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The Best Calculators for the SAT and ACT: What's Actually Allowed (And What to Buy)
The College Board and ACT have strict rules about which calculators you can bring into the testing room — and the lists are shorter than you'd think. Here's what's allowed, what's banned, the honest comparison of the top models, and which one to buy if you're taking the test in the next six months and don't want to waste $130 on features you'll never use.
Last updated: July 12, 2026.
The short answer
If you're buying a calculator specifically for the SAT or ACT and you're six months or less from test day, get the TI-84 Plus CE. It's allowed on both exams, it's the calculator most teachers use in class (so help is abundant), and it has exactly the feature set the test requires — no more, no less.
If you're also taking AP Calculus, AP Statistics, or planning to major in engineering or physical sciences, consider the TI-Nspire CX II (non-CAS version). It's more powerful, has a better screen, and will carry you through college math. But it has a steeper learning curve.
If budget is the primary constraint and you're reasonably confident with mental math, the TI-30XS MultiView is a $20 scientific calculator that handles 95% of SAT and ACT problems. You give up graphing, but most students never graph anything under time pressure anyway.
What's allowed (and what's banned)
Both the SAT and ACT permit graphing calculators, scientific calculators, and four-function calculators — with caveats. Here's the College Board and ACT policy, condensed:
Allowed on both exams
- Graphing calculators: TI-83, TI-84 (all editions), TI-Nspire CX (non-CAS), Casio fx-9750 and fx-9860, HP Prime (non-CAS mode), and most other graphing calculators without computer algebra systems.
- Scientific calculators: TI-30X series, TI-36X, Casio fx-115ES, HP 35s, and similar models.
- Four-function calculators: any basic calculator with +, −, ×, ÷.
Banned on both exams
- Calculators with QWERTY keyboards (TI-92, Voyage 200, any calculator that looks like it has a keyboard you could type an essay on).
- Calculators with computer algebra systems (CAS) that can solve equations symbolically. The TI-89, TI-Nspire CAS, and HP Prime in CAS mode are explicitly banned.
- Calculators that require a power outlet or make noise or use paper tape.
- Tablets, phones, smartwatches, laptops, or anything with an internet connection.
- Calculator apps on phones — even if they emulate an approved calculator model.
The trap: the TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CX are allowed; the TI-Nspire CAS and TI-Nspire CX CAS are not. The difference is one three-letter suffix. If you're buying used or borrowing from a friend, check the case and the boot screen. If it says "CAS" anywhere, you can't use it.
1. Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE — the standard for a reason
Price: $100–130
Best for: most high school students taking the SAT or ACT within a year
The TI-84 Plus CE is the third or fourth iteration of the TI-83/84 platform that has dominated US high schools since the mid-1990s. Color screen, rechargeable battery, thin profile, and the same button layout and menu structure your teacher knows by heart.
Why it wins:
- Compatibility with decades of classroom materials, YouTube tutorials, and test-prep guides. If a practice book says "press 2ND CALC 2," those keys are exactly where you'd expect.
- Short learning curve. If you've used a TI-83 or TI-84 before, the CE is identical except for the color screen and USB charging.
- Handles everything on the SAT and ACT math sections: graphing functions, solving systems of equations, finding intersections, regression, probability distributions, list operations.
- Rechargeable battery lasts weeks. Older TI-84 models used four AAA batteries; the CE has a built-in lithium-ion cell and charges via USB.
The catch: it's not meaningfully more powerful than the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition from 2004, which you can find used for $40. You're paying a $60–80 premium for the color screen and the rechargeable battery. If budget matters, a used TI-84 Plus (not CE) works identically for test purposes.
2. Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CX II — more power, steeper curve
Price: $130–160
Best for: students planning to take AP Calculus, AP Statistics, or STEM majors who need a calculator for college
The TI-Nspire CX II is Texas Instruments' flagship non-CAS graphing calculator. High-resolution color screen, faster processor, and a computer-style interface with apps for graphing, spreadsheet, geometry, statistics, and programming. Rechargeable battery, 100 MB of storage, and USB connectivity for loading documents and software updates.
Why it's tempting:
- Significantly better graphing resolution than the TI-84. Plot two functions, zoom in on an intersection, and the Nspire's screen is noticeably crisper.
- Spreadsheet app makes statistical analysis easier than TI-84 lists. You can see entire datasets in a table view, sort, and compute summary statistics visually.
