I'm actually glad someone brought this thread up. Just want to mention that I've always used the clutch pencil, only difference being that I use the 0.7 mm pencils, not the traditional 0.5 mm ones. The latter are simply too filmsy for my fat fingers :-(

I'm partial to the Reynolds company, even though the pencil body colours are a bit...

Only trouble is you have to well equipped and carry the lead box around with you wherever you take the pencil, 'cause most stationery dealers still don't carry the 0.7 mm leads.

As for eraser, any NON-DUST one will do, because eraser dust is the OMR-answer-giver's greatest enemy...

Apologies if someone's pointed all this out, me just too lazy to read thru 12 pages of pencil-related info!

hi everyone,

well this thread definitely beats all other threads hands down as far as content is concerned , and anup dont worry u can use the same pencil or different pencil no one will object and it wont matter just leave all apprehensions aside and concentrate on the prep these are all petty matters......al the best , give your all ..........btw HB is hard black pencil

aloha ppl,
man ne1 wants a gud laugh then just go thru the first few pages, GOSH r the hilarious!!!!
Neways
M

whao! 27 in DI with NO mistakes. that's super!

Am sure if you put up your pencil for auction it will fetch quite a sum - maybe if you get admission to the school of your choice you may consider donating the money to PG ;)

I had 4 lovely Staedlar pencils, all yellow and black, with a soft tip and dark colour...so beautiful to gaze at when you don't know how to work out even one damned problem in the quant section....:infinity:its colours spinning visions of leapords and tigers....

And I found my house ayah chewing on the other end of one and licking it all over while using it to read...... (line by line).... a film magazine:2gunfire:.:sneaky:

LOL


I wud never use the fu*king clutch pencils again in my life ...i used them in CAT and screwed it up

whao! 27 in DI with NO mistakes. that's super!

Am sure if you put up your pencil for auction it will fetch quite a sum - maybe if you get admission to the school of your choice you may consider donating the money to PG ;)

arey nahin 6 marks of quant was also involved in dat

wat a thread....hats of to u all for reachin 12th page...

well lucky man he has two pencils...
my advice don't use the lakdi wali , but take both to centre.who knows i may meet u and taking in account my track record i will need some one to lend one to me ..

cheers

Hey guys.... as D CAT is ovr.... which pencil shud b usd for XAT, SNAP n NMAT.... can i use d same pencil.... or d pencil brands diffr for diffrent exams ??

Hey Zango,
for the new server why dont u put up an Ad? I am sure with the problem you are facing (Too many views!!) you will get a good sponsor. Also encourage people to click on ads. With the range of ISPs that visit your forum, you shd get well over $30 a day. This is a very conservative estimate. My blog fetches around 1$ a day on good days, so I dont see why this is not possible. And I shall make a start right away. Gonna click on come ads and make a thread as well.

All the best to PG. I appreciate all that you guys have done for me.
Regards,
Sunil.

i just wanted to tell u guys...dat pencils really sometimes prove ur best buddies....actually i realized it during this cat...i have chosen 3 pencils 1 quant 1 for di and 1 for va...all have individually fared best in terms of %iles in there repective section (in mocks)....after giving cat i realised dat my quant pencil cudn't fired wen it mattered most....my va- pencil played cautiously nd dint do nything silly....but man of the match was my di pencil which came at last 40 mins nd din't do single question wrong in last 40 mins fetching me 27 marks.....this pencil also gave me 100 %accuracy in di section during 1 of the mocks....nd it manage to perform the same feat tday also....fr the time being i m not changing my team composition...but nyways i have to look after the form of my quant pencil....

chalo cya...don't worry i will not allow this thread to die

whao! 27 in DI with NO mistakes. that's super!

Am sure if you put up your pencil for auction it will fetch quite a sum - maybe if you get admission to the school of your choice you may consider donating the money to PG ;)

i just wanted to tell u guys...dat pencils really sometimes prove ur best buddies....actually i realized it during this cat...i have chosen 3 pencils 1 quant 1 for di and 1 for va...all have individually fared best in terms of %iles in there repective section (in mocks)....after giving cat i realised dat my quant pencil cudn't fired wen it mattered most....my va- pencil played cautiously nd dint do nything silly....but man of the match was my di pencil which came at last 40 mins nd din't do single question wrong in last 40 mins fetching me 27 marks.....this pencil also gave me 100 %accuracy in di section during 1 of the mocks....nd it manage to perform the same feat tday also....fr the time being i m not changing my team composition...but nyways i have to look after the form of my quant pencil....

