Deciding between cursive and print handwriting I was taught cursive in elementary school but was discouraged from using cursive by an English teacher in in a non English speaking country. At least I took his/her comment that “not many people use cursive these days” as a sign not to use cursive. Later I practiced and adopted a “connected print” style, because I feared there might me legibility issues for standardized tests. In college, naturally I continued the use of connected print. However, this is slow and laborious, so if you use this in handwritten exams, your mind is distracted from thinking about the question. 

How can I choose which style to use? Does it depend on the professor? Is there any evidence that professors prefer either style?
Most professors prefer handwriting that is legible.

I have seen some (asian weirdly, all other nationalities tend to a larger style and there are 90+ nationalities in the establishment) students with handwriting so small it is difficult to read but perfectly formed though.

Some write cursive others like small caps but all are fine when neat and legible.

The issue is always the “spider scrawl” that is not legible and so poor that even the author can’t read it later.