Um, the way scantrons work is through the dark markings on it. Number 3 pencils are darker than 2, so it's fine. quote]
Why do scantrons need #2 pencils?
Why do Scantrons need #2 pencils? Scantrons use #2 pencils so the machine is able to identify your markings and read your answers. There's a popular myth that using a #1 or another type of pencil will somehow trick the machine into giving you a better score.
Can a Scantron machine pick out the darkest mark in a row?
However, new scantron machines are much more sophisticated and can generally pick out the darkest mark in a row no matter how it’s made —just so long as the mark isn’t in the same color ink that the sheet was printed in.
Do scantrons really confuse the sensors?
Fact: This method stems from a rumor from the 1990s. Scantrons have come a long way since then, and there are safeguards in place that prevent the machine from getting tripped up by this. If your Scantron does confuse the sensors, you could fail the test.
Can I use a graphing calculator for a Scantron midterm?
If you've got a Scantron mid-term coming up in physics or mathematics, keeping formulas on a graphing calculator that you use can be a good way to keep helpful information close at hand. Teachers are typically on the look out for this cheat, and will often make students remove the batteries from the calculator.
What pencils can you use on a Scantron?
That's right, according to that search, BIC mechanical pencils are the only pencils approved by Scantron themselves.
What happens if you use a number 3 pencil?
The first graphite grading scale is a numeric scale. Using this scale, the hardness of the core is often marked on the pencil — look for a number (such as “2” “2-1/2” or “3”). The higher the number the harder the writing core and the lighter the mark left on the paper.
Do Scantrons really need #2 pencils?
The first Scantron sheets were scored or "read" by feeding the sheets through a machine that measured how much light was blocked. No. 2 pencils were required to fill in the circles on the sheet because the graphite in the pencil is an opaque substance that absorbs the light that hits it.
Can you use a No 3 pencil for SAT?
Using a number 3 pencil probably won't cause any problems for you. At PrepScholar last year (June 2015), we had two of our writers try taking the SAT/ACT with a non-wooden-number-2 pencil, and neither of them had scoring issues.
Is there a #3 pencil?
Pencil #3 Yellow, Best Wood Cased Unsharpened Number 3 Drawing Pencils with Latex Free Eraser, No 3 Box of HB Hard Lead Writing School and Office Pencils for Kids and Adults, 12 Pencils – By Enday.
Is there such thing as a #3 pencil?
A pencil's location on the HB graphite grading scale depends on the hardness of its graphite core. The hardness of the graphite core is often marked on the pencil — look for a number (such as “2” “2-1/2” or “3”) — and the higher the number, the harder the writing core and the lighter the mark left on the paper.
Can I use a #2 mechanical pencil on a scantron?
The pencil lead weight that corresponds to #2 pencil lead is “HB.” With the same type of lead, it's deeply unlikely any scantron machine in use today, no matter how outdated, would have trouble reading your markings.
Are all pencils number 2?
The No. 2 pencil is one of the most common pencils in the world. Numbers are used to classify grades of pencils in the United States, while both numbers and letters — in what may be called the HB graphite grading scale — are used to classify pencils in the rest of the world. A No.
Why do we have to use #2 pencils?
According to Dictionary.com, early machines that scanned and recorded test scores couldn't properly detect marks made by hard pencils. While No. 1 -- the softest -- pencils were prone to smudging, the No. 2 pencil was the perfect balance of softness and hardness.
Do number 1 pencils exist?
Lead pencils are graded on a scale from No. 1 to No. 4 based on how much graphite is inside the core. The #1 pencils are the softest, while the #4 pencils are the hardest.
Is HB #2 pencil?
A #2 pencil is considered an HB pencil which is the middle of the scale of pencil hardness. These pencils produce a dark line that is still easily erasable which is why they are commonly used.
Is number 2 pencil the same as 2B?
Pencil lead is graded by hardness: a greater percentage of clay results in a harder lead. H (harder), F, HB and B (softer) are pencils of average hardness. Pencils ranging from 2B to 9B are softer still and are used for sketching; 2H to 9H are harder than average. A common American #2 pencil is equivalent to HB.
Why do scanners use #2 pencils?
Scantrons use #2 pencils so the machine is able to identify your markings and read your answers. There's a popular myth that using a #1 or another type of pencil will somehow trick the machine into giving you a better score. But using a different pencil won't get you a better score on your test.
What happens if you fill out a scantron incorrectly?
However, if you fill out your Scantron incorrectly, your teacher may just throw it out. Drawing lines to connect your answer bubbles is pretty obvious, and the person grading your Scantron will be able to spot it right away. Method 6. of 7: Myth: Marking the sides will get you a perfect score.
How to make your answers harder for the scanner?
To make your answers difficult for the Scantron machine to read, apply a little chapstick on top of the bubbles you've filled in . Since putting chapstick on every answer could make it look like you didn't answer any questions at all, try to only mark answers that you're sure are wrong.
