Will you be marked down for poor handwriting/sentence structure in exams?

Hello! If the examiner can't read your handwriting, they can't mark it, so unfortunately you won't be awarded any marks for anything they can't read. If this is something you're concerned about, I'd suggest practicing writing your work out neatly and slowly, and then reducing the time you give yourself to write out that same piece of work over a few weeks - that way you should be able to improve your handwriting in rushed conditions. Sentence structure is a similar issue, whereby if your work is unreadable, you won't be awarded marks. However, spelling, punctuation and grammar is only worth 4 marks in the creative writing sections of English exams, so it as long as your work makes sense, it shouldn't affect you too much. Hope that helps

Your handwriting must be legible. In regards to your second question, I know that GCSE English exams are marked on sentence structuring.

Hello Jameson,

Generally, no. You will not be marked down solely based on illegible handwriting in exams. You can see what each question wants from you in an exam by looking at the exam board’s specific mark scheme. I have not seen one that requires or even mentions good handwriting. However, as a teacher who has done some marking with exam boards, I would say try to improve your handwriting before exam time so you don’t lose marks on great points because the examiner couldn’t read them! If you have some absolutely out-of-this-world answers, but nobody can make them out due to handwriting, this would be a dire shame! If this were the case for an exam, the examiners would work hard to try to decipher what you have written (even by passing your script to other examiners to see if they can make it out) but if you can improve your handwriting, why risk losing the marks?

I hope this helps.

Happy handwriting!

Hi Jameson,

Yes, your handwriting and sentence structure matters in exams. Your handwriting needs to be legible - if the examiner can't read what is written, you run the risk that the examiner can't assess it and then can't mark it. Sentence structure is important too. Showing off a range of structures such as compound, simple, and complex can help push you ahead. A common issue I see is that sentences sound too colloquial, or like speech. Making sure you use proper English and grammar is key in exams.

You wouldn't be marked down for poor handwriting, but an examiner may miss important points you have made in your answer if it isn't legible, so it is important that your handwriting is clear enough to understand.

For the sentence structure, you will be marked on this in writing tasks and sometimes in a literature essay, but otherwise it is mainly just important for clarity in your answers.

Poor handwriting only matters if the examiner cannot read your handwriting. I would advise taking your time with your handwriting if you have been told it's difficult to read! If it's really illegible, there may be an opportunity for you to apply for a scribe, as when an examiner cannot read your answer, they cannot mark it appropriately and may give you a 0.

Sentence structure is important, as it allows you to show the examiner your fluency. It also helps them properly understand your answer. The most important part is the larger questions - whether in English, History, or even science - where SPAG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) actually contribute towards your mark. So yes, in some questions, poor sentence structure can cause you to lose marks. If you are still unsure, I would read the specification and mark schemes of your papers for more clarity.

Handwriting itself won’t affect your grade as long as it’s legible. In terms of spelling it is important that what you write is legible and understandable as well as being as accurate as possible

Well James, if the examiner can't read your amazing analysis then yes, BUT if it is legible then you are marked for WHAT you write rather than the quality of your handwriting. We know that our handwriting often takes a battering in timed exam conditions, but this is where adding a quick proof read to check before the end of the exam helps to make sure what you have written is both legible and accurate.

The role of the examiner is to positively award marks and to look for opportunities in a student's work to give marks. Therefore, you run a risk of missing out on marks for SPG and the use of various types of sentence structure in your writing. Clarity in writing is important as examiners are reading through hundreds of scripts. Focus on forming your letters carefully and ensure that you have a range of varied sentence structures in your work to earn the high marks. So clarity and a range of sentence types is key!

no, my aim is to have a high level of improving children hand writing and sentence structure.

Hi, you can only be marked down for poor handwriting if your handwriting is illegible. If you have concerns about your handwriting and it affecting your grades, this is something we can discuss within tutoring sessions to ensure that you are as confident as possible in all areas of your exams. Sentence structure can boost your grades - for example, instead of writing a subject-verb-object structured sentence such as 'Mia hit Sam and ran.' you could structure the sentence in a verb fronted structure such as 'Before running, Sam was hit by Mia.' Though, in short, as long as your sentence is grammatically and contextually correct, you cannot lose marks within an exam response for your sentence structure.

If the examiner does not understand your writing it is hard for them to see what you are saying , therefore you may be marked down for poor handwriting.

This is a very good question that I am sure a lot of students are keen to find out about in order to secure those top marks.

Handwriting during an exam will inevitably not be your top concern, however it is important to make sure your writing is as clear as possible in order to avoid losing any valuable marks as a result of any possible confusion. However, the time of an exam can be limiting and my advice would be to not worry too much and just make sure you get all of your good ideas down on the paper.

A good sentence structure, on the other hand, is a really vital part of ensuring your exam stands out and impresses the examiner. This does not mean the sentences need to be complex as such, as long as they are correct in term of grammar and punctuation this will be valued during an exam. Students can occasionally attempt to over complicate a sentence to impress an examiner that is equally effective as a simple sentence so long as it is grammatically correct.

Hope this helps!

you may get marked down if it’s not able to be read. It’s important to get sentence structure correct

You will not be marked down for poor handwriting as long as it is legible. Examiners do their best to read your writing and are not allowed to withhold credit for this. However, you will lose marks for poorly constructed sentences, and for lack of variety in sentence types.