Find the Best Calculator for AP* Statistics and Calculus
Each student is expected to bring to the exam a graphing calculator with
specific computational capabilities. The College Board has prepared a
list of calculators that have the required capabilities.
The list identifies 30 calculators that have all of the capabilities needed for
the AP Statistics Exam and for the AP Calculus Exam.
Sadly, many of the AP-approved calculators are discontinued models,
not available for purchase today.
Evaluation of Approved Calculators
We found 12 of the AP-approved calculators at Amazon.com,
and evaluated each on the following criteria.
-
Price: The price of a new or used calculator, as of
July 3, 2009.
-
User rating: From 1 (unacceptable) to 5 (excellent).
Evaluation findings are summarized below.
Best
buys
|
Make
|
Model
|
New price
|
Used price
|
User rating
|
Number
of
raters
|
|
x |
Casio
|
FX-9750
|
$39.99 |
$11.11 |
4.5 |
15 |
|
Casio
|
FX-9850
|
$99.95 |
$48.99 |
4.5 |
26 |
| x |
Hewlett-Packard
|
HP 39
|
$59.00 |
$24.99 |
5.0 |
4 |
|
Hewlett-Packard
|
HP 48
|
$43.98 |
$43.99 |
3.5 |
11 |
|
Hewlett-Packard
|
HP 49
|
$69.00 |
$49.99 |
3.0 |
82 |
| x |
Hewlett-Packard
|
HP 50
|
$98.99 |
$79.99 |
4.5 |
167 |
|
Sharp
|
EL-9900
|
|
|
|
|
| x |
Texas Instruments
|
TI-83 Plus Silver
|
$71.50 |
$37.00 |
4.5 |
223 |
|
Texas Instruments
|
TI-84 Plus
|
$85.00 |
$58.97 |
4.5 |
60 |
|
Texas Instruments
|
TI-84 Plus Silver
|
$97.95 |
$70.00 |
4.5 |
72 |
|
Texas Instruments
|
TI-86
|
$149.99 |
$35.00 |
4.5 |
52 |
| x |
Texas Instruments
|
TI-89 Titanium
|
$123.50 |
$92.00 |
4.5 |
177 |
|
Prices and ratings that appear in the table are current. They are
updated daily.
Recommendations
The best calculator for you depends on your personal needs. Here are some things
to consider.
-
Cost. If you want a new calculator at a low price, choose the FX-9750; if you want a used calculator at a low price, choose the FX-9750.
-
User satisfaction. The highest rated calculator was the HP 39, with a satisfaction rating of 5.0.
-
Peace of mind. If you are looking for a calculator with a favorable satisfaction score based on ratings from at least 100 users, consider the HP 50, the TI-83 Plus Silver, or the TI-89 Titanium. Each of these calculators received a satisfaction score of 4.5.
-
Extra features. And finally, if you want it all, consider Texas Instruments'
TI-89 Titanium.
This calculator has very favorable user ratings plus advanced functionality not
found in other models. It may be the best choice, if you plan to use the
calculator for other advanced courses or for real-world engineering
applications.
One More Thing . . .
It is important for each student to have an AP-approved graphing calculator.
Here's why.
-
The test developers assume that students will have an
approved calculator. Students without a calculator will be at a disadvantage.
-
Non-graphing scientific calculators, portable computers, and devices with
QWERTY keyboards (e.g., TI-92 plus, TI-Voyage 200) are not permitted. Proctors
will check calculators before the exam.
|