- Geometry app lets you construct shapes, measure angles, and manipulate figures dynamically — useful for AP Calculus and college geometry.
- Handles symbolic differentiation and integration in the non-CAS version (numeric only, not symbolic algebra).
Why you might skip it:
- The interface is different enough from the TI-84 that switching between them is jarring. If your teacher demonstrates on a TI-84, you'll spend the first month translating instructions.
- More powerful doesn't mean faster on multiple-choice tests. The SAT and ACT math sections are designed so that a $20 scientific calculator is sufficient. The Nspire's advantages show up in calculus problem sets and labs, not in 90-second standardized-test problems.
- If you're taking the SAT or ACT in the next six months and haven't touched a graphing calculator before, the learning curve costs you more than the features save you.
Verdict: buy this if you're a junior taking AP Calculus next year and the SAT is a checkpoint along the way. Skip it if the SAT or ACT is your primary goal and you're not planning heavy math afterward.
3. Casio fx-9750GIII — the budget graphing option
Price: $60–75
Best for: students who need a graphing calculator but are cost-conscious
The Casio fx-9750GIII is a monochrome graphing calculator with a menu-driven interface, USB connectivity, and compatibility with both the SAT and ACT. It does everything the TI-84 does — graphing, regression, statistics, list operations, matrix math — for about 40% less money.
Why it's worth considering:
- Cheaper than the TI-84 by a meaningful margin. If the primary goal is passing the SAT and the calculator will sit in a drawer afterward, $65 beats $120.
- Battery life is excellent. Four AAA batteries last a year of regular use.
- The interface is clean and logical. Casio's menu system is different from TI's, but not harder — just different.
Why it's not more popular:
- Almost no US classroom uses Casio calculators. Your teacher won't know where the buttons are, test-prep books won't reference it, and YouTube tutorials for "how to find a regression line on the SAT" assume you have a TI-84.
- The learning curve is steeper not because the calculator is harder, but because the ecosystem of help is thinner. You're on your own for most problem-solving.
Verdict: good choice if you're self-directed, comfortable reading a manual, and unwilling to spend $120 on a calculator you'll use for six months. Poor choice if you rely heavily on teacher demonstrations or YouTube walkthroughs.
4. Texas Instruments TI-30XS MultiView — the $20 scientific that covers 95% of test problems
Price: $18–25
Best for: students strong in mental math who don't need graphing
The TI-30XS MultiView is a scientific calculator with a four-line display, fraction and decimal modes, basic statistics, and enough power to handle most SAT and ACT math. No graphing, no programming, no rechargeable battery — just a straightforward scientific calculator that fits in a pocket.
What it handles:
- Arithmetic, exponents, roots, logarithms, trigonometry.
- Basic statistics: mean, standard deviation, one-variable and two-variable data entry.
- Fraction-to-decimal conversion, which is surprisingly useful for SAT grid-ins.
- Scientific notation and unit conversions.
What it doesn't handle: graphing functions, solving systems of equations visually, regression (it can compute a regression line if you enter data manually, but you can't see the plot).
Verdict: buy this if you're on a tight budget, confident in algebra, and comfortable solving most problems by hand with the calculator as a backup. Skip it if you struggle with graphing problems or need to visualize functions to understand them.
Do you actually need a calculator for the SAT and ACT?
Short answer: no, but it helps.
Both exams are designed so that every math problem can be solved without a calculator. The SAT even has a no-calculator section (the first of two math sections) where calculators are explicitly banned. The ACT allows calculators for the entire math section, but the problems are written to be solvable by hand.
That said, a calculator saves time. Graphing a parabola to find its vertex takes 10 seconds on a TI-84 and 45 seconds by hand. Checking whether two fractions are equivalent by converting both to decimals takes 5 seconds on a calculator and 20 seconds with pencil and paper. The SAT and ACT are timed tests — that 15-second advantage per problem adds up to three or four extra problems answered over the course of the section.
If you already own a graphing calculator from a math class, bring it. If you're deciding whether to buy one, ask yourself: am I regularly running out of time on practice tests? If yes, the calculator might help. If you're finishing with time to spare, you probably don't need a $120 upgrade.
The thing most students get wrong: over-relying on the calculator
Graphing calculators are tools, not crutches. The fastest way to solve most SAT and ACT math problems is to recognize the pattern and solve it algebraically, not to plug numbers into a calculator and hope it spits out the right answer.
