For those who passed...Did you use pen, pencil, or erasable pen?

CFA Level III
#21

I used pencil for most of the exam and did use pen for 20 percent exam when my pencils led were not working and I wasted around 5 mins to sharp them. I then decided to use pen. Those 5 mins cost me to leave 2 sub parts

i was so afraid after the exam for using both that I even sent an email to Institute and they clarified me that our examiners will make effort to grade exam irrespective what you have used but however we recommend using erasable pen or pencil

#22

LOL

#23

Those for pencils, did you use the same HB type of pencils as in L1, L2 and L3 PM scantrons? Or did you use a different grade of hardness?

#24

Erasable pen worked great…smooth writing plus neat answers also able to erase answers well

highly recommended

#25

I use mechanical pencil with 2B lead for all 3 exams. Really cannot figure out why most people prefer carrying a dozen pencils or waste time sharpening them…

#26

I used a non-erasable pen and it could have been a disaster. There were a couple of 6-8 point morning questions where I crossed out my answer, only to find that I did not have enough space on the paper to insert the new answer. I just had to move on and pick up points elsewhere. Those questions were among my <=50 for the morning paper. It possibly could have cost me a pass – if I had to do the exam again, I would definitely use an erasable pen. I think it is good that the Institute recommends erasable pens.

#27

Normal BIC Pen… I like to live dangerously cool

#28

Blue pen. You don’t want to waste time on the AM erasing or potentially wrinkling up your paper and making it even harder for your grader to read!

#29

^ I erased only if I had to, otherwise I crossed the incorrect writing (faster and wrinkle free :slight_smile:

#30

Erasable pen can be tricky in hot and humid weather countries . Temparture above 45 degree can result the hand writing to disappear :slight_smile:

#31

^ Here we go again …

#32

Pencil

I was afraid to use a frixion pen, and the other erasable pens on the market had horrible reviews.

I put a ******* hole through one of the pages with my erasing at one point. Would rather have simply used a rollerball gel pen, but the CFAI language “strongly recommend” got in the way and I ****** out

#33

I thought I had bought a black erasable pen only to notice it was actually green on my way to the exam (I’m color blind). Glad I made the switch to pencils, easier to erase and personally feel more comfortable writing with them. That’s what I would recommend but really, that is up to you, no game changer there.

#34

I used the new PaperMate InkJoy gel 0.5…was marvelous to write with.

#35

Pen - I had scratches all over my answers, with arrows and circles everywhere… so I don’t think your writing instrument matters.

#36

Pencil - I was planning to use the Frixion pens until i put my coffee on a mock while I was prepping and all the ink disappeared

#37

i went out of my way to buy an erasable pen to use for the first time the day before the exam…exam day wrote my name and signed the pledge in erasable pen…then wrote the entire exam in pencil, yea i dont get it either

#38

LOL

Did the same thing. Last second choked and went for my pencils.

#39

Brown crayon

#40

Regular pen. I crossed out any mistakes or calculations going nowhere with a single line. Many final answers I circled or put a box around.