Pencil Lead Diameter Interacts with “Bubble” Shape on Multiple-Choice Completion Time: A Replication and Extension

In many classrooms, time-restricted multiple-choice tests are a primary mode by which students’ understanding of course material is assessed. While many forms of standardized and educational testing have transitioned to virtual administration, it is still common for students tested in a classroom setting to record their item selections for multiple-choice and other tests on “bubble” response forms using a pencil. Prior research indicates that time pressure can negatively affect students’ scores; as such, it is important to understand how physical factors of a writing instrument can affect response-form completion time. Previous research indicated that the use of a pencil with a larger diameter significantly decreased bubble response-form completion time. The present study aims to partially replicate and extend these findings by investigating the effect of both pencil lead diameter/shape and response item format on form completion time. College students used mechanical pencils with circular 0.5 mm, 0.9 mm, and oval 1.8 x 0.9 mm graphite leads to fill-in items on either a customized circular “bubble” form or commercial rectangular “dash” response form while response-form completion times were recorded. Analyses revealed main effects for both factors; larger diameter pencils resulted in faster completion times, and the dash response form produced faster completion times. Moreover, the interaction of the two factors indicated that the dash form effectively eliminated the effect of pencil lead diameter. These findings indicate that multiple factors impact the motor aspects of test taking, and in doing so, may affect the time required to complete a timed test.