<p>has anyone had a problem in the past with using a mechanical pencil on the multiple choice part of the ap exam?</p>
<p>Why even risk it? Your given a #2 pencil, use it :)</p>
<p>PS: Wouldn't it be a bi*ch to bubble answers in with a mechanical pencil?</p>
<p>^I always use a mechanical pencil for all my tests. Just use HB or B mines and you'll be fine. Plus, you never need to sharpen them, and always have the same thickness of writing, so I like this better. I take about 3 seconds to circle a bubble, since I'm so used to using the mech pencil that I can use it pretty quickly</p>
<p>As long as it has #2 lead it should be fine.</p>
<p>would a BiC MatiC grip mechanical pencil work?</p>
<p>You have to go to a specialty art store and ask to NOT get a #2 pencil.</p>
<p>Most people don't know the historical origins of Scantron, but modern machines can read all sorts of marks.</p>
<p>Any lead softer than #2 would leave marks all over the place.
Harder leads make a lighter imprint, and it was a problem when people used #3 or #4 lead on their exams.</p>
<h1>2, or HB, has become standard for 99% of pencils in the market.</h1>
<p>So how does all of the different decimal measurements of lead fit in with this? Like 0.5, 0.7, etc.?</p>
<p>A pencil is a pencil. Is a pencil. Which is a pencil.</p>
<p>^..O rly??</p>
<p>^.. no wai!!!</p>
<p>The decimalised measurements of lead (0.5, 0.7, etc.) refer to the diameter (or maybe circumference, I'm not sure) of the lead. The integer measurement (2, 3, etc.) refers to the hardness of the lead. It is the latter which is relevant to whether or not a standardized-test-scoring-machine will be able to read your marks.</p>
<p>Also, you forgot "ya rly."</p>
<p>i have used mechanical pencils for tests like these as well as those scantons we use at school with no problems, but to be safe use the conventional number two pencils.</p>
<p>Personally, I always find it quicker to bubble in with a regular pencil...</p>
<p>@altindiegirl - lol me too :)</p>
<p>I find the #2 pencils easier to fill in bubbles (especially when they're not too dull/sharp).</p>
<p>Lols, I'm glad someone agrees to the method of my madness. :)</p>
<p>i used mechanical pencil during the psats
and it was fine</p>
<p>but yeah. look on your lead dispenser and see if it says HB</p>
<p>last year i took all my tests with number three pencils on accident. i guess i just wasn't paying attention since i'd never seen staples sell anything but number 2s.</p>
<p>either way, i got 5s on all of my tests so obviously the pencil thing wasn't a big deal ;).</p>