<p>I'm just curious as to why mechanical pencils are prohibited on the ACT. I normally only use mechanical pencils, and regular pencils are rather annoying. I'm not normally a rule-breaker, but are there any actions taken for those using mechanical pencils? I really don't see any technical differences as far as the test goes when I am using #2, .07mm lead, just in a more optimal housing. Can anyone provide any reasoning or share their experiences with using mechanical pencils on the test?</p>
<p>nope.... i used them</p>
<p>i used one them this time, but in june i tried to and the proctor forced me to use the gay pencils. i hate gay pencils.</p>
<p>lol The Admission Ticket explicitly says, "no mechanical pencils." Sometimes the lead in those type of pencils can't be read by the machines-from what I heard.</p>
<p>Uhm, I'm pretty sure mechanical pencils are prohibited for two reasons:</p>
<p>1) If your friend consistently scores above 30, whereas you are stuck at the low 20's, you can get into the same test room together. Before there, you can devise a simple "clicking" code that can be transmitted via the mechanical pencil clicker so that your friend can give you answers to each question on the test.</p>
<p>2) There are such things as pen scanners. These devices are disguised as pens whereas they actually have a thin glass strip that can scan and store up to 1,000 pages (with additional SD card). You can pass these for a mechanical pencil, and actually scan the test -- which they obviously want to prevent.</p>
<p>Mechanical pencils often don't erase as cleanly, and the lead is more likely to rub off on other people's answer sheets.</p>
<p>You can fill in the bubbles a lot faster with a regular pencil anyway, especially when it hasn't just been sharpened.</p>
<p>Vadox - you can also do a variation of the clicking code, and just tap the pencil, so I'm not sure how great of a reason that is.</p>
<p>My AP teacher told me that you couldn't use them since people would poke holes in the scantron on purpose and can use a new sheet to write in different answer that were discussed with someone else during a break.</p>
<p>wow...i didn't know there were so many reasons against the usage of mech pencils...i used them on all my SAT's and the proctor didn't say anything</p>
<p>i think they should be allowed at least on the essay part because they are constantly sharp so you write more clearly</p>
<p>I am pretty sure the cheating-related reasons are all BS.</p>
<p>I haven't taken either the ACT or SAT yet. I just know for the PSAT nearly all of the students used mechanical ones and no one said a thing to us. They just said if we were going to use them, be sure they were #2...</p>
<p>wow I had no idea that there was so much behind it. I prefer the constant sharpness of the mechanical pencils, but I guess I'll just have to bring a handful of regular ones to be safe even though I really don't press hard, but I can't stand dull pencils.</p>
<p>Odd question: approximately how many pencils do you guys normally go through without sharpening on the test. I don't think I've bought regular pencils in years.</p>
<p>Wow, there are some crazy pro ways of cheating out there.</p>
<p>When I took the Sept ACT my proctor was like "OMG NO MECHANICAL PENCILS!!" But I thought he looked sort of clueless so I used mechanical pencils for the whole thing anyway. I don't really care mech vs normal pencils for bubbling, but when you're writing that essay, mechanical pencils can make your handwriting look way more 'sharp' and defined because the lead tip will always be sharp.</p>
<p>All those ways for cheating are completely loony. Its like saying im not going to walk outside because there is a 'possibility' that I can be struck by 10,000 lightening bolts the second i walk out that door. </p>
<p>Scanning pages? ***? We're not in james bond here.</p>
<p>my physics teacher told that it's because there's a certain lead that's going around that messes up scantron scoring.</p>
<p>I do all my work in the test book in mechanical pencil. When I finish a set of two pages, I use a blunted regular #2 to fill all the bubbles in. If I thought I could get away with it, I would work in the test book in pen. I hate pencils.</p>
<p>I use #2 pencils for the scantron part and a mechanical pencil for the last writing/ essay part. Wouldn't it be considered doing a favor to the test scorers, since mechanical pencil is slightly easier to read than #2 (imo)?</p>
<p>Well, I used a regular pencil for the MC, but since I have ATROCIOUS handwriting, I used a mechanical pencil for the essay</p>
<p>here's the link to the pen that scans:</p>