Casio fx-85GTX Scientific Calculator, Black

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The A-level model now has the generic equation solver function in the same place as the quadratic and simultaneous equation solvers, rather than in an apparently random position above the CALC button. Some schools and colleges required, and some still require, their A-level students to buy more expensive graphical calculators – calculators that can plot graphs on their screens, such as the CG50 – since these are often perceived to give the student an advantage. This may well have been true in the past, but the exam boards have got wise and nowadays exam questions are carefully worded so that the possession of a graphical calculator doesn’t give the candidate a significant advantage. For GCSE Maths, you will need a scientific calculator, but just about any model will do; see AQA’s guidance below for a list of the functions you need.

For more information on what calculators are permissible in exams, take a look at my Clueless about Calculators blog post. Finally, a colour warning thereshoulfbeabuttononyourcalculatorwhichlookssomethinglikeS<->D.sowhenyougetanansweranditsinfractionspressthatbuttonanditconvertsittodecimalsandnormalnumbers.Hopethathelps AtthemomentallmyanswersarecomingoutasfractionsandfractionsareuselesstomeasIneedallmynumbersindecimals.HowdoIgetittogivemedecimalanswersbydefault? IknowIcanpressthefraction->decimalbuttonbutthatgetskindaannoyingwhenyouhavetopressit everytime.

functions; new functions on the ‘GTX’ model include Ratio, Digit Separator, Advanced Statistics, Advanced Tables and Variables List fx-85GTX contains additional features such as clearer display, clearer menus, faster processor and 14 additional functions. Allowed in every UK exam where a calculator can be used. Recommended and approved for Key Stages 3 & 4 (including GCSE, National and Higher, Junior and Leaving). The large Natural Textbook Display (Natural-V.P.A.M.) shows mathematical expressions like roots and fractions as they appear in your textbooks which increases comprehension because results are easier to understand. AtthemomentallmyanswersarecomingoutasfractionsandfractionsareuselesstomeasIneedallmynumbersindecimals.HowdoIgetittogivemedecimalanswersbydefault?IknowIcanpressthefraction->decimalbuttonbutthatgetskindaannoyingwhenyouhavetopressit everytime. A lot of schools/colleges haven’t caught up with the change yet and are still telling students to buy the X versions, so at least yours is on the ball! The standard GCSE model in the UK for the past seven or eight years has been the Casio Classwiz fx-83/85GT X (centre in the image), though in early 2023 Casio brought out the fx-83/85GT CW, which is very different and which has replaced the GT X (despite a poor reception from UK Maths teachers). More on that in this blog post.

If you require any further information relating to the Delivery service used, please call us at +44 (0)20 8208 9567. 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.) The really brilliant thing about this Calculator is that it displays your workings just as you would write them down on a piece of paper in school. The display is certainly not like the one I had in school as it shows the calculation on the top row with the answer on the bottom which is brilliant as any mistakes can be easily seen. Sept 2023: A fellow Maths tutor on Facebook recently had a meeting with a Casio representative to discuss these new models. We are told that the intention was to make them more like a phone to use (though I find it hard to see much resemblance myself) and that younger children who aren’t already accustomed to a particular scientific calculator layout have adapted well to its use. However, we are talking about 11-year-olds, and I find it hard to imagine that they’ve been using many of the functions needed for Higher GCSE and A-level Maths!

Schools should be telling you to get the CW now since that’s the current model, but some haven’t caught up yet and are still telling students to buy the GTX – which is now hard to get hold of new at a reasonable price. The same thing happened when the GTX replaced the GT Plus. Our nominated carrier is Parcel Force. Deliveries are made Monday – Friday between 9.00am – 6.00pm (excluding Bank Holidays). 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. There’s no S-D button for simple conversion of results between fractions and decimals. The answer always defaults to a fraction, and to get it into decimal format you have to either (a) press FORMAT, use the arrow keys to select the preferred format and press OK or EXE, or (b) press Shift then EXE to get a decimal approximation (i.e. rounded decimal form) – but the latter option will only work correctly if pressing EXE doesn’t prompt the calculator to carry out another calculation.