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Writing fast in exams URGENT

GUYS HELP I HAVE MY MOCKS TMR and how am i supposed to write quickly and think at the same time?

i have really big handwriting which makes things worse. My handwriting is really neat, but im the type of person who likes to make my work look tidy, even in an exam. Im really excited for the creative writing part of the english mock, but im scared i wont get all my ideas out on the page because I WRITE SO SLOW.

Some people day that the type of pen that u use in the exam also matters, but my hand gets tired super quickly after like 1 paragraph, and my handwriting starts to get all sloppy and messy.

DOES ANYONE HAVE LAST MIN TIPS
Original post by aaryathombre
GUYS HELP I HAVE MY MOCKS TMR and how am i supposed to write quickly and think at the same time?
i have really big handwriting which makes things worse. My handwriting is really neat, but im the type of person who likes to make my work look tidy, even in an exam. Im really excited for the creative writing part of the english mock, but im scared i wont get all my ideas out on the page because I WRITE SO SLOW.
Some people day that the type of pen that u use in the exam also matters, but my hand gets tired super quickly after like 1 paragraph, and my handwriting starts to get all sloppy and messy.
DOES ANYONE HAVE LAST MIN TIPS

Hi! Sounds like you’re a perfectionist, if your writing is messy its ok! What I would do is always plan an essay before you write it, this can literally take one minute just write brief summaries of your points e.g. for English, ‘para 1 - character of Macbeth, violent’ etc. This will take barely any time and will help you get your thoughts down way quicker, trust me!
Reply 2
Original post by offshore-cauldro
Hi! Sounds like you’re a perfectionist, if your writing is messy its ok! What I would do is always plan an essay before you write it, this can literally take one minute just write brief summaries of your points e.g. for English, ‘para 1 - character of Macbeth, violent’ etc. This will take barely any time and will help you get your thoughts down way quicker, trust me!

thank you!!
You’re welcome - best of luck!!!
Hello Aaryathombre. This is Jonathan Naylor, an experienced academic coach who’s helped many students prepare for exams while managing handwriting issues. Before your mock exam, be ready both mentally and physically to tackle handwriting challenges.

First, fulfil your required gadgets that will be used in the exam. Choose a reliable pen that glides smoothly, and make sure to bring backups in case one runs out.

Then practice writing quickly but legibly in timed sessions, paying attention to reducing hand fatigue by loosening your grip.

Organize your time by outlining ideas briefly before you begin writing, and manage your time efficiently so you can complete all sections

On exam day, take deep breaths and be relaxed, stretch your hands, and start with the section you feel most confident in to build momentum. Remember, your goal is to convey clear, strong ideas, not to obsess over neatness

However, based on your serious concerns over your huge handwriting and hand fatigue, I've come up with a few useful, last-minute strategies that ought to help you perform better on English mock exams more efficiently:
1. Speed Up Your Work Without Losing Neatness

Write smaller: Make your handwriting a bit smaller to fit more on the page without losing legibility.

Don’t stress about perfection: Nothing is perfect even a small bug always remains. So focus on speed and content over perfect uniformity. Slight imperfections are fine if it’s still legible.

2. Avoid Hand Fatigue

Use a light pen: Choose a comfortable, smooth-writing ballpoint to reduce strain.

Loosen your grip: Hold the pen more loosely to avoid hand cramps and increase writing speed.

3. Time Management for Creative Writing

Outline your ideas: Spend 5 minutes outlining your ideas (bullet points or mind map) to stay organized.

Write freely & refine later: Get all your ideas down first, then tidy up if you have time.

4. Managing Sloppy Writing from Fatigue

Take breaks: Stretch your fingers or move your wrist after each paragraph to prevent fatigue.

Adjust pace: Slow down slightly to maintain legibility over speed, if needed.

5. Prioritize Ideas Over Aesthetics

Content is key: Focus on expressing your ideas clearly. Neatness matters that are easily readable less than having strong, clear content.

Original post by aaryathombre
GUYS HELP I HAVE MY MOCKS TMR and how am i supposed to write quickly and think at the same time?
i have really big handwriting which makes things worse. My handwriting is really neat, but im the type of person who likes to make my work look tidy, even in an exam. Im really excited for the creative writing part of the english mock, but im scared i wont get all my ideas out on the page because I WRITE SO SLOW.
Some people day that the type of pen that u use in the exam also matters, but my hand gets tired super quickly after like 1 paragraph, and my handwriting starts to get all sloppy and messy.
DOES ANYONE HAVE LAST MIN TIPS
Have you tried to get Exam Concessions? (You could get extra time and a laptop)
Reply 6
Original post by aaryathombre
GUYS HELP I HAVE MY MOCKS TMR and how am i supposed to write quickly and think at the same time?
i have really big handwriting which makes things worse. My handwriting is really neat, but im the type of person who likes to make my work look tidy, even in an exam. Im really excited for the creative writing part of the english mock, but im scared i wont get all my ideas out on the page because I WRITE SO SLOW.
Some people day that the type of pen that u use in the exam also matters, but my hand gets tired super quickly after like 1 paragraph, and my handwriting starts to get all sloppy and messy.
DOES ANYONE HAVE LAST MIN TIPS

try a quick timed writing exercise today if you have time for like ten minutes or smth. write as fast as you can without caring about how neat your work looks (you don't have to show it to anyone afterwards). then when you're done check whether your handwriting is legible. if it is legible then try your best not to worry about neatness in the exam, as long as they can read it it's fine
sorry i know this is easier said than done but it's the best advice i have tbh. good luck for tomorrow 🙂
Original post by aaryathombre
GUYS HELP I HAVE MY MOCKS TMR and how am i supposed to write quickly and think at the same time?
i have really big handwriting which makes things worse. My handwriting is really neat, but im the type of person who likes to make my work look tidy, even in an exam. Im really excited for the creative writing part of the english mock, but im scared i wont get all my ideas out on the page because I WRITE SO SLOW.
Some people day that the type of pen that u use in the exam also matters, but my hand gets tired super quickly after like 1 paragraph, and my handwriting starts to get all sloppy and messy.
DOES ANYONE HAVE LAST MIN TIPS

Ditch the perfection. That's genuinely the only thing that got me writing quick. Nobody cares about how neat your notes are - you're not going to get extra points for looking pretty. An examiner isn't going to think "Wow, this student has beautiful handwriting. I should ignore everything they wrote and give them top score just for the handwriting".
Just practice writing fast in your room, try putting on a video and writing what you hear at the same time. You can slow it down at first but gradually build up the speed.


P.S. don't worry too much about your mock grades. An example is I was predicted a 3 for FT but got a 6. Not that much greater but at least I didn't fail.

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