We recently spoke to James Davis, Head of KS5 Further Mathematics at Newstead Wood School, who stressed how valuable it can be to use graphing technology when studying statistics.

Having said that, you can’d go on Wolfram Alpha in your exam and your school might not let you have your phone in class, so the ability to plot graphs in exams is a big plus (though most questions will still make you show working). If you’re doing A-level maths, especially Further Maths, you might also enjoy the process of learning how the calculator works. So I’d say there’s definitely a place for these still, but they are very expensive and are absolutely NOT required for A-level maths. But to answer my most commonly asked question about these… It’s not quite as compact as the other calculators we’ll look at, but it definitely fits the definition of portable. Weighing just under 100g, this calculator is perfect for travel and use. Graphical calculators absolutely ARE allowed in A-level exams (in fact they are also allowed in GCSE/IGCSE exams) so long as the memory has been reset to delete any possible programmable content (as you can write and save a lot more to the memory of these). A level mathematicians and further mathematicians mightthink about also having a graphical calculator like the C asio fx-CG50but these are expensive and absolutely not a necessity

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Any calculator which provides the students with the ability to do symbolic algebraic manipulation including differentiation or integration is not allowed

Texas Instruments also produces a range of scientific calculators. Any of these – most of which start with TX-30 – are suitable for GCSE, though if you like to be able to enter your fractions as fractions then you’ll need one of the Multiview models. However, Casio pretty much has a stranglehold on the UK market and not many institutions promote the use of TI models. For example, it doesn’t have a graph-plotting feature, and as I’ve previously said – a graph-plotting feature will significantly help you out when you learn about polynomials and the trigonometric graphs.These requirements ban symbolic functions or Computer Algebra Software (CAS), along with the ability to communicate with other machines or the internet. This precludes some graphical calculators, though many are still valid for use in exams. He also underlined the importance of giving students a lot of time with the fx-CG50, so they can feel completely comfortable using it before going into their A-level maths exams. As a teacher and tutor one of the questions I am asked most often is about what calculator to buy for maths at school. I’ll give a short and longer answer here – my short answer is: We are running a series of ‘Enhancing your teaching’ webinar events looking at the effective use of technology in teaching and assessment of Maths. These events have a small cost and bookings can be made using the following links: This can be a challenging topic, especially for those sitting higher-tier papers, so the more support students can get as they prepare for and sit their exams, the better.

The A-level models have additional functions such as solving quadratics and simultaneous equations which can be useful at GCSE too, as well as Statistics functions that you don’t need until A-level. So if there’s any chance of you continuing with Maths beyond GCSE then it’s a worthwhile investment. (You’ll probably need it if you do Core Maths too, though it does depend on which board and which modules you study. It – or an equivalent – is certainly required for the Statistical Techniques option on the AQA spec.) They must not have any form of data stored in them, be it databanks, dictionaries, mathematical formulas, or text. When you enter your exam, you will be responsible for clearing any data stored in your calculator, so make sure you’ve cleared the memory. There are lots of options out there for graphical calculators and Casio’s FX-CG50 is a very good one. It has a lot of more advanced features like drawing 3d graphs, spreadsheet tools, histograms and other statistical features. It also has some neat features that allow you to scan a QR code and get your calculator output straight onto your phone or computer. But graphical calculators do take a lot of getting used to and although it looks like they can do a lot of exam questions for you there’s also a lot of work in learning how to do it. And in a world where smartphones give us easy access to online maths tools like Wolfram Alpha graphical calculators have become a harder sell. graphs which assist in solving equations in x,y, and z planes., 20 graphing functions, spreadsheet function, statistical function, dynamic graphing, geometry, picture plot, integral graphing, pie & bar chart (in stat mode), graphing calculations, linear, quadratic and cubic equations, vector analysis, mathematical functions, square root, fractions, integration, complex functions, matrix algebra, linear equations, polynomial equations, etc.

This is the calculator I would recommend for students early on in secondary school (age 11-13) before they start properly preparing for GCSE and IGCSE. It’s a nice basic level scientific calculator and the cheapest option that can in theory get you through school mathematics. It lets you deal with fractions nicely and can do things like prime factorisation and recurring decimals well. Because it doesn’t have so many functions as the more advanced calculators it’s easy to use for younger children, but this does mean it is missing a few functions that can be helpful in GCSE and IGCSE exams.

Any calculator that includes symbolic algebra manipulation, symbolic differentiation or integration, or communication with other machines are not allowed in your exam. Section 10 of the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Examinations 2023-2024 includes information on types of calculators permitted in exams. The demands of the A-Level Maths syllabus can be met comfortably with this calculator – that’s not saying a graphical calculator would not be of great help, as it very much would be.All of the models mentioned above are allowed in any exam where calculators are permitted *; there is no distinction between a calculator for GCSE and one for A-level as far as JCQ (who make the exam regulations) are concerned. You can find the JCQ regulations in section 10 of this document. This calculator lands itself at the very bottom of my list of best calculators for A-Level Maths and A-Level Further Maths, so definitely make sure you buy one of the other calculators I’ve talked about. Graphical calculators are allowed in A-Level Maths and A-Level Further Maths, as long as they don’t break the rules I’ve stated above.