Students use text smileys in exams
Pupils are losing marks in their exams because standards of handwriting are declining and emoticons are creeping into answers, a survey revealed Thursday.
More than a third of teachers in UK complained they had seen emoticons -- facial expressions formed of punctuation marks used in emails and social media messages -- written in exam answers.
Tablets and smartphones are being blamed for poor handwriting and growing use of text message shorthand including smiley, sad or winking faces.
Nearly two-thirds of teachers admitted docking marks in tests because they struggled to decipher what pupils had written.
Handwriting experts warned that youngsters are increasingly suffering blisters, aching arms and pins and needles after writing for lengthy periods.
GCSE and A-level examiners have already complained that text message slang and poor handwriting are invading exam scripts.
The survey - by stationery firm BIC - covered 270 teachers and 1,730 sixth-formers and university students.
It found that 61 percent of teachers believe the quality of children's handwriting has deteriorated over the last five years.
Some 64 percent admit that illegible handwriting has prevented them awarding the full marks a student deserved, while 35 percent have seen emoticons on test papers.
Eight-two percent of teachers say pupils are losing traditional skills because they are too reliant on new technology.
Margaret White, a handwriting expert, said: "Lack of practice - when you aren't using a pen and paper to take notes on a regular basis - means it's easy to slip into bad writing habits."
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