Here are some quick tips on speeding that pen across thepage.

We don’t spend a lot of time putting pen to paper thesedays, but for some reason we’re still asked to use these old-fashionedinstruments during some of the most important hours of our young lives. Theclock’s ticking, your hand’s cramping and your pen can’t keep up with yourracing thoughts. How can you get better? Like anything, it’s all about practice.

Do some practice exams

You could also keep a journal, handwrite letters to your friends or pen stories. The point is to get in the habit of writing lots of words in a short period, to strengthen your hands and get faster. Doing practice exams has the extra bonus of being a great way to study, too.

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Think about your hands (and arms)

Gripping the pen really tight is harder work on your muscles.Ideally you’ll have a pen that’s a bit thicker than usual, so you can hold itmore loosely. And when you’re writing, don’t just use your wrist to move thepen. Moving your arm across the page, guiding your hand, will ease that strain.

Choose your pen wisely

Don’t grabbed the closest chewed-up biro if you can help it. Not all pens are created equal – you want one that will move smoothly over the page, not a grainy one that fights your every word. Try some different ones at the newsagent and see what feels best. They usually have a little scribble pad there for you.

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Posture is important, too

Finally, it’s best to sit back and relax your body in anexam situation, instead of hunching your back and having your nose close to thedesk. Do a posture check every now and force yourself up, back and loose. It’llstop your hands getting tired out so quickly, and your body will thank you ingeneral.