chalo cya...don't worry i will not allow this thread to die

The Bad Guy Says

This is certainly one of the funniest n hilarious threads.....which re-surfaced this CAT It reminds me of an old thread - Who is Pagalguy (i guess, was the title).....which starts with an innocent but stupid question and gets dragged on.......- no offence meant

AFSOOS, with CAT 2k5 over now, this thread will probably be dormant for a year now, until some good soul retrieves the treasure, or Mr. Anderson bumps this thread to reenforce his point ... maybe I will bump it before XAT 2006

This is certainly one of the funniest n hilarious threads.....which re-surfaced this CAT It reminds me of an old thread - Who is Pagalguy (i guess, was the title).....which starts with an innocent but stupid question and gets dragged on.......- no offence meant

Awesome thread.
Hey Aces, nice to see a nice morning riser like me. But wont post at 6:45 in the morn. Did i hear someone say "natraj"??

Anyways, my pick is the friendship pencils. My sis had brought them from the states. Besides have used them for the sims.

ATB to all...with pencils atleast!

Regards,
sunil Natraj

faber castell is unlucky!!!! I used it for all my sims..and you know the result


So ordered a brand new bunc of pencils,going to choose from apsara,natraj and steadler..


Testing:work out a few problems,if you get them right and in good time,use it....

The faber castell pencils are a lil' too smooth,so you dont have controll...

The natraj pencils have good grip,apsara are too light for my liking...

Havent tried steadler...What a thread!!

I actually sat down and thought and replied.....hehehe...

Might be a good idea to switch pencils btw sections...esply going into di/maths sections...as the pencil tip gets worn out..whtever calculations u scribble on the q paper becomes more n more confusing(u write 7..next time u look at it..u read 2..errors like tht)..helps to hv a less worn out tip...
apaprt frm tht..the black faber castell pencils look cool..did ims give i+ims = iims pencils this time..??? light weight pencils..i luv them...only other option is the yellow /black steadtler pencils...which remind me of Uma thurman in kill bill..so steadtler rocks..
on a serious note..clutch pencils ..not a good idea .. and please dont try stunts like solving 10 qs on the q paper..then transferring the answers onto the OMR sheet..really not worth the risk..
This thread is just awesome..guess we'll be seeing similiar discussions nxt yr also on this thrd..
andy

More than the type, the "familiarity" is what is needed. Use the pencils which u took the mock cats(even if it's small now) but take 2 new steadler(blk/yellow) type for back up. This helps maintain familiarity and prevents future shocks !

On hindsight, forget the new pencils, as new ones are a CHANGE and that's the last thing you want (FYI, I took 3 new best-in-the-market Faber/Steadler pencils for CAT 04, was so shaken up by the pattern added to the new pencils, new center, new everything and finally bombed out) So DONT GET NEW ONE's!! In fact will donate the new pencils to my maid's kid now..:)

1 hell of a cool thread ... must say we sure have sm very special writers in here who know how 2 tickle a bone or 2

Bump !! Bump !! Bump !! Bump !! Bump !!

Thought this thread needs a bump... for stressed (if any) PGs to chill out!!

newaz guys i dont wanna tae a chance so i am taking nataraj apsara fabercastle n steadler pencils with me ok fine guys dnt forget to take two watches wth u incase ur one stops working which hppnd to one of friends during the mok so guys ATB n keep going all u guys take achill pill n relax finally its the attitude tht counts. oops did i post these informations in the wrong thread????????? koi baat nahi ths is the way u shud behave 4 days b4 CAT ROCK AS A PAGAL NOW hey guys we hve gt the CAT license or excuse to do so ha ha ha oops tht me laughing not the person

I had 4 lovely Staedlar pencils, all yellow and black, with a soft tip and dark colour...so beautiful to gaze at when you don't know how to work out even one damned problem in the quant section....:infinity:its colours spinning visions of leapords and tigers....

And I found my house ayah chewing on the other end of one and licking it all over while using it to read...... (line by line).... a film magazine:2gunfire:.:sneaky:

What a wonderful time to revive the thread!!!
Afterall, it's all about timing!
~SM

try using 0.6 mm pen pencil . it fills the ovals really fast n accurate

or else
apsara zindabad

i have personaly found these two nice during mocks

n ya plz keep that apsara pencil in case u run out of led in penpencils !!!!!

Flash back to 2004 November - a young man, eager to tame a feline beast with his first slingshot, seeks a weapon with with to do so. Much soul searching and gully searching later, he chances upon an Apsara extra dark. Tries it. Likes it. Uses a combination of his new marker of choice and his trusty steed, a steadler 0.5 mechanical pencil to shade the ovals that promise two years of insomnia.

