Best pens for school: a parent's quick guide

Choosing pens for school does not need to be complicated. Most students do fine with a small selection of reliable types. Here is what actually works and where to spend your money.

The three types worth knowing about

For school, you are mainly choosing between ballpoints, gel pens and fineliners. Ballpoints use a thick, oil-based ink that dries instantly and rarely smudges. They last a long time and are cheap to buy in bulk, which matters when pens tend to go missing from school bags. The downside is that cheaper ballpoints can feel scratchy. Brands like Paper Mate InkJoy and Uni Laknock offer smooth ballpoints at a reasonable price.

Gel pens write more smoothly than ballpoints and are popular with older students for essay writing and exam work. The ink flows with less pressure, which makes them more comfortable for long writing sessions. Uni-Ball Signo and Pilot G2 are the most popular gel pens in Australian schools. They dry quickly enough for most students, though left-handers may find some gel pens smudge before they can get their hand clear of the line.

Fineliners are a good choice for students who want neat handwriting or who take detailed notes in science or maths. The Staedtler Triplus and Artline 200 are classroom staples. A set of 10 fineliners in a mix of colours is also useful for colour-coding notes, which many students find helpful for study and revision.

What to look for when buying school pens

Comfort matters more than most people expect. A pen that requires heavy pressure will cause hand fatigue during long exam sessions. Look for pens with a rubber grip section or a smooth-flowing ink type. Multi-packs of 10 or more are better value than buying individual pens, and they mean you always have a spare. Check that the pens are in blue or black ink, since some schools only accept blue or black for assessment tasks. A 0.5mm or 0.7mm tip is the most versatile size for general schoolwork.

Brands that are worth buying

For everyday writing, Paper Mate InkJoy and Uni Laknock ballpoints in 10-packs are a practical starting point. For students who prefer gel, the Uni-Ball Signo 207 in a 10-pack of blue or black is a dependable choice. For fineliners, Staedtler Triplus sets and Artline 200 sets offer good consistency at a price that makes losing the odd pen less painful.