Approved calculators
- Approved Scientific Calculators for the Higher School Certificate Examinations 2012
- Features of approved calculators and features that are not permitted
Approved Scientific Calculators for the 2013 Higher School Certificate Examinations
Updated May 2013
The scientific calculators listed below are approved for use in the 2013 Higher School Certificate examinations. The examinations in which scientific calculators are permitted are listed in the equipment checklist. Please click here for Equipment Checklist for Higher School Certificate Examinations.
Please note this list of approved calculators does NOT apply to the 2013 General Mathematics HSC Examination. Please click here for Calculators for use in the General Mathematics HSC Examination.
| ABACUS | SX-II MATRIX a |
| CANON | F717SGA |
| CANON | F720 |
| CANON | F720i |
| CASIO | fx-82AU |
| CASIO | fx-82AU PLUS |
| CASIO | fx-82AU PLUS II |
| CASIO | fx-82MS |
| CASIO | fx-82TL |
| CASIO | fx-83WA |
| CASIO | fx-85MS |
| CASIO | fx-100AU |
| CASIO | fx-100AU PLUS |
| CASIO | fx-100S |
| CASIO | fx-300MS |
| CASIO | fx-350MS |
| CASIO | fx-911Z |
| HEWL-PACK | HP8S |
| HEWL-PACK | HP10S |
| HEWL-PACK | HP10S+ |
| INSYSTEM | IN-82SC |
| JASTEK | JasCS1 |
| OFFICE ONE | 3000 |
| RSB | FB 350MS |
| SCHOLAR | DS-82MS |
| SCHOLAR | KD-350MS |
| SHARP | EL-509V |
| SHARP | EL-509WM |
| SHARP | EL-520WG |
| SHARP | EL-W531HA |
| SHARP | EL-531VH |
| SHARP | EL-531WH |
| SHARP | EL-531XH |
| SHARP | EL-W532XH |
Instruction booklets or cards (eg reference cards) on the operation of calculators are NOT permitted in the examination room. Candidates are expected to familiarise themselves with the calculator’s operation beforehand.
Calculators must have been switched off for entry into the examination room.
Features of approved calculators and features that are not permitted
Features of approved calculators
In addition to the features of a basic (four operation) calculator, a scientific calculator typically includes the following:
- fraction keys (for fraction arithmetic)
- a percentage key
- a π key
- memory access keys
- an EXP key and a sign change (+/-) key
- square (x²) and square root (√) keys
- logarithm and exponential keys (base 10 and base e)
- a power key (ax, xy or similar)
- trigonometrical function keys with an INVERSE key for the inverse functions
- a capacity to work in both degree and radian mode
- a reciprocal key (1/x)
- permutation and/or combination keys ( nPr , nCr )
- cube and/or cube root keys
- parentheses keys
- statistical operations such as mean and standard deviation
- metric or currency conversion
Features that are NOT permitted include:
- programmable (any calculator that can have a sequence of operations stored and then executed automatically is considered programmable and hence not allowed)
- capable of storing alphanumeric data input by a user (this does not exclude calculators with memories that are used to store intermediate numerical results obtained during calculations and required later)
- capable of storing, manipulating or graphing functions entered in symbolic form (this includes calculators with a graphic display capacity)
- capable of performing ‘hard-wired’ numerical routines for operations such as differentiation and definite integration, and the solution of equations
- capable of performing ‘hard-wired’ symbolic manipulations such as addition of algebraic expressions, binomial expansion and symbolic differentiation.
- ‘Soft’ or hard–wired QWERTY keyboards