Do IB students experience writer’s bumps?

Unlike the GCSE program, which has a lot of handwritten assignments, IB is a bit different as most of the IB writing is typed. However, there are a few times a student may experience a writer’s bump during Mock exams and the main exams, as some of the IB essays are handwritten. Taking handwritten IB notes during a class session can also contribute to a writer’s finger bump. With that in mind, let's unpack the writer’s callus and how students can best avoid it.

What is the writer’s finger bump? 

According to Healthline.com, a writer’s callus forms due to accumulated dead skin on the fingers. It forms due to prolonged writing that initiates friction against the skin surface. It is also known as a nerd bump and can be caused by using items such as pencils and pens. Apart from friction from a pen, a nerd bump can also happen on your little finger as your hand rubs against the writing paper. 

How to manage and avoid writer’s bump

IB students concerned or alarmed by writing tasks that can cause writer’s finger bump can avoid or manage it by doing the following;

• Articulate your points in precision during IB Mock or Main examinations. Being straight to the point ensures you make a little effort in writing. Again, your examiner will enjoy reading your IB essay as it is not wordy. This will probably earn you more marks.

• Use alternative writing utensils. Make use of pencils or pens with soft grip, and if possible, use digital tools like typing your IB assignment.

• Practice a different writing technique. Adjust your grip and how you hold a pen or pencil. Alternatively, get a different hand posture or position. These reduce the pressure, friction, and rubbing against your skin surface, significantly minimizing the development of the writer’s callus. Lastly, when adjusting posture, ensure your handwriting is legible, as this may earn you lower marks in IB.

• Learn to break down the writing process into phases to accommodate short breaks. You can use this time to stretch your hand, enhance circulation, relax your muscles and reflect on your writing.

• Practice skin care routines. Apply products such as lotion on your hands to ease the impact of friction on your skin. Also, use a pumice stone or other recommended products to exfoliate dead skin cells. Be gentle during this process.

• Consult a professional if the problem persists.

Key Take Away

While the issue of nerd bumps is less likely to happen for IB students, the above tips can serve whenever one is engaged in handwritten activities such as IB mock exams, main exams, IB essays or taking notes.

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