Calculator Specifications

Buying a new Calculator?
The Faculty of Engineering has a policy in place to determine which calculators are able to be used in midterm and final exams for all undergraduate courses. The policy is in place to ensure fairness on exams and that students are not using calculators that have communications abilities.

The policy considers calculators to be either programmable or non-programmable. Individual instructors then determine which of the following three options they will allow students to use during exams:

  1. Approved programmable or non-programmable calculators
  2. Approved non-programmable calculators only
  3. No calculators during examinations.

This information will be indicated on the course syllabus that is provided by each instructor at the beginning of every course.

Any calculator taken into an examination must have a sticker identifying it as an approved programmable (green sticker) or approved non-programmable calculator (gold sticker). Students can purchase calculators at the University Book Store with stickers already affixed to them or can bring calculators purchased elsewhere to the Dean's Office (ETLC E6-050) where the appropriate sticker will be affixed to the calculator.

Approved Non-Programmable Calculators:

These models are all approximately $20

  • Hewlett Packard Model HP 30S ≠
  • Hewlett Packard Model HP 10S
  • Sharp EL-520V or EL-520VB *◊
  • CASIO FX-115MS Plus or CASIO FX-115ES ◊
  • Texas Instruments Model TI-30X IIB, TI-30X IIS, or TI-30XS MultiView
    (The IIS is the solar version of the IIB and costs ~$6 more)

Notes on old calculators:

  • The model number on the box for the Sharp calculator is EL-520VB but the model number on the calculator itself may be EL-520V. These calculators have been phased out but may still be available in certain stores. Note: The Sharp EL-520W or EL-520WBBK is NOT acceptable.

≠ Hewlett Packard Model HP 30S is no longer available and has been replaced by Hewlett Packard Model HP 10S.

◊ Recommended for students in Electrical and Computer Engineering programs because of the complex number capability.

Approved Programmable Calculators: (See note below)

Acceptable Texas Instrument Models below the TI-83 Plus
    • TI-73
    • TI-80
    • TI-82
    • TI-83

Recommended Texas Instrument Models TI-83 Plus & Higher
    • TI-83 Plus
    • TI-83 Plus Silver Edition
    • TI-84 Plus
    • TI-84 Plus Silver Edition
    • TI-85
    • TI-Nspire
    • TI-86
    • TI-89
    • TI-Nspire CAS
    • TI-89 Titanium
    • TI-92 Plus
    • Voyage 200

Note on programmable calculators: Given the cost of the programmable calculators, the Faculty of Engineering recommends that instructors should give careful consideration to the need for these calculators in examinations. Additionally, instructors who choose to allow programmable calculators must make accommodations in the rules for the examination in an effort to offset any disadvantage which students without programmable calculators might encounter. Accommodations for all students may include the use of reference books or materials and/or formula sheets and the assignment of relatively few or no marks to final numerical answers.