<p>Hi, I did my AP Psychology class exam today with my number 3 pencil because I didn't have a number 2 and had to borrow the number 3 from another person in the other classroom. Does anybody know if I'm screwed? Will the scantron read my answers?</p>
<p>Do you think your teacher would just straight up give you a zero for using the wrong pencil?</p>
<p>Um, the way scantrons work is through the dark markings on it. Number 3 pencils are darker than 2, so it’s fine.</p>
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<p>If it’s all about darkness, then why don’t pens work?</p>
<p>Who said they don’t?</p>
<p>No. 3 pencils exist 
???</p>
<p>Well some scantron machines can read pens actually. But of course the average school will not waste so much money on this. The average scantron machines read pencil lead. It has something to do about something being in the lead that the machines can read. Sorry I’m no expert on lead haha.</p>
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Every Scantron I’ve ever used says No. 2 pencil only. Never, ever, have I heard of or encountered an ink-receptive Scantron.</p>
<p>The reason they recommend you use pencils is because if you make a mistake with a pen on a Scantron, you’re pretty much stuck with your decision.</p>
<p>This is from the Scantron website about the Insight model (I concede one of many, but the technology exists), and I quote:</p>
<p>“Two built-in read modes provide the ability to scan both pencil and pen marked responses from the same scanner.”</p>
<p>[Scantron</a> | Scanners](<a href=“http://www.scantron.com/scanners/low/insightomr2_4.aspx]Scantron”>http://www.scantron.com/scanners/low/insightomr2_4.aspx)</p>
<p>^What the hell. Most schools use this.
[Scantron</a> | Scanners](<a href=“http://www.scantron.com/scanners/tsm.aspx]Scantron”>http://www.scantron.com/scanners/tsm.aspx)</p>
<p>My teacher penalizes students if they make an unclear mark for the scantron to read even though you changed your answer.</p>
<p>So I’m worried that if the scantron makes a mistake with my test, my teacher wouldn’t even bother with it. I borrowed two pencils today that weren’t number 2. It’s just been really stressful ever since I got home today.</p>
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<p>I was wondering about that too.</p>
<p>How do people get these type of pencils? Staple? Office Depot?</p>
<p>I have several un-number 2 pencils, but they were all gifts from
my friends, who bought them at the art store.</p>
<p>No. 3 Pencils sound like they are some serious ****tttt.</p>
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<p>You know you’re a CC’er when you and your friends exchange pencils as gifts.</p>
<p>Does anyone here still know whether the machine can read the number 3 pencils?!</p>
<p>No college for you, you used a #3!! Pencil… :O</p>
<p>The larger the number, the lighter the pencil. No.1 being the darkest, I have a No. 9 that is nearly invisible. So therefore the No.3 is lighter then a No.2. Not by a lot though, my No.4 is pretty close to my No.2, but there’s a difference.</p>
<p>I used a pen once, it worked.</p>
<p>I’m tempted to use pen on a Scantron now. Maybe spice up my life a little bit… been using pencils since 4th grade when I picked up my first Scantron for a science test and thought it was the weirdest thing ever. :)</p>