Find the Right Calculator
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.
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Price: The price of a new or used calculator, as of
October 19, 2019.
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User rating: From 1 (unacceptable) to 5 (excellent).
Evaluation findings are summarized below.
We only reported results for calculators that received reasonably acceptable ratings from students (i.e.,
calculators that received a satisfaction rating of at least 3.5 on a 5-point scale).
Prices are current, as of October 19, 2019.
Recommendations
The best calculator for you depends on your personal needs. Here are some things
to consider.
- Cost. If you want a new calculator at a low price, choose the FX9750GII. If you want a used calculator at a low price, choose the CFX-9850GC PLUS.
- User satisfaction. The highest rated calculator was the FBA_84PLCE/TBL/1L1/W, with a satisfaction rating of 4.8.
- Peace of mind. If you are looking for a calculator with a favorable satisfaction score based on ratings from a large number of users, consider the FX-9860GII or the N3CAS/CLM/2L1. Both calculators received a satisfaction score of 4.6, based on ratings from at least 100 users.
One More Thing . . .
It is important for each student to bring an AP-approved graphing calculator
to the exam. Here's why.
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The test developers assume that students will have an
approved calculator. Students without a calculator will be at a disadvantage.
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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.
