AP Exams Calculator Policy

Get details on what types and brands of calculators you can and can’t bring, which AP Exams you can use calculators on, and important tips.

This page is now updated with information about 2024 exams.

Important to know:

  • Only certain types and brands of calculators are allowed. Scroll down this page to see the list of approved graphing calculators and the list of unapproved calculators. The proctor will check all calculators before the exam starts.
  • You can bring up to 2 permitted calculators to the exam. Be sure to bring calculators that you’re familiar with and that are in good working order.
  • You don’t need to clear your calculators’ memories before or after the exam.

Exam Day Rules:

  • You can’t share calculators with other exam takers.
  • You can’t use your calculator to communicate with other calculators.
  • You can’t use calculator memories to take test materials out of the room. If you try to take test materials out of the room by any method, your scores will be canceled.
  • If you don’t want to use a calculator, you may take an exam without one. However, if you choose to take an exam without a calculator, you must hand copy, date, and sign a Calculator Release Statement on exam day, which will be provided by your AP coordinator or proctor.

Courses and Calculator Use

Course

Type of calculator allowed

Section I Multiple Choice

Section II Free Response

Biology

Four-function (with square root), scientific, or graphing calculator

Allowed

Allowed

Calculus AB

Graphing calculator

Required for Part B

Required for Part A

Calculus BC

Graphing calculator

Required for Part B

Required for Part A

Chemistry

A scientific calculator (must not have unapproved features or capabilities; see list of unapproved calculators and technology) or graphing calculator are recommended; a four-function calculator is allowed but not recommended.

Allowed

Allowed

Environmental Science

Four-function (with square root), scientific, or graphing calculator

Allowed

Allowed

Macroeconomics

A four-function calculator is allowed. Scientific or graphing calculators and calculators with storage capabilities are not allowed.

Allowed

Allowed

Microeconomics

A four-function calculator is allowed. Scientific or graphing calculators and calculators with storage capabilities are not allowed.

Allowed

Allowed

Physics 1

Four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator

Allowed

Allowed

Physics 2

Four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator

Allowed

Allowed

Physics C: Mechanics

Four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator

Allowed

Allowed

Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism

Four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator

Allowed

Allowed

Precalculus

See the calculator policy for the new 2023-24 AP Precalculus Exam.

Statistics

Graphing calculator with statistical capabilities. Nongraphing calculators are permitted if they have the required statistics computational capabilities described in the AP Statistics Course and Exam Description. (effective Fall 2020)

Expected

Expected

 

Calculators are not allowed for any other AP Exams, including Computer Science A and Computer Science Principles, unless a student has an approved accommodation for use of a four-function calculator.

2023-24 List of Approved Graphing Calculators

This list will be updated as necessary to include new approved calculators.

Casio

FX-6000 Series

FX-6200 Series

FX-6300 Series

FX-6500 Series

FX-7000 Series

FX-7300 Series

FX-7400 Series

FX-7500 Series

FX-7700 Series

FX-7800 Series

FX-8000 Series

FX-8500 Series

FX-8700 Series

FX-8800 Series

Graph25 Series

FX-9700 Series*

FX-9750 Series*

FX-9860 Series*

CFX-9800 Series*

CFX-9850 Series*

CFX-9950 Series*

CFX-9970 Series*

FX 1.0 Series*

FX-CG-10 *

Algebra FX 2.0 Series*

FX-CG-20 Series*

FX-CG-50*

Graph35 Series*

Graph75 Series*

Graph95 Series*

Graph100 Series*

FX-CG500* (The use of the stylus is not permitted)

 

Hewlett-Packard

HP-9G

HP-28 Series*

HP-38G*

HP-39 Series*

HP-40 Series*

HP-48 Series*

HP-49 Series*

HP-50 Series*

HP Prime*

Radio Shack

EC-4033

EC-4034

EC-4037

Sharp

EL-5200

EL-9200 Series*

EL-9300 Series*

EL-9600 Series* (The use of the stylus is not permitted)

EL-9900 Series*

 

Texas Instruments

TI-73

TI-80

TI-81

TI-82*

TI-83*/TI-83 Plus*

TI-83 Plus Silver*

TI-84 Plus*/ TI-84 Plus CE*

TI-84 Plus CE Python*

TI-84 Plus Silver*

TI-84 Plus C Silver*

TI-84 Plus T*  

TI-84 Plus CE-T Python Edition* 

TI-84 Plus CE-T*

TI-85*

TI-86* 

TI-89*

TI-89 Titanium*

TI-Nspire*/ TI-Nspire CX* 

TI-Nspire CX II*

TI-Nspire CX II-T*

TI-Nspire CAS*

TI-Nspire CX CAS*

TI-Nspire CM-C*

TI-Nspire CM-C CAS*

TI-Nspire CX-C CAS*

TI-Nspire CX II CAS*

TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS* 

TI-Nspire CX II-C CAS* 

 

 

Other

Datexx DS-883

Micronta

NumWorks*

Smart2

   

Calculators are not allowed for any other AP Exams, including Computer Science A and Computer Science Principles, unless a student has an approved accommodation for use of a four-function calculator.

*Graphing calculators with the expected built-in capabilities for AP Calculus are indicated with an asterisk. See the AP Calculus AB and BC Course and Exam Description for details. However, students may bring any calculator on the list to the exam; any model within each series is acceptable. Only approved graphing calculators from the list are permitted for AP Calculus Exams.

This list will be updated as necessary to include new approved calculators. Check this list regularly before exam day to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.

This list only includes approved graphing calculators. There is not an approved list of scientific (nongraphing) calculators.

Unapproved Calculators and Technology

Students are not allowed to use any of the following:

  • Phones, smartwatches, or wearable technology of any kind
  • Portable/handheld computers, tablets, laptops, electronic writing pads
  • Models with QWERTY (i.e., typewriter-like) keypads as part of hardware or software (e.g., TI-92 Plus, Voyage 200)
  • Models with pen-input/stylus capability (e.g., Palm, PDAs, Casio ClassPad)
  • Models with wireless, Bluetooth, or cellular capability
  • Models that require an electrical outlet, “talk”** or make noise, or have a paper tape
  • Models that can access the internet
  • Models that have cell phone capability or audio/video recording or playing capability
  • Models that have a camera, scanning capability, or any other smartphone-type features
  • Models with touch-screen capability that aren’t on the list of approved graphing calculators (e.g., Casio ClassPad)
  • Hardware peripherals such as a stylus, keyboard, or wireless adapter with an approved calculator

**Unless approved by the College Board SSD Office as an accommodation.