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Original poster

Gel pens in exams

28 replies

gelpenlady · 17/05/2025 15:24

Posting for traffic… My daughter has done 6 GCSE exams this week. She didn’t realise that the pen she was using was a gel pen (or really that you are not supposed to use them in exams) and is now panicking. Is this likely to cause a problem? Can anyone that marks papers help? Thanks in advance!!

OP posts:
percypig · 17/05/2025 15:31

She’ll be fine, and this is absolutely not the sort of thing which warrants special consideration!

The ban on gel pens is simply because they smudge a lot more and almost all exams are scanned and marked online. Get her some good quality black biros for the next exams and tell her not to worry about it.

MookieCat · 17/05/2025 15:29

I am an invigilator and the instruction on gel pens should be read out very every single exam and the teachers should have reminded them as well.

I'd ask your exams officer about it and see if there is a chance to put in a special consideration. If the instructions were not read out correctly it might be that she was not the only one.

Rumbley · 17/05/2025 15:27

Who said she wasn’t meant to use them?

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