Example: "If 3x + 7 = 22, what is x?"
- Fast way: Subtract 7, get 3x = 15, divide by 3, get x = 5. Done in 10 seconds.
- Slow way: Open the equation solver on your TI-84, type 3X+7=22, press ENTER, read the answer, close the solver. 25 seconds.
The calculator is useful for problems where mental math breaks down: finding the intersection of two functions, computing a regression line from a table of data, checking your factoring by graphing the quadratic. For straightforward algebra, using the calculator is slower than solving by hand.
Practice distinguishing the two. If a problem would take 15 seconds by hand and 20 seconds on a calculator, do it by hand. If it would take 90 seconds by hand and 15 seconds on a calculator, use the calculator. The best test-takers toggle between modes without thinking.
How long should you practice with your calculator before the test?
At least four weeks of regular use. Longer if you're switching models or learning a graphing calculator for the first time.
The SAT and ACT have time pressure that punishes fumbling. A student who takes five seconds longer per problem than someone fluent on the same calculator loses about 3–4 minutes over the math section, which is the difference between finishing and leaving two problems blank. Fluency means knowing where every key is without looking, knowing the menu shortcuts, and knowing which problems are faster by hand vs. on the calculator.
If you're buying a calculator for the test, buy it the same day you start studying. Work every practice problem on it. Do at least two full-length timed practice tests with the calculator in hand before test day. This is non-negotiable. A $120 calculator that you don't know how to use is worse than a $20 calculator you've practiced with for a month.
Comparison at a glance
| Model | Price | Graphing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TI-84 Plus CE | $100–130 | Yes | Most high school students, standard choice |
| TI-Nspire CX II | $130–160 | Yes (advanced) | AP Calculus, college-bound STEM majors |
| Casio fx-9750GIII | $60–75 | Yes | Budget-conscious, self-directed learners |
| TI-30XS MultiView | $18–25 | No | Strong mental math, tight budget |
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my phone's calculator app on the SAT or ACT?
No. Phones, smartwatches, tablets, and any internet-connected device are banned from the testing room. Even if your phone has a calculator app that emulates a TI-84, you cannot use it. Bring a physical calculator.
What happens if I bring a banned calculator?
It will be confiscated when you check in, and you'll take the test without any calculator. In some cases, bringing prohibited electronics can invalidate your test entirely. Don't risk it — check the College Board or ACT website to verify your model is allowed before test day.
Do I need to clear my calculator's memory before the test?
The College Board and ACT both reserve the right to inspect calculators and require memory to be cleared if it contains notes, formulas, or programs that could provide an unfair advantage. In practice, random checks are rare, but proctors can and do ask students to clear memory if they suspect cheating. To be safe, either clear your RAM before the test or don't store anything questionable in the first place.
Is the TI-89 allowed on the SAT or ACT?
No. The TI-89 has a computer algebra system (CAS) that can solve equations symbolically, manipulate algebraic expressions, and perform calculus operations. Both the SAT and ACT ban CAS calculators. The TI-89 is explicitly named on both ban lists.
Should I buy a new calculator or a used one?
Used TI-84 calculators are abundant on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and school surplus sales. A used TI-84 Plus or TI-84 Plus Silver Edition for $40–60 works identically to a new TI-84 Plus CE for $120. The only differences are the screen (monochrome vs. color), the battery (AAA vs. rechargeable), and cosmetic wear. If budget is a concern, buy used. If you want the color screen and USB charging, buy new.
Can I share a calculator with a friend during the test?
Technically, the College Board says you can share a calculator during the test, but it's impractical — you'll waste time passing it back and forth, and you'll disrupt each other's rhythm. Buy or borrow your own. If cost is an issue, a $20 scientific calculator is enough.
Try it before test day
Don't wait until the week before the SAT or ACT to learn your calculator. Pick a model, buy it (or borrow it), and work every practice problem with it in hand. Run a few functions on the online graphing calculator to see how plotting and intersection-finding work, then replicate the same problems on your physical calculator. Fluency is the difference between finishing the section and leaving three problems blank.
This article is for general education and represents the author's understanding of current SAT and ACT calculator policies as of July 2026. Policies change — verify your specific calculator model on the College Board and ACT websites before test day.