Which Of The Three Pens Would Be Better For First Timers?

[gaffa]

Another vote here for the Shaeffer No Nonsense range.

 

I find them extremely comfortable to use and ultra relable.i.e. they always write first time everytime.

 

The cartridges are easy to fit and hold a considerable amount of ink and can be refilled with a syringe easily.

 

Only downside I have found is that sometimes(dependant upon knib fitted and age)too much ink is deposited which although providing a super smooth writing experience does lay down too wide a line.

 

Overall My favourite starter pen.

 

I'd be interested to learn what you finally decide on and whether you enjoyed the experience(writing I mean not the exam!!)

[amk]

Absolutely agree with AC12, take a fountain pen but take a few backup gel pens to the exam in case. If you waste a bit of money on the gel pens it won't kill you - if, let's say, you manage to drop your fountain pen on the floor and damage the nib, and end up failing the exam because you have nothing to write with, well, that won't kill you either but the consequences will obviously be much more serious!

 

You may be pressing a bit hard and that's why you're getting through gel pens - a fountain pen can actually help you if you get one and then sit down and concentrate on relaxing with it, drawing lots of S's and squiggles in a very easy way, doodling a little, in a nice stress-free environment. Alternatively, it's possible the gel pens are not all that good!

 

Also, if you are using your pens quite hard, I'd think about getting a tough nib - Lamy Safaris I think are pretty tough particularly the M and B. You don't want a F that's going to bend on you.

[Anne-Sophie]

I agree with Ac12 about the 3 fountain pens for exams, even everyday notes.

 

It would be best if they were different, so the various grips, somewhat rest your hand. Try them before you buy.

 

Buy cartridges for each pen and bring one or two at each exam. Cartridges can be refilled with ink from the bottle. It is a calming ritual.

Buy a converter for each pen type so you can refill, in a hurry, from bottled ink.

 

Add a good quality refillable gel pen or roller ball, one of the fountain pen might dry up in the middle of a very involved sentence or, formula or, problem and, you might just want to keep your concentration.

 

If it is allowed, don't forget a pencil for jotting various notes on scrap paper.

 

 

Stick with school pens, they are engineered to deal with less than stellar paper, rough handling and good performance during long writing secessions.

 

 

I also recommend Sheaffer No Nonsense.

 

 

I own Safaris and Vistas and I like them.

Edited June 17, 2014 by Anne-Sophie

[PatientType]

I'd suggest a low-end, non-disposable PIlot. Pilot makes and sells an awful lot of pens and that approach will give you a fairly good nib. Maybe a 78G? Pilot products tend to be widely available, reliable, and offer good quality in relation to cost.