Choosing the Ideal Pen for your Exams

During an exam I write furiously, and don’t want to be distracted by writers cramp or writing strain. Also I want a pen that is comfortable to hold and reliable. Exams are stressful enough without suffering from a leaking pen or aching hand. So what is the ideal pen for an exam?

Many people believe that fountain pens in an exam are a bad idea because they may leak or break. Whilst some fountain pens are prone to leakages, good quality fountain pens are very reliable and have advantages over other writing instruments. Because they use liquid ink, fountain pens need very little pressure on the paper whilst writing, meaning less risk of writing strain. The most popular pen for taking exams is the ballpen due to its reliability and economy. The disadvantage of a ballpen though is that it requires a lot of pressure to be applied to the paper. Perhaps the best solution is the rollerball pen because it uses liquid ink, and is very reliable like a ballpen. For more information on pens avialable, take a look at the Writing Equipment Society.


One of my favourites is the Lamy Safari, a highly dependable and comfortable pen that has an ergonomic grip. Lamy Pens are known for excellent quality and functional design. The Safari has a triangular grip for comfort, and a little barrier to stop the fingers slipping down the nib. The body is lightweight but very durable, and the fountain pen benefits from taking large ink cartridges. Lamy also has another range called the Studio, which is a bit heavier but very comfortable to use because the barrel is made from a ‘grippy’ surface. Thus Lamy pens are an excellent choice for an exam, and all their models are avialable in rollerball.

There are various ergonomic pens that I have seen on the market, but none are as good as the Yoropen. Ergonomic pens aim to make writing more natural and comfortable, and are therefore a very good choice for taking into an exam. The Yoropen has a bend above the nib, creating a finger support. It also changes the angle at which you write, meaning less pressure is required whilst writing. My own personal favourite pen for taking into an exam is the executive Yoropen, because it is beautifully weighted and writes like a rollerball. The good news is that the Yoropen will soon be available in gel ink.

If you have young children and are concerned about the standard of their handwriting, have a look at the website ‘handwriting for kids’. It has loads of good tips for teaching children how to hold the pen correctly and much more.

It is worth spending a bit of time choosing the right pen for your exam, because many people overlook this detail but regret it afterwards. It is a big mistake to take in a BIC biro or other cheap pen, because they will make your hand seriously hurt, thus damaging your performance. Also, your handwriting will deteriorate, making it illegible. To read some tips on improving your handwriting, click here. If you do buy a new pen for an exam, make sure you break it in beforehand. This is particularly important if it is a fountain pen, because it takes a while for the nib to adjust to the owners writing style.