Mathematics Department
Calculatrices
Guidance on which calculators are required, which models are approved for IB examinations, and how to obtain one.
Calculator requirements by year group
| Year group | Calculator type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Years 7–8 | Basic scientific calculator | Any approved scientific calculator. Casio fx-83GT is a common choice. |
| Year 9 | Scientific calculator | Students beginning to work with more complex functions. Same model as Years 7–8 is fine. |
| Years 10–11 | Graphical calculator (GDC) | Required from September of Year 10. Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE or Casio fx-CG50 recommended. |
| Years 12–13 (DP) | IB-approved GDC | Must be on the IB approved list. Same model as Year 10–11 is suitable for all four DP courses. |
Recommended models
Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE
- Full colour screen
- Supported by most TI tutorial resources online
- Approved for all IB examinations
- Used by the majority of our DP students
Casio fx-CG50
- Full colour screen with natural display
- Strong for statistics and 3D graphing
- Approved for all IB examinations
- Good alternative if students are already familiar with Casio
Purchasing and the loan scheme
Graphical calculators can be purchased from the school bookshop or directly from retailers. If price is a concern, please contact the Head of Mathematics — the department operates a small loan scheme for families who need it, and a limited number of second-hand GDCs are sometimes available at the start of the academic year.
Year 12 students who are finishing the DP and no longer need their GDC are encouraged to consider leaving it for the loan scheme or reselling it to an incoming Year 10 student. See the calculator drive page.
IB examination rules
In all GDC-permitted DP mathematics papers, students must use only IB-approved calculator models. The IB publishes an approved list each examination season. Calculators may not have prohibited programs stored in memory. Students are responsible for ensuring their calculator is compliant before examinations.
AA SL and AA HL Paper 1 does not permit a calculator. Students sitting these courses should practise working entirely without technology on a regular basis.