To Pencil or Not to Pencil

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 18 in AAT student discussion
Can anyone advise me whether it is acceptable to pencil in the answers to questions first and then overwrite them with pen near the end. I'm a bit concerned about making silly mistakes and then knocking a complete question out and making it look really messy. I understand that liquid paper isn't acceptable to pencilling in in answers first seems like a reasonable alternative.

Thanks for any advice. :)

CS

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    I always used to pencil in my answers and then ink them in as I was checking them.

    Then I found a pen that you can rub out. I've seen them in Tescos, but any good stationers should have them. I still checked all my answers, but at least I only had to write them out in full once!

    Good luck with your exams.

    Jackie
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    You may run out of time going back and overwriting.

    As Jackie says the erasable pens are great. Tippex can be used 'in moderation' - i find the tippex 'mouses' are the best as you can write on it immediately.

    Scott.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    I use one of those erasable pens too, saved my life during FRA. I've never really got on too well with correction fluid but I know several of my class mates find those mouse things good.

    Chris
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    Where can you get erasable pens from?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil
    JackieHarper wrote:

    Then I found a pen that you can rub out. I've seen them in Tescos, but any good stationers should have them. I still checked all my answers, but at least I only had to write them out in full once!

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    They're quite widely available, W H Smith and Woolworths certainly sell them.

    Chris
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    Hi,

    Asda sell the erasable pens as well the are £1.

    Regards

    Hayley
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    I buy a set of three from Wilkinsons for £2.49

    Scott.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    I did the pencil in and write over thing during my PLB exam and all it did was waste time, making me rush right as time was running out and get very stressed!

    I still passed though, but it could have been less stressful!

    Definitely gonna go and get me some of those pens now!!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    Just been and bought mine, I had never heard of them so thank you Soooo much, it will help a lot in the exam.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    couldnt find any in sainsburys :roll: are they easy to spot
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    Thanks everyone for the replies.

    Never noticed of heard of erasable pens before, but guess what I'll be buying at the weekend! Great advice and thanks again.

    Good luck everyone.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil


    If they can be erased, are they really acceptable? Surely there isn't much difference to a pencil or have I missed something?

    :cry:

    Helen
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    Well they look indistinguishable from an normal pen, they use ink and your writing looks just like it was done with an ordinary pen. I really don't think the AAT should be worrying about the ontology of pens. Anyway, I've never had any comeback from using one through three exams and half a dozen skills tests

    Incidently, on recent exams it's stated in the rubric that 'we strongly recommend that you use a pen rather than a pencil', so I'm wondering exactly what the AAT's stance on this actually is?

    Chris
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil


    Might it be an issue of you asked for a re-count?

    If the 'ink' can be erased, does it fade?

    The papers must be kept for a certain period (don't know how long), and it might be disastrous if they had faded.

    Bit like some toner copiers 20 years ago - smudgy, faded and pretty useless for presevation.

    Helen

    :wink:

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    If it did fade I'd be writing my cheques out with it :)

    Good point though. I just had a look at my Foundation skills tests, nearly two years old and showing no signs of fade. And yes, it is pretty sad that I've kept all my work from then...

    Chris
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil


    I think I might try them at the weekend. It's a comfort thing, too!

    Helen

    :wink:
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    I think you'll find that the type of ink used in erasable pens becomes permanent after around twenty four hours. Or at least it's supposed to! Although I have two in my pencil case, I've rarely used them as they're not particularly 'clean', sometimes looking quite messy once you've erased and overwritten.

    I prefer gel pens and find it hard to write with any other type. Yes, I use correction fluid but only in moderation, overwriting with a ball point.

    Had a disaster on last years FRA skills test when my gel pen ran out after five minutes and I had to switch to a horrible cheapo ball pen! Funny how small things can affect your performance! Now I take about ten spares into the exams!

    Robert
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil


    You're not alone with the quantities!

    Be prepared for the worse case scenario - and if you're a born pessimist like me, you'll be plesantly surprised!

    :lol:

    Helen
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    Id say use a nice comfortable pen, and take a couple of those tippex mice (mouses) :lol: I did have an incident, when i had one that snapped whilst i was halfway through the exam, its no wonder i failed it mustve been a right mess.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    Id say use a nice comfortable pen, and take a couple of those tippex mice (mouses) :lol: I did have an incident, when i had one that snapped whilst i was halfway through the exam, its no wonder i failed it mustve been a right mess.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    Well, I managed to get my eraseable pens today from Asda and they are FAB! Thanks everyone for the advice, it was really helpful.

    C :D
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    The reason pencil are not allowed is that it look like you are not certain with your answer.

    In pratice with an erasable pen, you would have a problem that another person can more easily meddle with the figure in the account book, putting the bookeeper into trouble. (same problem with tippex)

    Sometimes, it better to put a line through the mistake so the auditors can see what you have done or do the correction of error thing you have learnt in the FRA module

    That why AAT like to see pen being used, but I don't think they be wasting their time checking if the pen used is erasable
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    I am told that it is acceptable to use them because in 24 hours the ink sets and can't be rubbed out.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    Well I got some from Wilko's at the weekend. I think I'll take some extra pens and pencils just in case. Better safe than sorry.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:To Pencil or Not to Pencil

    as i live in germany i thought i would not be able to find them but lo and behold i found them in my local supermarket - made by papermate - got a couple about £2 each though - oh well it will be worth it when i pass

    tracy

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