Handwriting (1 Viewer)

[Libbster]

I've read alot on these boards about people being 'speed writers' being able to churn out 15 or so pages in 40mins. How does one gain this skill?!

I'm currently averaging about 8 pages in 40 mins, with about 7-9 words per line on 25 line paper. I've been practicing my handwriting but I can't seem to get any faster. Any tips?

Thanks

 

[rama_v]

I've read alot on these boards about people being 'speed writers' being able to churn out 15 or so pages in 40mins. How does one gain this skill?!

I'm currently averaging about 7 pages in 40 mins, with about 7-9 words per line on 25 line paper. I've been practicing my handwriting but I can't seem to get any faster. Any tips?

Thanks

Thats a load of exaggeration. Maximum posible is about 7 or 8 pages in 40 minutes lol..but they may be talking about the BOS paper, in that case its easy to write 15 pages in 40 minutes if u have large handwriting cause the paper's lines are very wide. Some tips to write fast

- write cursive
- use a flowing pen, like one of those pilot pens, or a parker pen if u can
- some ppl claim they write faster when there is only a table underneth (no other pages underneath), I dunno about this though
- dont concentrate on neatness, just concentrate on making sure its legible.it doesnt matter if the occasional word is rushed and the marker has some trouble deciphring it

 

[ujuphleg]

Unfortunately I happenned to be one of those speed writers in the HSC. The only tips I can give you is:

- PRACTICE - the more you write, the better you hand will be trained
- Use a good, smooth pen.

Don't be daunted by the fact that some people can write this fast though. For starters, what they write may not always be legible (which is very important) or relevant (which is even more important). Quality is far more important than quantity.

Finally, the exam booklets the Board give have lines which are largely ruled with very smooth paper which means that it is easy to make at least two extra pages to what you would usually write on an average A4 sheet. Thus, a 7-8 page normal school essay can become a 10 page HSC essay. This has its advantages in that whilst quality is important, an extra booklet does create a good impression to the marker when they recieve your essay.

Best of luck to you.

 

[glitterfairy]

I averaged about 9-10 BOS pages per 40 minutes in my HSC. To be banal, I prefer writing with at least one page underneath the page I'm currently working on (gives better texture), and I like to use a good ballpoint Pilot Pen. Can't remember exact name, but it's like GPS somethingarather, medium.

Mind you, a lot of HSC is waffle - provided you're writing decent stuff and it's legible, nothing really matters. A lot of the 14-15 BOs pages is created by people waffling, or repeating themselves. You're much better off with an essay that gets right to the point, although as ujuphleg has stated above, an extra booklet does look good...

 

[Husayn]

What kind of an idiot would be impressed with an extra booklet.

ARE THESE PEOPLE NORMAL?

 

[Meads]

I think the length of responses is becoming too important to students, I dont think it is all that important. The proof is in the exemplar responses, some of them are only 7 pages long, on average they are 8-10. Now on these BOS pages, that is not all that much, it is achievable but anybody with 35 minutes of solid writing. Importantly as well, these people that write into the second booklet actually only 6-8 words a line.

 

[jessied]

I went to an English Study Day awhile back and one of the teachers/hsc markers said that some students were writing 15-30 pages PER ESSAY!! .... I think he was lying.

 

[Husayn]

Pages are over-rated...

 

[Sparcod]

I hope all of you are timing yourself and doing 40-minute practice exams. (to test how fast you are and how good your memory is).
Good Luck All.

 

[silvermoon]

I'm also a "speed writer" --> i have very average sized handwriting and wrote about 16 BOS pages per response.
For what it's worth I used pens that I was used to writing with (so there was no problems with the grip) and not those gel ones (they smudge too easily). I also wrote with other pages underneath, but, to be honest, i highly doubt that these things will make much of a difference.

The only three things (in my opinion at least) that will make a difference are:
1) writing in cursive; and
2) practice practice practice
3) know your material well --> the better you know your material the easier it is to plan what you're going to be writing AS you're writing. If you know your material well enough you will be able to plan sentences in your head as you're writing previous ones, which means you don't lose any time sitting there going "what next?"

oh, and some people say that if you put a piece of paper or credit card etc. under your wrist it helps your hand move easier, but i can't say i've ever tried it.

try to remember - there's no point in sacrificing content, quality and legibility purely for quantity.