If your pen runs out during an SEC written paper, switch to a permitted spare. If you have no working spare, signal to the invigilator. Once you can write again, check the last few lines for gaps or faint writing before you move on.
SEAB’s 2026 GCE handbook directed candidates to write clearly in blue or black ballpoint pen. It gave a separate 2B pencil instruction for shading a personalised multiple-choice sheet. For the 2027 Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), read the stationery and answer-format instructions for your paper.
- Test a permitted primary pen and spare before leaving.
- Check the last line if ink fades or skips.
- Ask an invigilator if you cannot continue.
- Use the specified tool for each answer format.
Pack a spare you have already tested
Choose a spare that meets the instructions for the paper. Before exam day, write a short paragraph or work through several calculations with each pen. A pen that makes a mark on the first stroke can still skip once you write at normal speed. Check that a retractable pen works and that a capped one closes properly.
Store the spare with the stationery you are allowed to take to the desk. Check the case and pens for added notes or labels with information before packing. For a multiple-choice component, check whether the paper gives separate requirements for pencils and erasers.
Recover a line that faded midway
A pen can leave an incomplete number, a missing negative sign or only the first half of a word. When you switch pens, go back to the last line you can read. Rewrite only the affected material where the paper permits, and make the final answer easy to identify. Avoid writing over faint figures if that makes them harder to read.
For example, if a final value looks like 6 when you intended 6.4, write the intended value and unit clearly in the permitted space. If your working is legible, preserve it. If the answer space is damaged or you are unsure where to continue, ask staff.
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Get help without interrupting other candidates
If both pens fail, raise your hand and explain that you do not have a working pen. Follow the invigilator’s instructions about how to proceed. Asking a neighbour for a pen can interfere with the examination communication rules.
For a printed answer sheet, use the tool specified for that sheet. On a paper with diagrams or different answer formats, read the task-specific instructions. Switching to pencil because the ink has run out may create a separate issue if that response requires pen.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use an erasable or gel pen as a spare?
Use the type specified for the paper. The earlier GCE guidance identified blue or black ballpoint for written answers.
Can I keep writing with a pen that skips?
Switch to a working permitted spare if you have one, then check the affected lines for legibility.
Should I ask another candidate for a pen?
Ask the invigilator for help.