Faster writers get better exam results, according to a study.

Research carried out for the Teacher Training Agency suggests that handwriting speed is a factor in student achievement, regardless of ability.

In the study, carried out at a large UK comprehensive school, pupils who achieved higher than expected GCSE English grades wrote faster than those who underachieved.

They also had a better handwriting style, indicating that quality of handwriting is also strongly associated with achievement.

The research was carried out at the Lord Williams's School in Thame, Oxfordshire, and involved 1,192 pupils aged between 11 and 16.

The study reveals that slow writers had problems with poor motor co-ordination, spelling, letter formation, word shapes and discrimination between upper and lower case.

Boys have more problems

Researchers also found that more than 40% of students were writing slowly in Year 7, but that this figure was reduced to 20% by Year 11.

Boys in Year 7 wrote more slowly than girls, but increased their speed each year. By Year 11, they were slightly faster than girls.

Girls' writing speed increased from Year 7 to Year 8, but then stayed the same.

The researchers discovered boys had a higher frequency of handwriting problems than girls.

The research report says: "Current approaches to literacy emphasise reading and spelling, with relatively little attention given to the role of handwriting.

"This study suggests that the connection between handwriting and literacy may also be very significant."

It says handwriting should be taught throughout secondary school, a practice which could be of particular help to boys.