There is an Evil Dead II joke in here somewhere....
February 24, 2010 7:55 AM Subscribe
I am in my last semester of graduate school, with my comprehensive exam coming up. It is a 4.5 hour written (essay) exam. The problem? I haven't written (only typed) in forever, and my hand does not seem to be cooperating.
Yesterday, I took an essay test, which took me about 1.5 hours. By the end of it, my hand was in a lot of pain, as in, I don't know how I can keep writing. I took breaks to stretch it, shake it, etc, but I was still hurting. I usually type notes, and I literally can't remember the last time I hand-wrote more than a couple sentences. During my test, I getting concerned, thinking about my comprehensive test, which is 2.5 weeks away.
I know I probably seem like a wimp, but I am looking for ideas to help me either build up my tolerance or to help me during the test. Should I practice hand writing for a certain amount of time everyday? Any advice about writing utensils that might help? Take a freaking heating pad to the test?
It probably sounds strange that I've never had an essay test before this; I agree. My degree will be in Communication Disorders (Speech-Pathology), and we've for whatever reason just had tons of multiple choice/ short answer tests. I'm excited to get this test done, and I don't want my stupid hand to prevent me from doing the best I can.
Thank you!
Yesterday, I took an essay test, which took me about 1.5 hours. By the end of it, my hand was in a lot of pain, as in, I don't know how I can keep writing. I took breaks to stretch it, shake it, etc, but I was still hurting. I usually type notes, and I literally can't remember the last time I hand-wrote more than a couple sentences. During my test, I getting concerned, thinking about my comprehensive test, which is 2.5 weeks away.
I know I probably seem like a wimp, but I am looking for ideas to help me either build up my tolerance or to help me during the test. Should I practice hand writing for a certain amount of time everyday? Any advice about writing utensils that might help? Take a freaking heating pad to the test?
It probably sounds strange that I've never had an essay test before this; I agree. My degree will be in Communication Disorders (Speech-Pathology), and we've for whatever reason just had tons of multiple choice/ short answer tests. I'm excited to get this test done, and I don't want my stupid hand to prevent me from doing the best I can.
Thank you!
Can you talk to your advisor about the problem that you're having? Maybe there's a way that you can type your answers during the exam rather than writing them by hand.
If they don't trust you to use your own laptop, perhaps they could lend you a laptop or desktop that is disconnected from the internet and doesn't have any related material on it?
posted by cider at 8:04 AM on February 24, 2010
If they don't trust you to use your own laptop, perhaps they could lend you a laptop or desktop that is disconnected from the internet and doesn't have any related material on it?
posted by cider at 8:04 AM on February 24, 2010
Sounds like writer's cramp. I have a similar problem when I write with a #2 pencil or a ballpoint pen. I think it's because I push the point down really hard into the paper with these writing implements, and I grab the pen really hard, so I get bad cramps in my hand and forearm.
Get a wide array of pens (gel pens, rollerball pens, ballpoint pens, really narrow felt-tip pens), and see which feels most comfortable to write with. My favorite pen for writing is a 0.7 mm Sarstedt pigment liner -- obviously, the best pen for a person will vary with their writing style.
You could also try some alternate grips for the pen -- I can't find any links to a picture, but try holding the pen between your index and middle finger, with your thumb supporting the pen.
If none of these are helping you enough, you could try speaking with your advisor/department chair (get a doctor's note first, if you can) -- with a legitimate medical excuse, you might be able to get an exemption made so that you can either type your exam or dictate your written answer to someone who will write for you. But you'll have to act fast for that to happen.
posted by kataclysm at 8:09 AM on February 24, 2010
Get a wide array of pens (gel pens, rollerball pens, ballpoint pens, really narrow felt-tip pens), and see which feels most comfortable to write with. My favorite pen for writing is a 0.7 mm Sarstedt pigment liner -- obviously, the best pen for a person will vary with their writing style.
You could also try some alternate grips for the pen -- I can't find any links to a picture, but try holding the pen between your index and middle finger, with your thumb supporting the pen.
If none of these are helping you enough, you could try speaking with your advisor/department chair (get a doctor's note first, if you can) -- with a legitimate medical excuse, you might be able to get an exemption made so that you can either type your exam or dictate your written answer to someone who will write for you. But you'll have to act fast for that to happen.
posted by kataclysm at 8:09 AM on February 24, 2010
I took comps a few years back and had the same issue. The weird thing was that I write notes by hand A LOT and it still hurt. Have you looked into those grippy tubes you put on pencils? We used them as decoration in middle school, but some of them really help by making the writing instrument larger and thus easier to grip.
Keeping the pencil sharp or using mechanical pencils or a gel pen can also help. The worst part for me was when I would fight dull pencils instead of just stopping to sharpen them.
posted by parkerjackson at 8:14 AM on February 24, 2010
Keeping the pencil sharp or using mechanical pencils or a gel pen can also help. The worst part for me was when I would fight dull pencils instead of just stopping to sharpen them.
posted by parkerjackson at 8:14 AM on February 24, 2010
Most departments still have an electric typewriter hanging around. Ask if you can use that.
posted by bricoleur at 8:15 AM on February 24, 2010
posted by bricoleur at 8:15 AM on February 24, 2010
This Occupational Therapy information sheet is aimed at children, but I think that there is some useful information for adults as well:
OT - Pencil Pressure
posted by purlgurly at 8:30 AM on February 24, 2010
OT - Pencil Pressure
posted by purlgurly at 8:30 AM on February 24, 2010
Do you take comprehensive notes in class by hand? Its a good way to keep your calligraphy current, as well as strengthening the muscles in your hand in addition to actually being helpful academically.
posted by BobbyDigital at 8:45 AM on February 24, 2010
posted by BobbyDigital at 8:45 AM on February 24, 2010
Before I got my bachelors, students hand wrote all the time. While high school and university essays could be typed, nobody brought laptops back then, and a computer in classroom was rare. All classroom notes were hand-written.
