!! can't write no other way! lol

Reply 4

Empath

Ya its cause of the whole shortage of examiners so they have to scan it thing and then the examiners mark it from the scan... although i dont think it wld make much of a difference.

Reply 5

Empath

i'm curious ... didnt u panic when the examiner said tht though especially since u had done all ur past exams in a gel pen??

Reply 6

Serenity

OP

1

Empath

i'm curious ... didnt u panic when the examiner said tht though especially since u had done all ur past exams in a gel pen??

Not really (suprisingly) because I was more panicked about the exam I was about to do. My first thought was that they were just being fussy, or that it would be something to do with smudging and I knew mine didn't smudge easily - so I wasn't that worried.

Reply 7

Empath

wow thts nice and cool... i wld have panicked and messed up the whole paper just cause of a silly thing like tht ... lol!! :smile:

Reply 8

Nightowl

12

Mine say it everytime, but I just ignore it - they can't disqualify you from it! I did my entire GCSEs in gel and it didn't do my marks any harm.

Reply 9

Cristalclear

10

I think Gel pens are allowed, nothing to worry.

Reply 10

silent ninja

19

I use Parker ballpoint. I can write super neat with it. Plus the ink lasts ages-- still on my second refill since Dec.

Reply 11

kellywood_5

17

I love gel pens! I'll probably use them for all my exams if I can find a couple more decent ones. The ink doesn't generally smudge if I'm careful and I think it looks neater than biro, plus it's black ink so I don't see why it wouldn't show up.

Reply 12

ChrisF

10

Are you talking about the AQA A Geography exam? because you probably misheard them, you are allowed to use gel pens on normal exam papers but your not allowed to use anything other pencil on the resource sheet.

Reply 13

Serenity

OP

1

ChrisF

Are you talking about the AQA A Geography exam? because you probably misheard them, you are allowed to use gel pens on normal exam papers but your not allowed to use anything other pencil on the resource sheet.

Nope Edexcel.

Reply 14

darryl

13

Arent they talking about gel pens as in like pink and green ones?

Reply 15

Red Thunder

9

The JCQ notice to candidates says that "DO NOT WRITE WITH A GEL PEN ON THE ANSWER PAPER" which applies to all boards.

Reply 16

cdpuk

darryladie

Arent they talking about gel pens as in like pink and green ones?

Yeah, I was going to say. I'm sure black/blue is fine but it's the bright/stupid/smelly/sparkly ones that will annoy markers.

-Chris

Reply 17

Stefan_M

10

Serenity

I had a geography exam today and at the start of it the invigilator said 'May I also remind you not to use gel pens'. Now for all of my exams so far I have used this roller ball gel pen just because I can write really smoothly and easily with it, so I can write faster and my hand doesn't hurt as much as when I use a biro. Now I've never been told we couldn't use gel pens, so it wasn't really a 'remind'er for me. I then proceeded to use my gel pen because there was no way I was going to write the whole exam in the only other pen I had - a crappy biro which would slow me down.

Though, now I'm just wondering - why exactly would we be warned not to use a gel pen? Any of you know?

Hahaha, the exact same thing happened to me today, well sorta!

I had my English Literature exams this morning and with the first paper, which lasted for an hour, I used a highlighter to highlight the two little circles with stars in that I used to symbolise that I had added some extra writing to the essay, but it was located in a different area of the exam booklet.

I completed the exam and when we all started the next exam which lasted for two hours this evil old exam woman stated "Could I just remind you all that the use of highlighters in your examination papers is prohibited. I would just like to point this out to you all, since someone used one in their last exam."

I have used a highlighter in my exams all through my GCSE's and with all of my other AS's when needed, so I was like "stuff you biatch" lol

</rant>

Reply 18