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Duke University
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UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Mechanical Pencils on the SAT?

I'm taking the SAT next month, and I'm wondering if it's okay to use mechanical pencils during the test? I've looked online and found mixed answers, so I'm hoping someone here might know for sure. I just don't want to make a huge mistake on test day!

2 years ago

It's important to keep in mind that the SAT is now digital. In the past, mechanical pencils were not allowed because the SAT answer sheets were read by scanners that often didn't detect bubbles that were filled in with a mechanical pencil.

Now, however, the answer sheet is digital, so you will only need to use your pencil when making notes to yourself on scratch paper, which means a mechanical pencil should be fine. The College Board website does not specifically state that you must use a No. 2 pencil, but it also doesn't directly say mechanical pencils are allowed, so you may want to confirm with them. You can give them a call at 866-756-7346, or fill out an inquiry form on their website: https://about.collegeboard.org/contact-us

Have a great test day and best of luck with your SAT!

2 years ago

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