May 2005 - Weapon malfunction had nothing to do with young man facing a situation of having to shade ovals once again. Aforementioned young man, wiser with experience, waxes eloquent on matters pertaining to weapon selection in public forums.

November 2005 - Young man sees true meaning and sees the maya inherent in the tantalizing choices in selection of weapon to shade ovals. Relegates choice to back of mind and focuses more on material matters such as volumes of Cat material that still need to be devoured.

November 13 2005 - It must be to do with the date. Priests at the high temple of TIME deign to offer prasad of Faber Castel pencils. And eraser. And sharpener. Young man sharpens. Shades. Likes.

And that is how I decided to use Faber Castels for Cat 2005!!
(Disclaimer - I still have last year's Apsaras which I will also be taking with me.)

Amazing thread folks






Lage raho



PS- I am using good old NATRAJ :infinity:

Hey people

I hv been using Apsara 6B drawing pencil for quite some time, and guess what.....it works wonders. Its tip is much fatter than a normal HB pencil, but not too fat either to disrupt proper writing.

By my calculations, if 1 uses 6B pencil for marking answers (and solving), assuming attempts of 80 Qns, he/she would save enough time 2 attempt
2-3 more qns... That's enuf incentive to use Apsara 6B pencil..I guess.

Moi wrote CAT in 2003 and 2004, scored 93.7 and 97.33 %iles respectively. Going to Bell the CAT finally this time.....of course with d help of Apsara 6B pencil......... !!!

Hey no offence but it more seems to be an Apsara 6B advertisement that you doing!

well PGs, I never thought that this thread will have such a long life, i created it arnd a month before CAT 2004 but see the long way it has come, neways the junta thinking this thread funny has got a veryy gd sense of humor & those who think its silly n should be locked, i think they need a chill pill.
well keep posting,
Ankit...

dark sharpened one for right answers and a blunt one for the wrong

i have never used those regular pencils n always prefer the pen pencil no worry abt sharpenin n all

Hey dude your answer i found for using the pencil was so gud that no one will again dare to start such silly thread.
Anyways gr8 going.U really seem to be a pagalguy and also have made all of us pagal

If you found this thread silly, then my post is sillier (albeit technically). From what I have seen, this is a funny thread not a silly one. The above analysis was my conribution to the madness of this thread. I am certainly not against this thread, but a part of it now. (Good enough to post this message to bump this thread).

If anybody finds my analysis stupid... Thank You.

Hey people

I hv been using Apsara 6B drawing pencil for quite some time, and guess what.....it works wonders. Its tip is much fatter than a normal HB pencil, but not too fat either to disrupt proper writing.

By my calculations, if 1 uses 6B pencil for marking answers (and solving), assuming attempts of 80 Qns, he/she would save enough time 2 attempt
2-3 more qns... That's enuf incentive to use Apsara 6B pencil..I guess.

Moi wrote CAT in 2003 and 2004, scored 93.7 and 97.33 %iles respectively. Going to Bell the CAT finally this time.....of course with d help of Apsara 6B pencil......... !!!

Here's another dimension to the Pencil dimension study:

Step 1: Measure the diameter of the pencil. Since the pencil is usually hexagonal convert the cross-sectional area into hat of a circle, to get the equivalent diameter.
Step 2: Take a measure tape and measure the average width of your pencil holding fingers.
Step 3: Measure the diameter of the hole your hand makes while holding the pencil.

Now, calculate the stresses generated in your hand due to this peculiar position. Refer some Strength of Material book.
Next calculate the amount of energy expended in maintaining this position. Use some thermodynamics if you like.

Now do some trial and error. Try out different ways of holding the pencil and again calculate the energy consumed. Write some stupid differential equation and find the minima. Voila use that style.

Now try this entire experiment for different pencils and find out a global minima (the previous one was a local minima.)

If you want to make it more advanced you can also do some entropy, enthalpy calculations and do some researc on the type of food which will provide the optimum amount of enregy.

Next, tackle the clothes thingy by noting the ambient temperature on that day and your body temperature. Do some basic Heat transfer calculations (conduction, convection and radiaion.) Pre-determine your comfort temperature and accordingly the thickness of the cloth material and its colour.

Also, if you prefer the same temperature throughout the test then be prepared to shed some clothes along the length of the test, to ensure constant temperature.

WARNING: The non-male gender is requested not to follow this last tip, for the sake of others.

Thats it. If you are a chemical engineer or a good student of physics and chemistry you understood most of it, if not then forget it !!

