handwriting for GCSE

[ludlowcalling]

Does anyone know if writing in printed handwriting instead of joined up will affect marks in GCSE or A level exams?

It won't make any difference - they have to give marks based on the content, not the handwriting. Only exception would be if they can't read it, but I assume that's why you're thinking printing might be a better idea?

Yes,the teacher told my ds to print as it is hard to read and he may lose marks.thanks for replying so quickly

printing is alot slower. If he has a real problem with handwriting it csn be assessed by SENCO at school and either use of laptop or extra time. My son can use a laptop, but touch typing is a prerequisite for this at his school.

DS1 - lazy so and so, gave up with joined up handwriting at secondary school. GCSE: 6 A*, 4A; AS 5 A, 1B; A2 3 As - so, no I don't think it makes any difference. He still doesn't join up writing and managed to be selected for top internships and graduate job. It would be nice, though if his signature was a little more, say ... distinguished!

Bear in mind that most of the GCSE papers are scanned and marked online, so if the handwriting is legible it helps we poor examiners enormously, as does writing in BLACK please.

We have enormous amounts of marking crammed into a short time period, and whereas one could handle an actual script to make out words, it is hard to do that with something that is scanned.

There will be marks on some papers for Quality of Written Communication, and legibility is part of that criteria.

Another couple of pointers:
-Take time to read the paper first.
-Answer the question that is on the paper; not the one you wish was on the paper.
-Look for and use the key words that will be in the question.
-If the question requires you to explain, make sure that you put because in the answer as that instantly turns it into an explanation. (One paper I marked lost 30 marks because this wasn't done - the candidate had described, not explained. Would have been an A* if because had been included in the answers requiring an explanation).

• Use paragraphs and punctuation.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for all your help.Lazymumofteenagesons,I will mention this in school. He needs to work on his printing too but he is good on a laptop.Lilymaid that is so reassuring you must be so proud.Scaryteacher thats really helpful, lots to think about.

The assessors will do their very best to decipher your DS's handwriting.

i cannot for the life of me understand the importance of handwriting in the year 2010. let then type it fgs - we do!

Easier said than done, SEA. Imagine an exam room with maybe 200 students using laptops. It is a huge logistical nightmare.

I teach in a small school and may have a maximul of 5 students allowed to a laptop. Even that is hard to administer.

SEA DS would agree with you! He is not allowed to use a laptop in school.I want him to try and improve his writing to the best of his ability.He is working on his handwriting at home.MTB thanks,I hope so.I see your point about 200 students on laptops.Also DS is only in year 8 atm I just hope that with a bit of work his writing may improve.His English ks2 level is 4 his handwriting is level 3 speaking level 5.His Maths is level 9.Thanks for all the advice .

ludlowcalling - make sure he gets extra time .

Is it unusual to have such a big difference in grades in Maths and English?

No it won't make any differnce. DD3 18 is dyspraxic and has nevr really manged joined up writing. She can write much more quickly and neatly printing. She had a scribe and extra time when she did hwer GCSe's. So if your Ds's handwritng is really bad he should be assesed for this. Is he doing his GCSE's this year?

He is not doing GCSE's this year mumeeee. At parents evening last week he was told to start printing.I asked the school English dept will this affect his marks in GCSE's later on but they didn't know.They said they will try and find out and get back to me.School have sent some homework for him and I am doing handwriting at home with him each day. Thanks everyone for your advice and sharing your experiences.