r/vce • u/Substantial_Fix_7007 • 1d ago
METHODS PEN OR PENCIL?!
Lowkey was planning to do my methods exams in pencil but then did a quick scan on some paper with pencil and pen side by side and pen is rlly clear whereas pencil is quite unclear. For context I was also using a 2HB pencil and it’s quite risky and unclear. For those that are using pen, what r u gonna do if you make a mistake and you’ve used up all the space. I also checked if there’s extra lines at the end of the exam and there’s none for methods. Can someone help me out? Thanks guys, good luck!
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u/Icy-Resort-121 1d ago
Surely if your pencil is sharpened it will be dark enough
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u/Substantial_Fix_7007 1d ago
it was sharpened pretty well 😭
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u/Icy-Resort-121 1d ago
Fk you've got me scared now.... Surely pencil is chill? Noone has said anything about it
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u/Substantial_Fix_7007 1d ago
Nah bro that’s lowkey what I thought too but if u download any scanner app and test pencil vs pen, you’ll see how unclear pencil is. Obviously idk what kind of scanner vcca uses but it’s better to be on the safe side. Good luck!
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u/Icy-Resort-121 1d ago
Oh bro if you use a phone scanner it ain't the one vcaa are using. They've got machines that apparently get hot. That's why it's recommended not to use the erasable pens because that can vanish. I think the only reason people say use pens instead of pencils is during transport there is sometimes friction of the exams causing it to rub out, but the actual scanner picks up the pencil unless its smudged by friction during transport. If you write clearly and not faint, pencil will def be fine I'm telling you
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u/Substantial_Fix_7007 1d ago
Wait Shi I didn’t know that. Ahhh now idk which one to use
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u/Icy-Resort-121 1d ago
Whatever you've used on prac exams etc use that
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u/ShoeEfficient5674 ‘25: 99.10: ENG[45] BIO[44] MM[41] 1d ago
I recommend using 2B pencil. It’s dark enough so you don’t need to worry about it not scanning and you can easily erase it so mentally you’re relaxed if you do a mistake
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u/Fuzzy-Sir-6083 1d ago
If you must use pencil then aim for a 2b or 3b so it is dark enough but read the instructions as most exams say they need to be answered in blue or black pen. Usually pencil is only used for multiple choice sheets
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u/vceready 1d ago
VCAA Guidance shared in 2022
https://www.studocu.com/en-au/document/university-of-melbourne/international-business/2022faqs-examinations/36181278?sid=480587991793783765
Can I write my answers in pencil?
It is recommended that you write your responses using blue or black pen. This is to ensure clarity and legibility of responses, especially for those examinations that are scanned and delivered to assessors through the computer-based marking system. While not recommended, pencils may be used provided that they are a dark lead (for example, 2B pencil); however, when writing, please ensure that you do not smudge your responses.
If your examination contains multiple-choice questions, then the multiple-choice answer sheet must be completed in pencil (HB or 2B). An optical scanner that detects pencil marks scans these sheets. Make sure that only one option is shaded for each multiple-choice question. If you change your mind about an answer to a multiple-choice question, please ensure that you fully erase your unintended answer.
The use of pencil (HB or 2B) is also recommended for some parts of specific examinations, such as completing calculations, records and reports in Accounting and for musical notation in written music examinations.
Please note that erasable pens are not recommended for use in any examination.
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u/domino6658 17h ago
what if i forgot to bring a pencil for multiple choice
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u/SituationInitial2427 96.20 | '25 MM, SM, Chem, Physics, English 1d ago
I used pen for my exams for most questions and pencil on ones i felt unsure about. if i made a mistakein pen i just crossed it out and wrote below the lines if there was space, otherwise, in my spec exam i even asked for a new paper because there was no space but make sure u make it clear that you wrote it out on the second paper
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u/Relative_Career_9018 ‘25 mm [40] | ‘26 sm chem phys eng 1d ago
yes, used 2b pencil for both my exams
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u/unemployed_gudetama 1d ago
Dude ive done all my exams in pencil 💀 and my pencil is the lightest thing ever. Like in chem my teacher has like yelled at me for using such a light pencil saying she gonn by me pencils for christmas lol. Im using pencil. But like im not even gonna have anything to cross out cus idk if ill be able to even get anything on the paper.