What is the difference between a regular pencil and a No.2 pencil?

Question

I would like to know why schools make such a big deal about using number 2 pencils durings regents and SATs. Is there any difference between pencils? They all look the same.

So if I were to use a non number 2 pencil, just by scanning a grid, the machine can find out if I didn't use the right pencil?

Answer 1

Nothing. The number on the pencil refers to the hardness of the "lead" (actually graphite) used in it. A #2 pencil uses more compact lead and so smudges less and leaves clearer markings than a #1 pencil does. On the other hand, it's lead is softer than a #3 pencil, which would not leave a clear mark without pressing hard enough to tear the paper on which most tests are written.

Therefore, the administrators of the test require you to use a pencil with a #2 hardness lead in it, which is lucky for you because at this point, #2 pencils are pretty much the standard pencils you're going to find if you just go and buy a box of "pencils".

Addendum: The machine used to score the test couldn't tell whether or not you used the correct pencil lead, but like I said a #1 would likely smudge too much to make the test machine readable, and a #3 would tear through the paper, and the machine wouldn't be able to read it as a result. So long story short, it couldn't tell if you used the wrong lead, but it probably couldn't read the test properly if you did.

Answer 2

Most pencils are number 2 pencils. The machines that scan the test will almost always pick up marks made by number 2 pencil. Pencils with a different type of lead may not be noticed by the machine.

If memory serves, the number refers to the hardness of the lead.

Answer 3

Pencil lead is made out of clay and graphite. The number 2 has to do with the mixture of clay and graphite. A number 2 pencil is more likely to register in the machine to optimize the likelihood that the machine will pick up the answer. Other pencils will work, but not as well.

Answer 4

LOL! Good question! A No.2 pencil IS a regular pencil. The '2' represents the hardness of the lead. There are softer ones, more often used for drawing, and harder ones, more often used for graphing, etc. The '2' works perfectly for writing and erasing easily, and has been the one accepted in our society for many years as 'the norm'. You can buck it or embrace it, but you'd be taking on the nation, and you'd have to ask yourself 'why bother'?

Answer 5

A regular mechanical pencil should be just fine for your technical drawing class. Just find one that is the right size lead and feels comfortable to you. I have been drafting for 21 years and I use mechanical pencils when I hand draft.

Answer 6

Many pencils, particularly those used by artists, are labelled on the European system using a scale from "H" (for hardness) to "B" (for blackness), as well as "F" (for fine point). The standard writing pencil is "HB". However, artists' pencils can vary widely in order to provide a range of marks for different visual effects on the page. A set of art pencils ranging from a very hard, light-marking pencil to a very soft, black-marking pencil usually ranges from hardest to softest as follows:

9H 8H 7H 6H 5H 4H 3H 2H H F HB B 2B 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 9B
Hardest → Medium → Softest

The American system, using numbers only, developed simultaneously with the following approximate equivalents to the European system.

Tone U.S. Europe
#1 = B
#2 = HB
#2 ½ * = F
#3 = H
#4 = 2H

* Also seen as 2 4/8, 2.5, 2 5/10, due to patent issues

Answer 7

The color of the lead and the things they put in it.

Answer 8

the scanner won't detect the mark, so it would be like you didn't give an answer

Answer 9

The shade of the lead, its darker.