I used a #3 pencil...

[jersey_jazz]

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>I used 3 pencils on the PSAT today and I didn’t notice until it was over that one of them was a #3 hard pencil (since they were all yellow, Ticonderoga pencils). Do you know if that will affect my score? I’m pretty sure that I tried to make pretty dark marks - but is it the darkness that affects how the machine grades it, or the graphite content of the pencil?</p>

<p>Thanks a bunch.</p>

[jersey_jazz]

<p>does anyone know?</p>

[Granny]

<p>See if you can request a hand score.</p>

[avik224]

<p>i would go with requesting a hand score…that is the best way to ensure that you get points for all the questions you deserve to get points for…you do not want to take any chances…</p>

[Coopjust]

<p>You may need to request a hand score. The main reason is that #1 smudges to easily and #3 and up both require more force and appear darker (making it more likely that the answer machine mis-marks from dents, tears, or marks visible from the opposite side).</p>

<p>If you have an unusually low score, I’d shell out the $50 fee for hand score- if the machines were wrong, you’ll get your money back and score changed.</p>

<p>EDIT:

Fact: If you find you’ve recorded your answers on the wrong part of the answer sheet or you’ve used a No. 3 pencil , tell the test-center supervisor exactly what you did before you leave the test room He/she will write up what’s called an “irregularity report,” and when your test goes to ETS, they’ll hand-score it. Actually, ETS will hand-score your test without an irregularity report if they suspect there’s a problem (if, for example, your score plummets by 300 points).

[url=<a href=“http://www.gananda.org/Mslinks/col3.htm]Source[/url”>http://www.gananda.org/Mslinks/col3.htm]Source[/url</a>]</p>

<p>Write that you mistakenly used a #3 pencil and they’ll probably hand score it for free. If you’ve taken any previous SATs, they’ll notice any substantial difference and do it automatically.</p>

[Easton722]

<p>^^well if that’s the case, can’t you just tell them that you used a #3 pencil because you want to avoid any other mistakes as well (i.e you used a #2 pencil but dont want to pay the fee)</p>

[leetx]

<p>i used a papermate mechanical pencil for the oct sat. I hope it was a number 2 pencil, didn’t say. Should I request hand scoring?</p>

[Tyler09]

<p>virtually all mechanical pencil’s work if u make sure youre pressing hard enough</p>

[8parks11]

<p>sigh… handscoring number 3 pencil marks won’t be free… it clearly states and insists that you should use a number 2 pencil. But I’m pretty sure there won’t be any mistakes.</p>

[Coopjust]

<p>If they won’t do it for you, wait for your scores. If they’re much lower, order the service for $50. If your score goes up (or down), they’ll refund you and adjust it.</p>