Find the Right Calculator: AP Statistics

Students are expected to bring a graphing calculator to the AP Statistics Exam and to the AP Calculus Exam. These calculators should have specific computational capabilities. The College Board has prepared a list of calculators that have all of the capabilities needed for both exams.

AP Calculator Review

We found many of the AP-approved calculators at Amazon.com, and evaluated each on the following criteria.

  • Price: The price of a new or used calculator, as of June 18, 2013.
  • User rating: From 1 (unacceptable) to 5 (excellent).

Evaluation findings are summarized below.

Best
buys		MakeModelNew priceUsed priceUser
rating		Number
of
raters
CasioFX 2.0$120.00$50.004.017
CasioCFX-9850GC PLUS$27.994.526
*CasioFX-9860GII$67.985.09
CasioFX-CG10$79.87$54.004.59
*CasioFX-9750GPLUS$83.75$10.004.519
*CasioFX9750GIIToo low to display$21.005.010
Hewlett PackardF2228A$89.00$30.00
*Hewlett PackardHP50G$84.49$70.004.5238
*Hewlett Packard39GS$39.99$25.004.013
Hewlett Packard39G+$75.00$30.004.55
Texas InstrumentsTI-86$190.00$24.934.560
*Texas InstrumentsTI89$239.99$38.004.5194
*Texas InstrumentsTI83PLUS$70.00$19.994.5344
*Texas InstrumentsTI83PLUSSILVER$35.004.5344
*Texas InstrumentsTI89 TITANIUM$110.00$64.904.5282
*Texas InstrumentsTI-84 PLUS$95.79$53.004.5144
*Texas InstrumentsTI-84 PLUS SILV$90.00$47.994.5141
Texas Instruments84PLSE/CLM/ILI/E$110.00$71.344.528
Texas InstrumentsNSCAS/PWB/1L1$72.99$28.954.057
Texas InstrumentsNS/CLM/1L1/B$35.984.043
*Texas Instruments84PLSE/CLM/1L1/BS$115.99$65.005.09
Texas InstrumentsN2/CLM/1L1$52.00$44.444.020

We only reported results for calculators that were highly rated by students (i.e., calculators that received a satisfaction rating of at least 4 on a 5-point scale). Prices are current, as of June 18, 2013.

Recommendations

The best calculator for you depends on your personal needs. Here are some things to consider.

One More Thing . . .

It is important for each student to bring an AP-approved graphing calculator to the exam. Here's why.

  • The test developers assume that students will have an approved calculator. Students without a calculator will be at a disadvantage.

  • Non-graphing scientific calculators, portable computers, and devices with QWERTY keyboards (e.g., TI-92 plus, TI-Voyage 200) are not permitted. Proctors will check calculators before the exam.
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