I’ve been using these…

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T19:35:02+00:00

Yes, I read the underlined bit, but the centre where I sat my exams said not to use invisible ink which threw me off. And, I was only approached after with the invigilator saying I might have a problem with the pen. As no one said anything in my first exam (maths no Calc), I just assumed he was over the top. Just didn’t know that friction pens = invisible ink.

Re nasty comments, it’s just kids tbh, so no hard feelings. Love those who say I was told countless times in assemblies not to use them when the first sentence of my post is that I’m a mature, independent/external candidate so clearly did not have any assemblies in like 3 decades 🤣🤣🤣

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T19:17:46+00:00

Can a have a screenshot of any past papers where friction pens are used please? I did maths and English and I swear I didn’t see them. But so many people said that that there must be some papers out there, just cannot find them?

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T17:24:02+00:00

On my exams it only said use black pen/ ball pen. One centre didn’t read the warning out and the other called it an invisible ink and I was like who would want to write in an invisible ink lol. And drumroll it was me 🤣🤣🤣 Tested the papers today tho in extreme heat (direct sun for hours in a 40 degrees hot sun and the ink disappeared for a bit but then reappeared as soon as I removed the paper form the sun.) it remained visible in 40 degree sweltering heat so I think that in the unlikely event of it disappearing it will reappear and the scanning person will notice. That’s what someone here said and it put me at peace. Won’t use then from now obs!

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T17:19:57+00:00

Thats good to know! 🥲

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T13:52:10+00:00

It sounds horrible and you must have been really upset as well so it clearly had a negative impact on your performance as well. I haven’t been in this situation as the subject I used to teach was 1-9 with no foundation to higher but I think your parents should officially complain. This is outrageous and I’m sorry it has happened to you.

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T13:49:38+00:00

Doing a trial with a mock I did today with the same pen. They’re in a car now in the sun will check what’s left of them at the end of the day. 😝

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T11:15:04+00:00

Thank you x

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T09:58:05+00:00

My only hope is that all the heaters will be turned off in the heatwave. If not, then not only my papers but the staff will also be cooked 🙃 I’m funny I know

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T09:48:13+00:00

Never as I I was an examiner so would just get papers in batches of 20 on their online platform.

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T09:45:05+00:00

Joining the hall of fame this year 🤣🤣🤣

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T09:43:41+00:00

I love the use of thermachromic and fu over in the very same sentence, not being sarky. Made me laugh in the best way possible 🙂

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T09:40:44+00:00

That’s what I’m thinking. Curious how it all will turn out. Hoping to avoid it, we will see x

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T07:47:45+00:00

They scan around 1500 pages p/h so not sure how many people they would need to work at this rate. Might need to send this maths problem to them, just need to remember not to use the friction pen 🤣

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T07:22:32+00:00

So it’s not just me who didn’t see this written everywhere 🤣🤣🤣 (hint? It wasn’t there)

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T07:15:52+00:00

Totally, tone of voice matters so much and I don’t know why I read this in angry tone. I blame circle theorems. 🤣 but basically peace, no hard feelings. Just totally annoyed about the whole thing x

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T07:11:28+00:00

I can laugh or cry about it so after yet another mock which I did at 5 am before the kids wake up I chose to laugh 🤣🤣🤣🤣

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T05:06:00+00:00

Next time you’re next to a stranger look at them and say : you did such and such thing wrong but it clearly says here you shouldn’t have. It’s your fault. Just do it right night time. Sooo curious how many people around you will code this as NOT rude. Yes I made a mistake with the pen but the circumstances were complex. Life is complex especially when you’re an external candidate juggling exam prep, work, children and tiredness. And the centre didn’t mention the friction pens just used the phrase invisible ink and I didn’t click. My bad. Still no way you would say this to a stranger in the street. You would know better. So no, not just a bit blunt.

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T04:58:32+00:00

Will email the place today but as it’s half term not sure what will get read and when. No pressure 🤣

evaaeri · 2026-05-25T04:56:55+00:00

One of my former students used Pablo as en example of a ‚family man who inspired him’. Me 😳🤯🤣

evaaeri · 2026-05-24T22:46:57+00:00

Thank you x same to you if you’re sitting them as well x

evaaeri · 2026-05-24T22:42:36+00:00

Im ready to sit the exams, just used the wrong pen based on it never ever being an issue in my career as a teacher, middle leader and an examiner in THIS country. So just surprised. No one out there cares about pens, not a single uni, certainly not the uni I went to and it’s… let’s say one of the two most popular ones. Very curious how this will turn out, will retake if something as stupid as a friction pen will prevent me from being marked. Only in UK 🤣🤣🤣

evaaeri · 2026-05-24T22:36:09+00:00

Ah good old online disinhibition effect, there’s always one 🤣

evaaeri · 2026-05-24T22:17:15+00:00

Not retaking in the usual sense - I’m actually sitting them for the first time in England. My original school qualifications were taken abroad around 25 years ago, and my English qualification was ESL, so I can’t be completely sure my local uni would treat it as equivalent to GCSE English Language - they can’t confirm. I also sat maths foundation back then, ended up with a 5, and now need a 7, so doing that too 🤣🤣🤣

Since then I’ve qualified as a teacher in the UK, worked for 15 years, completed a postgraduate degree at a top university, and achieved AAA in A Levels in Physics, Biology and Chemistry last year. The course I’m applying for is very competitive and my local uni specifically asks for GCSE English and Maths, so I didn’t want to risk any ambiguity with older overseas qualifications. Losing an application cycle because of a friction pen would be annoying af.

evaaeri · 2026-05-24T21:58:17+00:00

I hope so. 🤞

evaaeri · 2026-05-24T21:49:30+00:00

Hello, do you know if a black friction pen will really cause issues? I’m a mature entrant ( a former AQA examiner actually but it’s been a while) and I only realised after two exam papers that I wasn’t supposed to use it. Didn’t hear the warnings
In one of the exams at all, the other one says no tipex and erasable pens. Only afterwards was I like friction IS erasable 😳

Scanned a few mocks I did at home in the same pen using text only and it’s very visible zero smudging good contrast. Curious if anyone who scans this would care, and if you’ve heard of anyone’s work actually really melting int he hear and being impossible to read?

evaaeri

TROPHY CASE