Long post eh!!!.. yeah, had some time to while away

Hey dude your answeri found for using the pencil was so gud that no one will again dare to start such silly thread.
Anyways gr8 going.U really seem to be a pagalguy and also have made all of us pagal

Here's another dimension to the Pencil dimension study:

Step 1: Measure the diameter of the pencil. Since the pencil is usually hexagonal convert the cross-sectional area into hat of a circle, to get the equivalent diameter.
Step 2: Take a measure tape and measure the average width of your pencil holding fingers.
Step 3: Measure the diameter of the hole your hand makes while holding the pencil.

Now, calculate the stresses generated in your hand due to this peculiar position. Refer some Strength of Material book.
Next calculate the amount of energy expended in maintaining this position. Use some thermodynamics if you like.

Now do some trial and error. Try out different ways of holding the pencil and again calculate the energy consumed. Write some stupid differential equation and find the minima. Voila use that style.

Now try this entire experiment for different pencils and find out a global minima (the previous one was a local minima.)

If you want to make it more advanced you can also do some entropy, enthalpy calculations and do some researc on the type of food which will provide the optimum amount of enregy.

Next, tackle the clothes thingy by noting the ambient temperature on that day and your body temperature. Do some basic Heat transfer calculations (conduction, convection and radiaion.) Pre-determine your comfort temperature and accordingly the thickness of the cloth material and its colour.

Also, if you prefer the same temperature throughout the test then be prepared to shed some clothes along the length of the test, to ensure constant temperature.

WARNING: The non-male gender is requested not to follow this last tip, for the sake of others.

Thats it. If you are a chemical engineer or a good student of physics and chemistry you understood most of it, if not then forget it !!

Long post eh!!!.. yeah, had some time to while away

lage raho andy bhai...!!
apsara 2B still rules...

Just read the entire thread... my reaction:



MODS please, make his a sticky or else I threaten to bump it everyday
(kidding, dont ban me).

Almost Fell off my chair.

Must Read.... PG Best Seller.


Yes, its alive and posting... by the way, you have posted your views for the umpteenth time on this thread... nice way of reinforcing your point

One thread i have absolutely no qualms spamming..
lage raho!!
steadtler-fabercastell rulz..
andy.

Well..seeing the thread...name ..... i thgt who would discuss something ..which so silly,..but am surprised to see about 10pages on this one...so thgt of contributing some thing worth...
Sharpen the pencil..obviously HB..and fill all the personal details in OMR sheet using it..please continue filling answers with the same pencil..cos by the time the pencil lead will become blunt..and will cover the oval with just 2-3 strikes...unlike sharp pencil which will take many strikes..and may end up punching holes..:))..apart from this anybrand...but HB only...try Natraj ..brand loyal..

Great Thread Folks!!!

Just read the entire thread... my reaction:



MODS please, make his a sticky or else I threaten to bump it everyday
(kidding, dont ban me).

Almost Fell off my chair.

Must Read.... PG Best Seller.

Can't believe tis..this thrd is still alive??
phew!! ..i stick to my earlier viewpoint..fabercastell or steadtler
andy.

Yes, its alive and posting... by the way, you have posted your views for the umpteenth time on this thread... nice way of reinforcing your point

Can't believe tis..this thrd is still alive??
phew!! ..i stick to my earlier viewpoint..fabercastell or steadtler
andy.

A thread on PENCILS
Don't know where this will LEAD
I am wondering if the MODS will give me permission to start a thread on the ultimate pencil companion:
ERASERS (errrr. rubber )
For someone like me, who guesses a lot, pencils take a back-seat. I think more about good erasers. Non-dust, non-smudging, non-paper tearing .

How about a perfect combination of the Best pencil and the best Eraser. May the best couple bell the CAT.

Thats it, I am already going nuts !!

I was thinking of starting a thread but didn't because i thought i might end up doing something stupid...but there's nothing i can do to surpass this...and the best part is you still are assured of so many replies..

i'll pass on this question...man u clearly seem 2 have completed "all the studying" to be bothered about the pencil to be used..

They say that the CAT is not an aptitude test but a test of your decision taking prowess under fire. All right - with less than 20 days to go, I pose to you, the pagalguy, a question which will test your decision making prowess to the max. A decision which preceeds all those that you must make in those 2 hours must be made soon.

Which pencil are you going to use?

Hey thanks Mac for taking my advice seriously. As for the other kind of distraction, say any no. of mocks can't prepare you for that!
And why don't you somehow get some good chick (who should be your girlfriend) to take the exam in your room! ('machiavellian thinking at work here' )!

theres place enough in the iim's for the both of us .. and that good looking chick .. and probably her best friend too ... its the rest of the peeps we need to distract

a couple'a clarifications required ...

hamper ur concentration or that of the ppl around u ?