I haven't written essay-length amounts in years and now when I do it, I find my hand also in the same pain you describe, something I never experienced back in my teenage days.
I suggest writing as much as you comfortably can every day to build up your tolerance before your exam date. Write your notes. Write what you'd normally Facebook/Tweet/blog about into a journal. Try the tools others have suggested but it might look weird if you took a heating pad to your test.
Good luck!
posted by Seboshin at 9:22 AM on February 24, 2010
I haven't written essay-length amounts in years and now when I do it, I find my hand also in the same pain you describe, something I never experienced back in my teenage days.
I suggest writing as much as you comfortably can every day to build up your tolerance before your exam date. Write your notes. Write what you'd normally Facebook/Tweet/blog about into a journal. Try the tools others have suggested but it might look weird if you took a heating pad to your test.
Good luck!
posted by Seboshin at 9:22 AM on February 24, 2010
Response by poster: I'm going to ask around about the possibility of typing the test; maybe I'll get lucky! I'm going to head over to Office Depot and blow a bunch of money on fancy grips and fat pens. It will be a nice study break.
I'm also going to start writing an hour a night, just practicing for questions I think will come up on the test. What sucks is the day after my comprehensive test, I have the Praxis the next day. I'm sure my hand won't fall off or anything, but hopefully I won't have any trouble filling out a scantron. Spring break, get here soon!
posted by afton at 9:58 AM on February 24, 2010
I'm also going to start writing an hour a night, just practicing for questions I think will come up on the test. What sucks is the day after my comprehensive test, I have the Praxis the next day. I'm sure my hand won't fall off or anything, but hopefully I won't have any trouble filling out a scantron. Spring break, get here soon!
posted by afton at 9:58 AM on February 24, 2010
I get this all the time. I forget how to write fast, it feels really strange. Its definately practice, i wrote out an essay for a day for a week before my last exam. Course, mine weren't as long as yours.
Take five minutes out sometimes to flex and massage your hand, too. Works for me. Kind of. Im still in pain by the end, especially of long exams. The adrenalin helps though, you dont notice as much.
Good luck!
posted by stillnocturnal at 10:43 AM on February 24, 2010
Take five minutes out sometimes to flex and massage your hand, too. Works for me. Kind of. Im still in pain by the end, especially of long exams. The adrenalin helps though, you dont notice as much.
Good luck!
posted by stillnocturnal at 10:43 AM on February 24, 2010
I wrote for 7 hours when I did my comps. By the end, my writing was barely legible. My tip: take lots of smoke breaks!
posted by battleshipkropotkin at 12:17 PM on February 24, 2010
posted by battleshipkropotkin at 12:17 PM on February 24, 2010
Best answer: There are fatter pens, such as the Dr. Grip. You could also take Naproxen Sodium before the exams (Advil), in addition to the other advice.
I would definitely make disability-noises about wrist and hand pain until they let you use a laptop. I took my comps with my own laptop, and really wished I would have written the exams in advance and spent the time playing tetris, but oh well.
posted by mecran01 at 12:59 PM on February 24, 2010
I would definitely make disability-noises about wrist and hand pain until they let you use a laptop. I took my comps with my own laptop, and really wished I would have written the exams in advance and spent the time playing tetris, but oh well.
posted by mecran01 at 12:59 PM on February 24, 2010
Yes. Fat pens and pencils help. Stretch breaks help. A cold and hot pack which you can alternate for resting helps. And...if you do not have a medical condition preventing it, ibuprofen starting the evening before and every 8 hours helps prevent the pain from interfering.
posted by eleanna at 2:23 PM on February 24, 2010
posted by eleanna at 2:23 PM on February 24, 2010
Uniball 207 pens flow like magic.
I used to get hand crampy too after comeing out of college typing papers. My job now requires a lot of phone time and I find myself hand writing phone notes while i am holding the phone in the other hand. No more writing cramps.
I think you just need to write - a lot. since you are taking a big comprehensive test, you should try to overdo any writing stamina excercise to account for additional nervousness on test day. Just write a lot. Write a bucket list, write a letter to your mom, write what the people on tv are saying, write out your favorite poem, write out driving directions, write a recipe...
posted by WeekendJen at 3:04 PM on February 24, 2010
I used to get hand crampy too after comeing out of college typing papers. My job now requires a lot of phone time and I find myself hand writing phone notes while i am holding the phone in the other hand. No more writing cramps.
I think you just need to write - a lot. since you are taking a big comprehensive test, you should try to overdo any writing stamina excercise to account for additional nervousness on test day. Just write a lot. Write a bucket list, write a letter to your mom, write what the people on tv are saying, write out your favorite poem, write out driving directions, write a recipe...
posted by WeekendJen at 3:04 PM on February 24, 2010
Response by poster: For anyone checking this later, I got a Dr. Grip pencil. It was awesome; my hand hurt, but not nearly as bad as I thought it would. I would recommend it for sure.
posted by afton at 3:53 PM on March 12, 2010
posted by afton at 3:53 PM on March 12, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Keep in mind that no matter how much you practice, the actual day of the exam is going to be worse. I wrote several full-day exams, and probably hand wrote for two hours each night leading up to my most recent bar exam. By the end of the bar, my hand was nothing more than a lifeless claw. Good luck!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:02 AM on February 24, 2010