What happens if you don't use a pencil on a scanner?
If you don’t use a #2 pencil on your Scantron, the grading machine might not be able to read it. If that’s the case, you could end up getting a 0 on the test. It’s better to use the right pencil and get an actual score than to risk it for a failed grade.
Can you fail a scantron test?
Fact: Making extra marks will just cause an error in the machine. If you draw on the black lines on the sides of your Scantron, you might fail the test. Scantrons that can’t go through the machine usually aren’t graded. Some people also try writing on the black lines and then erasing them, which has the same effect.
Does lip balm mess up grade?
While there was a rumor going around for a while that the slick nature of the lip balm would mess up the grading machine, that just isn’t the case. In fact, it can even cause your correct answers to be marked as incorrect, giving you an even lower score than you would have gotten in the first place.
Does marking on the side of a test improve your score?
Community Answer. No, marking the sides of the test won't improve your score. In fact, it could cause you to fail. The grading machine uses the markings on the side to help orient itself so the paper is fed through the machine correctly. If you alter the markings on the side, the machine may not accept your test.
What is the best pencil for blocking light?
Pencil graphite —specifically in weight #2—was great for blocking the light. Lighter weights of graphite and black pen ink didn’t block enough light to be read, and darker graphite smeared really easily, leading to “false positives.”. So, you had to use a #2 pencil.
Why are mechanical pencils not allowed?
There are many stories and urban legends that suggest mechanical pencils are not allowed because they could be used as cheating devices. One such tale is that a student put a tiny camera inside his mechanical pencil and used it to take pictures of the test.
What does "no mechanical pencils" mean?
No mechanical pencils means no lead breakage or pencil failure! Mechanical pencils have their advantages and uses, but they are more likely to have a mechanical error or repeated broken lead issues than a regular pencil. You also will have to painstakingly refill your lead if you run out, which wastes time.
Can scantron machines read sheets?
Theory #1: The Scantron Machine Can’t Score Your Sheet. The most popular theory—one that the ACT in particular claims is true—is that scantron machines can’t “read” your sheet if you fill in your bubbles with a mechanical pencil.
Can you use a mechanical pencil on the ACT?
On the ACT’s list of general test tips, they state that you cannot use a mechanical pencil or ink pen because your answer document will not be scored correctly. This justification may or may not be true, but either way, mechanical pencils aren’t allowed.
Is it better to use pencils or pencils for a test?
By using plain old wooden pencils, you’re limiting the chances you’ll have a stressful technical malfunction during the exam. Also, regular pencils are better for drawing masterpieces in your test booklet.
Is it easier to fill in bubbles with a regular pencil?
It’s actually easier and faster to fill in bubbles with a regular pencil. As the tip gets duller, you can cover more circle area per pencil stroke. A mechanical pencil takes much longer to fill in each bubble as it remains perpetually sharp.
What pencils do not follow the same numbering scale?
Continue Reading. Good question. Many people use mechanical pencils which do not follow the same numbering scale so many people are probably using either a slightly harder or slightly softer lead than the No. 2 pencils. No. 2 pencils are soft enough to make marks that the Scantron machine can properly read. Some competitors instruct people ...
Why do you need a pencil #2?
You need to use a #2 pencil so that the computer or scanner that grades your test can “see” your answer. You could probably use a pencil with even softer lead than a #2. If the scanner doesn’t “see” your answer because it is too light, then you get it wrong.
Why do pencils smear?
Because you need to make a mark that is dark enough to read, and harder pencils will not do that . Softer pencils will tend to smear, leaving marks in other, possibly wrong places. Number 2 or the slightly softer B are good choices.
What does "use #2 pencil" mean?
The “use #2 pencil" instruction really just means that you need to use a writing pencil rather than an art pencil. Art pencils are available in grades much harder or softer than #2. If you use a very hard pencil, it will be difficult to make a proper mark. If you use a very. Continue Reading.
Why do you need to use no 2?
Instructing people to use No. 2 only (or alternatively HB) helps remove the risk of people mistakenly using a pencil that is too hard to leave a readable mark. But many have successfully used softer leads and had their tests scored just fine. 8 clever moves when you have $1,000 in the bank.
Which pencils have harder leads?
Because #3 pencils (commonly rated as H or 2H) have harder leads that leave a lighter mark on paper and can tear through lightweight paper. #1 pencils are on the other end of the spectrum. Literally. Commonly rated as B or 2B, the lead is softer (so it wears out faster), and leaves a darker mark on paper.
What is the difference between HB and H pencil?
HB is the very middle. These often are used in mechanical drafting and then in regular drawing. An H pencil then is relatively light and would be good for lightly sketching when you begin a drawing. The biggest problem people have is trying to press down harder to make the lines darker.
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