Best Case Scenario:
if u've practiced enough with ur flashy pencil, then ur good to go ... but it may affect the concentration of the people around you .. a lil bit of gamesmanship if u please .. machiavellian thinking at work here

Worst Case Scenario:
you are afraid u will get distracted by the fancy pencils around u ... so what to do?
practice taking mocks .. with colorful strobe lights / disco lights around you .. after a few .. u shud get used to flashy distracting objects .. ... so ur good to go ....

Cheers,
MachiaVelli

P.S : (are flashy pencils the only objects that can distract a guy)

Hey thanks Mac for taking my advice seriously. As for the other kind of distraction, say any no. of mocks can't prepare you for that!
And why don't you somehow get some good chick (who should be your girlfriend) to take the exam in your room! ('machiavellian thinking at work here' )!

break a lot yes, but stil faster than regular pencil

holes in paper? .. i dont see how .. unles u hold the answer paper in the air an shade ... microtip means thin point dude ... not some fine edged pencil lead sword to poke holes in paper

Hve ny idea of chnging ur pencil during CAT so often????? microtip to break ur concentration gets the lead broken so easily dudy

Oh man! 230 odd replies to "Which pencil to use in CAT" !!

I didn't even know there were "types" of pencils...

microtips tend to break a lot and make holes in the paper ..hehehe
dotn want a hole in CAT aswer sheet do u??
sibs

break a lot yes, but stil faster than regular pencil

holes in paper? .. i dont see how .. unles u hold the answer paper in the air an shade ... microtip means thin point dude ... not some fine edged pencil lead sword to poke holes in paper

microtips tend to break a lot and make holes in the paper ..hehehe
dotn want a hole in CAT aswer sheet do u??
sibs

use clutch pencil .. (microtip) ... so dunno abt both ends sharpened ... thts allrite unless u poke urself with the other end .. tht can hurt

but regular pencils are a drag ... microtip is my preference.

sorry guys... had to delete the text from here as i posted a message here which was meant to be in a different thread.

how abt pencils with both ends shaprned....what do u think abt that??
sibs

use clutch pencil .. (microtip) ... so dunno abt both ends sharpened ... thts allrite unless u poke urself with the other end .. tht can hurt

but regular pencils are a drag ... microtip is my preference.

kool Says

definitely not ...a guy(dat is a guy)...can get distracted by many factors...u really want me to name them...hey how abt starting a new thread...things dat can distract a guy(dat is a guy)

aap zara strt kijiye woh thread kuch tips to hum bhi denge

how abt pencils with both ends shaprned....what do u think abt that??
sibs

P.S : (are flashy pencils the only objects that can distract a guy)

definitely not ...a guy(dat is a guy)...can get distracted by many factors...u really want me to name them...hey how abt starting a new thread...things dat can distract a guy(dat is a guy)

The heading goes for the suggested pencil as well as this thread. I've an opinion that too flashy a pencil might hamper concentration!
And yeah I use apsara extra dark.

a couple'a clarifications required ...

hamper ur concentration or that of the ppl around u ?

Best Case Scenario:
if u've practiced enough with ur flashy pencil, then ur good to go ... but it may affect the concentration of the people around you .. a lil bit of gamesmanship if u please .. machiavellian thinking at work here

Worst Case Scenario:
you are afraid u will get distracted by the fancy pencils around u ... so what to do?
practice taking mocks .. with colorful strobe lights / disco lights around you .. after a few .. u shud get used to flashy distracting objects .. ... so ur good to go ....

Cheers,
MachiaVelli

P.S : (are flashy pencils the only objects that can distract a guy)

The heading goes for the suggested pencil as well as this thread. I've an opinion that too flashy a pencil might hamper concentration!
And yeah I use apsara extra dark.

voila li lost my pencil ....left somewhere when i went to give this weeks mock....nd for a change this time i thought dat my mock went well...but my apsara extra dark has decided dat she had enuff of mocks and left me... ...chalo ppl...i m still ruing loss of my sweety:huh:

pendyal Says

money back? is that Rs.3 which is the cost of the pencil or the Rs.1100 or 1200 or whatever for the CAT form and somewhat similar amounts each for the XAT,IIFT and whetever tests one may be taking.....

*Conditions Apply dude and dont ask me what they are

u have a very closed outlook when it comes to the glasses ... have you considered the fact that since its gonna be the processor(oh-so-fast) solving and not you, u can follow a sequential order of questions ... now not too much video processing h/w is required is it ? ..

P.S. but i forgot pencil was god ... my bad ... ur one up there