Which Calculators Can I Use on the Digital SAT?

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By now you probably know that the digital SAT - often abbreviated as DSAT - is the only SAT. It’s shorter than its paper counterpart and an adaptive test. Its testing platform also comes with a built-in calculator known as DESMOS. But is that the only acceptable SAT calculator? Does using a different calculator impact your score? And what about the PSAT - are the acceptable calculators different for the PSAT? SAT expert Katya Seberson answers all your questions about allowable SAT calculators and which one she recommends.

What calculators are acceptable for the SAT?

Many calculators are allowed for the SAT. They include:

• DESMOS. This is the built-in calculator in the Blue Book app. It has two versions - scientific and graphing - and both are available to you throughout the Math portions of the test.
• Graphing calculators. The TI-84 is the most common model, but other models are allowed. You are not allowed, however, to use a graphing calculator with CAS features. Typically these models have CAS in the name, but you can see other models that are CAS-enabled, and thus not allowed, on the College Board website.
• Scientific calculators. Your calculator from middle school is allowed for the SAT and is the minimum model recommended.
• Four Function (aka “normal”) calculators. While allowed, they are not recommended. The math required on the SAT will mean you want a calculator that can do order of operations work at a minimum. A basic calculator won’t do you much good.

Is a TI-84 allowed on the SAT?

Yes. The TI-84 is allowed. It is also the calculator many students are familiar with. And if the SAT is tomorrow, the calculator you’re familiar with is your best bet. If you have some time, though, we’d recommend learning DESMOS - the calculator built into Blue Book - on a desktop or laptop. DESMOS also has an app, but since you’ll be using it with a mouse on test day, it’s best to practice that way. We cover DESMOS more fully below.

Is a normal calculator allowed in the SAT?

If by “normal” you mean a four function calculator, then yes. But it’s not recommended as it’s too basic to be useful to you. You should use a scientific calculator at minimum. A graphing calculator is better, and learning and using the built-in DESMOS calculator is your best choice.

Is the FX 991ES Plus allowed in SAT?

Yes. The FX 991EST Plus is a scientific calculator and is thus allowed for use on the SAT (and PSAT). It’s not what we’d recommend, however. Find our recommended calculator below.

Do I have to use the DESMOS calculator on the SAT?

No you don’t have to use DESMOS on the SAT. But it is our recommended calculator (see below for why).

Do you get DESMOS for the PSAT?

Yes, DESMOS is also available in the Blue Book app during the PSAT.

Will DESMOS help me do better on the PSAT?

Yes! DESMOS adds speed to many of the math questions you’ll confront on the PSAT, such as polynomial division, remainder theorem, inequalities, etc. It makes graphic functions easiest and often helps students catch errors they would have made otherwise.

Katya’s SAT Calculator Recommendation

Katya categorically recommends learning and using the built in DESMOS calculator for the SAT. Many students avoid it because it’s unfamiliar, but the students earning top scores in the math section (750+) are doing so because they know how to use - and effectively leverage - the built-in DESMOS calculator. These students are also learning and practicing on the desktop or laptop version with a mouse - just like you’ll see on test day.

One of the reasons the DESMOS gives a leg up is the tilde functionality which allows you to quickly solve equations. Becoming confident using this function on the DESMOS in advance of test day makes it a snap to use and allows you to more speedily work through questions. And working through the questions quickly is what’s required to do well on the SAT. Technically all the SAT math questions could be answered without a calculator. But not in the time frame you have. Which means any allowed tool that gives you a speed advantage is one you want to know how to use.

How to Learn DESMOS

There are several ways to learn DESMOS so that it helps, not hinders, your SAT score. We’ve put them below starting with the least expensive up to the most expensive, depending on your resources.

Self-Teach

It is absolutely possible to teach yourself DESMOS, though it takes the most initiative and a little bit of due diligence to find the right online resources. There are plenty of tutoring sites - Ivy Tutors Network included - that give a basic overview of the DESMOS and how to use it. You can find ours here.

Your best bet, however, is to practice using the online DESMOS to solve SAT practice questions and finding short tutorials on YouTube. The more comfortable you are with the desktop version of the calculator, the better you’ll be able to use it to your advantage.

A few words of warning. One, many of the people teaching DESMOS on YouTube will have a much higher level of math knowledge than you. They might even be teaching DESMOS for students in statistics or other college level math. Learning how to use DESMOS for more advanced math than will be on the SAT is a waste of your time. Stick to someone teaching for the SAT and using past SAT problems if you want to learn the most useful info.

Two, watching someone perform math functions with DESMOS is not the same as being able to do it on your own. Make sure you are practicing questions independently to truly learn how to use it.

Lastly, it’s worth following a social media account (like Katya’s) to stay up to date on DESMOS tricks and tips, as there are constantly new question types coming out and you’ll want to know how to use DESMOS for any and all question types you might encounter. Here’s an example:

Take an online SAT course

In person is an option too, but we find online SAT courses to be the most helpful to students due to their flexibility. Any decent SAT course will include learning how to use DESMOS and providing plenty of practice to master it.

Our SAT Boost teaches DESMOS and provides comprehensive practice, updates on the latest tricks, and walk throughs of predicted question types. It also covers everything else you need to earn your best score on the SAT,

Hire a private tutor

Crunched on time or prefer a 1-on-1 environment? Hiring a tutor is a great way to learn DESMOS and get targeted, personalized practice. Find the right SAT tutor for you here.

There are many allowed calculators on the SAT. The right one is the one you know how to use effectively. But if you have the time to learn DESMOS, it’s the only one that offers a strategic advantage on the SAT and is well worth your time to master.