<p>During my ap lit test yesterday I realized I had not been using a number 2 pencil. It's a Dixon Ticonderoga 1888-3/h pencil. Does this matter?</p>
<p>The 2 in a #2 pencil refers to how dark and thick the line is - it's a scale that's used to measure how dark the lines are. I don't think you should freak yourself out too much, as long as your bubble fill-ins were as dark as they would be with a #2. If your lines were too faint, the machine won't read them, but if they were dark enough, I don't think that it would be a problem.</p>
<p>Note that a 3H pencil will produce a lighter line than a 2B. Check out the full scale at
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_2_pencil%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_2_pencil</a></p>
<p>Thats why I always use mechanical pencils on these things.</p>
<p>Oh and #2 pencils are HB pencils, not 2B.</p>
<p>You were not allowed to use mechanical pencils since some of the tests could not be scanned correctly as those pencils used a different lead.</p>
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<p>I REALLY THINK COLLEGEBOARD SHOULD MAKE THAT CLEAR! I actually Googled the conversion table!!! I feel a little guilty everytime I think a malicious thought: "HAHA! THEY WILL SET THE LOW END OF THE CURVE BECAUSE SAT MACHINES CAN'T READ 2B!!!!! PWHAHA LOSERS." (But of course, that never happens. Blah.)</p>
<p>We weren't allowed to use mechanical? That wasn't the deal in my test... as long as it was #2 we could use it.</p>
<p>Actually, that sort of makes sense -I think that the English system #2 is equivalent to an American HB. Ah well.</p>
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Actually, that sort of makes sense -I think that the English system #2 is equivalent to an American HB. Ah well.
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<h1>2 IS the American version of HB.</h1>
<p>As far as I know, America is the only country that uses numbers like that.
All other countries use the 9H-8B scale.</p>
<p>yea i've always used 2B pencils on the SAT, ACT, and my APs and it worked out fine</p>
<p>you're fine...</p>
<p>The ban on mechanicals only applied to the essay section of the SAT, because they scan slightly differently and thus hinder readability.</p>
<p>Mechanical pencils are not allowed on MC on AP's?</p>
<p>I accidentally used a 2.5 pencil on the Calc BC FRQs. Hope that's ok.</p>
<p>I used a mechanical pencil that had #2 clearly written on it, and the proctors said it was fine. Since when are they not allowed? My bubbles were extremely dark too, so I really hope I'm fine. Most people in the room used mechanical pencils, and people always have in the past and it's never been a problem.</p>
<p>You really have nothing to worry about. Sometimes, the scanners can't read certain types of lead in mechanical pencils, but that happens very rarely. They just have to advise you to use a #2 pencil so that they can charge you for the extra fees associated with hand scoring your test, assuming your MC sheet doesn't scan, which it probably will.</p>
<p>If the machines can read HB, they definitely can read 2B. HB is probably the lightest it can go and thus the recommendation from CB.</p>
<p>why dont they just give us the freaking pencils? that way there's no mistakes.</p>
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why dont they just give us the freaking pencils? that way there's no mistakes.
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<p>Because it costs money. Give them $25000, and they will.</p>
<p>I use Ticonderoga Black Warrior...best pencil in the world. :D</p>
<p>I've always used .5 mm mechanical pencils for MC with no problems on my score whatsoever. I agree with the above poster ... if they have an issue with it, please feel free to give us "real" pencils.</p>