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05-03-2008, 12:50 PM
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#1 | | New Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Threads: 2
Posts: 7
| Mechanical Pencils Allowed?
I know you have to use a No. 2 pencil to answer multiple choice questions.
I was wondering if you are allowed to use a mechanical pencil to answer free response questions in the AP CalcAB exam?
Also, are you allowed to use a mechanical pencil or pen for the FRQs and DBQ in the US AP exam? | 
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05-03-2008, 12:56 PM
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#2 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New England, USA Gender: Male
Threads: 35
Posts: 243
| I'm pretty sure that they would work (as most mechanical pencils are #2), but collegeboard specifically asks that you not use them. I've seen some people use them, however, with no problem, but if the proctor is strict you'll probably be asked to replace your mechanical one with a regular pencil.
If you decide to use one, take caution to use a regular one, because the machines may not pick up your type of lead (same reason as not using pens)...
I've heard a rumor that the reason why CB disallows mechnical pencils is because somebody put a camera in their mechanical pencil to record questions during the test, and apparently was caught. Hence the policy.
oh, right... you definitely CANNOT use a pen for the FRQ / DBQ sections, or the machine that scans your test into the computer will not pick it up. Stick with pencil. 
Last edited by blubberxyz : 05-03-2008 at 12:57 PM.
Reason: clarification
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05-03-2008, 01:00 PM
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#3 | | New Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Threads: 2
Posts: 7
| That's what I would have thought but on collegeboard it says:
"Exam Day
What to Bring
Several sharpened No. 2 pencils (with erasers) for all multiple-choice answer sheets.
Black or dark-blue ballpoint pens for free-response questions in most exams. " AP: Exam Day | |
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05-03-2008, 01:06 PM
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#4 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New England, USA Gender: Male
Threads: 35
Posts: 243
| oh, you're right! I didn't quite see that page, and I'm afraid I can't give you a definite answer, but it won't hurt to bring a pen to the test. I'm sure your proctor will know, though. | |
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05-03-2008, 01:06 PM
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#5 | | Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Threads: 0
Posts: 599
| AP = Black or Blue pen. Book is directly read by a person.
SAT = Pencil. Scanned first, then read by a person.
When in doubt, read the directions. | |
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05-03-2008, 01:10 PM
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#6 | | Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Threads: 44
Posts: 948
| What if the pen is kinda gelly? And not ball point? | |
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05-03-2008, 01:22 PM
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#7 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Threads: 5
Posts: 280
| that's fine, mine was a gelly-type pen last year. | |
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05-03-2008, 01:42 PM
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#8 | | Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Threads: 25
Posts: 419
| Do you guys know if the free-response questions for the math tests have to be done in pen too? | |
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05-03-2008, 01:45 PM
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#9 | | Member
Join Date: May 2007
Threads: 117
Posts: 463
| The FR doesn't and shouldn't be done in pen.
You just need a pen for signing something if I remember correctly | |
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05-03-2008, 01:48 PM
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#10 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Threads: 2
Posts: 65
| So do we HAVE to use a pen for the FR sections for tests like english, gov, etc? It's just that I tend to think of better ways of wording something after I have already written it down, so I tend to erase a lot.
Also, would the proctor actually care? | |
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05-03-2008, 02:06 PM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Airstrip One Gender: Male
Threads: 45
Posts: 1,390
| Quote: |
Black or dark-blue ballpoint pens for free-response questions in most exams.
| Seriously, what's so hard to understand about that? | |
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05-03-2008, 02:14 PM
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#12 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Threads: 2
Posts: 65
| OH, and is using an erasable pen okay? | |
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05-03-2008, 02:22 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Airstrip One Gender: Male
Threads: 45
Posts: 1,390
| You should be allowed to use an erasable pen. I know white out isn't allowed, though. | |
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05-03-2008, 02:24 PM
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#14 | | New Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Threads: 2
Posts: 7
| I e-mailed collegeboard with the original question. I'll post the answer when they reply. | |
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05-03-2008, 02:28 PM
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#15 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Gender: Female
Threads: 7
Posts: 221
| Quote: |
What if the pen is kinda gelly? And not ball point?
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Why would you even risk it? Honestly, that is, by far, the stupidest question I have heard in quite some time regarding testing policy. I'm sure that you could afford to buy a ballpoint pen (they're like 10 cents) and if you can't, I'm sure that someone you know has an extra ballpoint pen that you could borrow. And if those aren't options, then go to the library and steal a ballpoint pen or ask them if you could borrow it for the next 2 weeks. Honestly, you need to think.
mike115: you are allowed to use erasable pens as long as they are ballpoint and black or blue ink. I've taken my fair share of AP tests spanning a number of subjects (physics, chem, gov, apus, psych, etc.) and have 7 more coming up this year and ALL of them required pen for the FR portion. Pen makes it easier for the reader b/c they don't have to worry about smudging and bleeding through (with "gelly" pens) and some pencil lead smears if you place your fingers on the writing.
hydralisks: I don't know where you took your tests (or when) but most free response sections of AP exams require pen. The SAT (as someone mentioned) is in pencil.
Regarding mechanical pencils: I used a mechanical pencil the first time i took my SAT and received my scores fine (even though they didn't want mechanical pencils.) I learned about the policy for no mechanical pencils after that and so, I don't use them (despite the stupidity of the policy). It seems stupid to challenge collegeboard on this issue; it's just a pencil and I would rather not get into a fight with a strict proctor because of a pencil. | |
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