SAT Calculator Policy- What Types Are Allowed?
What Calculators Are Allowed on the SAT?
The College Board has a specific list of approved calculators. If you're bringing a calculator to test day, you need to know exactly what's permitted. Using an unauthorized device means your test gets invalidated. No warnings. No exceptions.
This guide cuts through the confusion and tells you what works, what doesn't, and what to do if your device isn't on the approved list.
Approved Calculators: What You Can Bring
The SAT allows these calculator types:
- Four-function calculators — the basic ones that do addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. Nothing fancy needed.
- Scientific calculators — most models from Texas Instruments, Casio, and Sharp are fine. These handle trigonometric functions, logarithms, and exponents.
- Graphing calculators — TI-84, TI-83, TI-Nspire, Casio Prizm, and HP Prime are all permitted. This is what most students use.
- Calculators on approved devices — if you're using a tablet or phone as a calculator, it must be in airplane mode and stored under your desk the entire time. Phones are not allowed to be visible.
Most Popular Approved Models
These are the calculators you see most often on test day:
- TI-84 Plus CE
- TI-84 Plus
- TI-83 Plus
- TI-Nspire CX (and CX II)
- Casio fx-9750GII
- Casio Prizm
- HP Prime
If you already own one of these, you're set. If you're buying new, the TI-84 Plus CE is the standard choice. It's allowed everywhere, has a color screen, and every math teacher knows how to help you use it.
Calculators That Are NOT Allowed
Some devices look like calculators but aren't permitted:
- Calculators with QWERTY keyboards — this includes the TI-89, TI-92, and Voyage 200. These have symbolic manipulation features the College Board considers cheating-adjacent.
- Calculators that make noise — any device that beeps, buzzes, or has sound effects.
- Calculators with paper tape — old models that print your calculations. Not allowed.
- Mobile phones used as calculators — even in airplane mode, your phone cannot be on your desk. It stays in your bag, under your desk.
- Laptops, tablets, or smartwatches — even if they only have a calculator app open.
- Calculators with wireless/Bluetooth capability — any device that can communicate with other devices.
The SAT Calculator Policy: Key Rules You Must Follow
Having an approved calculator isn't enough. How you use it matters:
- The calculator must be silenced. No alarms, no notification sounds.
- You cannot share a calculator with another student during the test.
- You cannot use your calculator's built-in computer algebra system (CAS) on the SAT. This is why the TI-89 is banned—it solves equations symbolically.
- Your calculator's memory may be checked. Proctors can ask to see your calculator before the test starts.
- If your calculator has a program that solves SAT-style problems, delete it. That's considered cheating.
Can You Use the Calculator on the Entire SAT?
No. The SAT has two sections where calculators are allowed:
- Math Calculator Section — 38 questions, 55 minutes. This is where you use your calculator freely.
- Math No-Calculator Section — 20 questions, 25 minutes. No calculators permitted here. You need to show you can do basic math without assistance.
Plan your time accordingly. Don't waste the calculator section on problems you could solve faster by hand.
What If Your Calculator Isn't Allowed?
Don't panic. You have options:
- Borrow one — your school may have calculators you can check out for test day.
- Buy a cheap approved model — a basic Casio or TI scientific calculator costs $10-15 and works fine for the SAT.
- Use the Desmos calculator — the College Board offers a free on-screen graphing calculator through their Bluebook app. If you're taking the digital SAT, this is built into the testing platform.
Digital SAT: Calculator Changes
If you're taking the digital SAT, the rules shifted slightly:
- The on-screen Desmos calculator is available for all math questions in the digital format.
- You can still bring a physical calculator, but it's not required.
- The No-Calculator section still exists in the digital format.
Most students still bring a physical calculator because it feels more familiar. But the Desmos tool is surprisingly good once you learn where the functions are.
Calculator Policy Comparison
| Device Type | Allowed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TI-84 Plus CE | Yes | Standard choice for most students |
| TI-89 Titanium | No | Has CAS features — banned |
| Casio fx-9750GII | Yes | Budget-friendly option |
| HP Prime | Yes | Touchscreen, allowed |
| Phone (airplane mode) | No | Cannot be visible on desk |
| TI-Nspire CX II | Yes | Must have CAS disabled |
| Smartwatch | No | Not permitted under any circumstance |
| Basic 4-function calculator | Yes | Simple, cheap, approved |
Getting Started: What to Do Before Test Day
- Check your calculator now — dig it out, make sure it works, replace the batteries.
- Verify it's on the approved list — search the College Board website if you're unsure.
- Practice with it — know where your functions are. A calculator you don't know how to use is useless.
- Bring backup batteries — or a backup calculator if you have one.
- Leave the manual at home — you won't have time to read it.
Bottom Line
The SAT calculator policy exists for a reason. Students who understand what they can and cannot use avoid the disaster of having their test invalidated on test day.
If your calculator has symbolic math features, a QWERTY keyboard, or wireless connectivity, it's not allowed. A standard graphing calculator from TI or Casio covers everything you need.
Don't overthink this. Buy an approved model, practice with it, and show up ready to work.