The Student Room Group

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Reply 1
About 3 years ago now I used a pencil to draw a diagram for the 1st or 2nd question and carried on using it. Didn't realize until the end of the exam. Didn't lose any marks/get penalised though.
For C1/C2 last week I used pencil for graphs and even a few questions but it didn't say at the front to only use blakc ballpoint pen and we weren't told anything. But I've got C3 today and to be safe I'll probably just use black pen for everything.
Reply 3
I used a pencil in all of my exams unless it explicitly said otherwise (which it did for Maths :s-smilie: - but I did use a pencil to draw the graphs).
i think its ebcause if your paper is marked using the electronic system pencil may be hard to pick up. i use pencil then when im sure i go over it in pen (for graphs)
Reply 5
I've always been told to use pencil for drawing graphs, so that if I do make a mistake, then I can rub it out.
I think it is because writings in pencil might fade easily. But I thought using a pencil for graphs was acceptable. :s-smilie:
Titch89
I've always been told to use pencil for drawing graphs, so that if I do make a mistake, then I can rub it out.


Same as me, I didn't have any problems here.
Callipygian
i think its ebcause if your paper is marked using the electronic system pencil may be hard to pick up. i use pencil then when im sure i go over it in pen (for graphs)


That's for modular exams in GCSEs. It's so that maybe a teacher wouldn't amend/add the graph after the exam is finished.
Reply 9
yeah my teacher marks for edexcel and he said they scan the papers thats why in geography you're not allowed to use pencil because it comes up faded on the computer or something
Reply 10
It's because they now often scan the exam papers so they can be marked on a monitor, saves them posting them everywhere.
For Scottish exams, we use blue/black ink (blue/black pen :p:) for everything apart from the graphs. I've almost always used pen during my time in school up to now. We were meant to use pencil in maths so we could rub out mistakes and make our jotters 'nice and tidy' but I throw that idea out the window!! It's a lot harder for anyone to spoil your paper by rubbing answers out or writing in wrong answers, that sort of thing. I guess for many people it's down to personal preference, but for the exam boards I think it's so they can easily distinguish between additions made by the marker and also for security of the paper. Pens are much better though :wink:
Reply 12
Yeh they have fast photocopiers that aren't good enough to pick up pencil, but the use different ones on graph questions - that's why now they have special spaces for graphs ie "on page n draw..." or axis in certain places so they know which pages they have to scan with a machine that can read pencil.

We are told its okay for graphs but if you use it for anything else accidentally, tell the modulator and they'll make sure a note is included with your script so it gets scanned properly, but I imagine the marker would notice and get it rescanned if it needed to be.
We have the electronic system in our school, its why you cant use more than one colour when doing Decision maths, nightmare trying to get 6 lines to look distinctly different with just black :tongue:
Pencil is fine for graphs and drawings-- they expect it. I did all my papers this way.
I had a copy of one of my chemistry papers (OCR) and all the pencil stuff had been perfectly scanned and you could only tell by looking closely that it wasn't pen. You cant do drawings in pen, that's silly.
Reply 15
Edexcel
Feedback from our Examiners Pens and Pencils

One of the questions we are frequently asked is: “Our students usually do all their maths in pencil. Can they do their exams in pencil?”

The short answer is: “No” Candidates should write their answers in pen, and draw or complete diagrams in pencil. Writing in black (or blue) ballpoint pen and drawing diagrams in HB pencil enables examiners to read scripts most reliably, and gives candidates the best chance of gaining the marks they deserve. When candidates write in pencil and erase their work, examiners cannot give them credit.

The pen should preferably black ballpoint as the ink does not bleed on the paper and show through. This advice applies to all papers, GCSE, AS or A-level, whether marked traditionally or onscreen. If candidates want to change what they have written, they should cross it out with a clear simple line. They should not scribble through their work, making an illegible mess that sometimes shows through to the next page; they should never use correcting fluid, and avoid red ink (which can make it difficult to distinguish the examiner’s marking) and highlighter pens.


Source: http://www.edexcel.org.uk/VirtualContent/83441/Previous_Info_Booklets_1_3.pdf
i did my economics diagrams today in pencil. Hope it should be ok?
Reply 17
Pencil is fine for all diagrams. You just shouldn't write in it. Also, aslong as the pencil is HB (i.e. dark enough to be seen when scanned) it is fine.
Yeh don't use a very very light pencil, normal HB is fine and make sure its dark and clear. Rub out your work clearly as well! Use ballpoints for multiple choice which are marked by computer not pencil (I did that for GS and got 0 DOH!)
Reply 19
drawing diagrams with pens makes a mess :frown: