Pencils are an essential staple of everyday life. Since they are used regularly, why not buy the one that works best for you and your needs?

What defines a “good pencil?” Many things can contribute to the functionality of your pencil, including smoothness on the paper, durability, erasing quality, shade, comfort, and grip. Pencils have many different purposes, but the purpose that will be reviewed is which is the best for school work, note-taking, and writing.

I wrote with each pencil for one hour in my various classes throughout the school day to unearth which pencil was truly the best for school. The first thing that comes to mind when the word pencil is said is a long, ring-shaped, off-brand, yellow object with pink rubber attached by a piece of metal at the end. Although many pencils differ from what was just described, this will be the first pencil that will be reviewed. 

Off Brand Pencil:

Right off the bat, I noticed that the writing was not smooth. The noise that was emitted every time the lead touched the paper made it feel like ants were climbing up my spine. It sounded like when Quint dragged his nails on a chalkboard in the film Jaws. To make my notes dark enough, I had to press down on the paper tremendously hard. While working on a math problem, I made an error and had to use the eraser. It makes a maddening noise and leaves behind a red residue. The wooden base of the pencil was uncomfortable in my hands, and after using it for no longer than an hour, it left my finger raw and vermilion. The only positive aspect of this pencil is the price. Each pencil costs about 4 cents which is considerably cheaper than an on-brand wooden pencil. Overall, this pencil is uncomfortable, and I could not wait for the hour to be over so I could be done using it. 

Ticonderoga Wooden Pencil:

The packaging of this pencil states that it is “The world’s best pencil.” I am unconvinced that this statement is true after using the pencil in my Advanced Geology class; however, it did have upgrades from the off-brand pencil which I noticed immediately. Firstly, it showed up rather dark on the paper without having to press hard. The wood has a smooth coating on the outer base, in turn, making it much more comfortable for my hand. In terms of price, it costs 25 cents per pencil—considerably more than the off-brand pencil. In general, this pencil is a good option for standardized tests that require a number 2 pencil to be used; it erases well, writes smoothly on paper, and sharpens nicely. 

BIC .7mm Mechanical Pencil:

The consistency of the pencil strokes immediately felt like buttery oil pastels. The color on the page remained consistent throughout the whole use without me having to adjust the pressure used. It was very comfortable and shaped the form of my hand flawlessly. The eraser is smooth but leaves a sight residue on the page. The cost is roughly 30 cents per pencil, but the product comes with 3 pieces of lead, making the price worth it. There is a variety of colors and styles you can choose from when purchasing this brand. Altogether, this product is a simple and practical pencil that will encompass all of your needs and make writing easier. 

Papermate Clearpoint .9mm Mechanical Pencil:

Lastly, I used the Papermate Clearpoint mechanical pencil. Whenever someone is seen using this pencil at school, it is known that they take the quality of their note-taking seriously. Similarly to the BIC pencil, the Papermate Clearpoint writes smoothly on the paper, and the color on the page is consistently dark. Some unique features include a button on the side of the pencil to click out the lead, a long eraser that allows you to spin it to get more eraser when running out, and a gripper for added comfort. Some things that I disliked about this pencil are the thick lead that makes it harder to write small, the price of $2.77 for one pencil, and the bulkiness of the pencil makes it harder to get a good grip while writing. 

When it comes to selecting the ideal pencil for school-related tasks, the BIC .7mm mechanical pencil is superlative compared to the rest. Its perfect balance of comfort, durability, shade, and grip makes it the perfect pencil for students. Although it is a simple design, its consistency and affordability make it one of the best.