Bought this calculator last night in Tesco Metro, Margate.
EDIT - So to conclude from the will it/ will it not be suitable debate going on below.
This calculator looks like it WILL NOT be suitable for the new A Level Maths starting from next year.
This calculator is great for secondary school and GCSE maths including the new GCSE levels 1-9 starting this year.
My son starts secondary in September so thought I'd grab it early for £3.00, RRP was £12. Got back in the car and daughter sent me straight back in for one as she said it's the newest one out and perfect for her A-Level Maths and Physics. These go in the sale regularly but never seen them for £3 and they tend to be the fx-83 model.
This is the calculator that all secondary schools that I know of recommend for GCSE and A-Level.
I haven't checked the bigger Tesco's near me but they are still £12 online.
Top comments
zizzles to hysun
19 Apr 1718#2
That'll be the one they did the accounts with last year. Stick with the Casio
RogueS
19 Apr 176#5
I'm currently at university and I can say that this has been the approved calculator all throughout secondary school, 6th form/college and now university. Generally if it's not Casio fx-83.., fx-85.. (with specific exceptions), you can't use it in an exam. Obviously it might vary between schools or exam boards but i'd say it's a very safe bet that these are suitable for any level. I've had to spend £15 on a few of these over the past few years when i've misplaced them so £3 is an amazing price :smiley:
Athia
19 Apr 176#16
A Level maths teacher here.
These will be fine for the new GCSE but NOT the new A Level that is starting this September as it doesn't have the necessary statistical tables built in, nor can it work with matrices. There are also lots of 'unrequired but very very helpful' functions in the more advanced calculators (including but not limited to graphics).
Best non-graphics calculator that does all you need (and much more) is the Casio FX-991EX as mentioned above. The 991ES is okay too (looks like a silver version of this one) but much older and the interface is poor and very unintuitive compared to the 991EX.
b1g1an
19 Apr 175#4
The FX 991ES is actually the current recommended one for A level maths, this one is only GCSE.
In fact, if they're doing further maths at A-level they'll want the FX 991EX, might only be a change of letter but the difference is huge. Google it and you'll see there is much discussion about whether it's actually allowed in the exams but it definitely is. Taken all the stress away from my 16 year old, who had both the FX 85GT and the simpler version of the FX 991.
It's not officially available in the UK at the moment but Amazon UK import it and there are several suppliers on ebay, usually in India. You tell it from the 'normal' version by the particularly tacky fake carbon finish and chrome buttons :smiley:
All comments (32)
hysun
19 Apr 171#1
exact configuration calculator - Tesco brand is £1.50
zizzles to hysun
19 Apr 1718#2
That'll be the one they did the accounts with last year. Stick with the Casio
fxtrade
19 Apr 171#3
I purchased a couple way back and both my children use them at secondary school HOWEVER one of them plans to start 6th form in Sept and they won't be using this calculator and they were making quite a big thing about the new one so might be worth checking if stocking up.
b1g1an
19 Apr 175#4
The FX 991ES is actually the current recommended one for A level maths, this one is only GCSE.
In fact, if they're doing further maths at A-level they'll want the FX 991EX, might only be a change of letter but the difference is huge. Google it and you'll see there is much discussion about whether it's actually allowed in the exams but it definitely is. Taken all the stress away from my 16 year old, who had both the FX 85GT and the simpler version of the FX 991.
It's not officially available in the UK at the moment but Amazon UK import it and there are several suppliers on ebay, usually in India. You tell it from the 'normal' version by the particularly tacky fake carbon finish and chrome buttons :smiley:
misslu to b1g1an
19 Apr 17#6
I'm not sure about that. I've gone from the big sticker on the front that states 'Recommended for GCSE, AS and A Level. Standard and higher grade junior and leaving certificate' and the fact that my daughter has asked for it and she's currently at school studying Maths, Further Maths and Physics.
whorlow to b1g1an
19 Apr 171#8
The Casio fx-85GT is fine for A-level Maths and Physics. I'm not sure the 'actual' recommendation is an import only calculator.
RogueS
19 Apr 176#5
I'm currently at university and I can say that this has been the approved calculator all throughout secondary school, 6th form/college and now university. Generally if it's not Casio fx-83.., fx-85.. (with specific exceptions), you can't use it in an exam. Obviously it might vary between schools or exam boards but i'd say it's a very safe bet that these are suitable for any level. I've had to spend £15 on a few of these over the past few years when i've misplaced them so £3 is an amazing price :smiley:
b1g1an to RogueS
19 Apr 17#11
Did a lot of reading on this as I didn't want my lad to stitch himself up and they're all absolutely fine because they don't do symbolic integration.
Firefly1
19 Apr 17#7
Well I had to use a Casio Graphics Calculator FX-9750GII (Albeit an older model version, otherwise identical) only a few years ago for effectively Further Maths A Level.
It seems more complicated than any of the Scientific Calculators listed above but is also >£60. I recently re-sold my older version for £55 delivered on Amazon as it had been in a draw for a few years.
Obviously this is fine for GCSE. And AS. And probably A level maths. But you'll want to be certain you don't need a graphical calculator as we did. I imagine you would need something like I have suggested for studying mathematics at university.
b1g1an
19 Apr 17#9
Must be cheap because it's old stock then, the official Casio displays have said the 991ES is recommended A-level one for at least the past year. There are rumours that the 991EX hasn't been released here as they have massive stocks of the ES to shift but take that with a pinch of salt.
If she's doing further maths do her a favour and get the 991 EX though, she might not know she needs it now, as my lad didn't until he saw one of his class mates and now they all want one, but that calculator alone has made up for one of his module teachers being rubbish. It might be 10 times the price but £30 for their future is nothing.
b1g1an
19 Apr 171#10
According to those that should know, the 991EX is very nearly as good as that one and it's successors and reckoned to seriously hurt their sales.
Amazon actually had it for £20 a couple of weeks ago when I bought one but I didn't realise it was a bargain at the time. Even cheaper through Amazon US including postage but I don't know what the lead time is like.
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
EDIT - So to conclude from the will it/ will it not be suitable debate going on below.
This calculator looks like it WILL NOT be suitable for the new A Level Maths starting from next year.
This calculator is great for secondary school and GCSE maths including the new GCSE levels 1-9 starting this year.
My son starts secondary in September so thought I'd grab it early for £3.00, RRP was £12. Got back in the car and daughter sent me straight back in for one as she said it's the newest one out and perfect for her A-Level Maths and Physics. These go in the sale regularly but never seen them for £3 and they tend to be the fx-83 model.
This is the calculator that all secondary schools that I know of recommend for GCSE and A-Level.
I haven't checked the bigger Tesco's near me but they are still £12 online.
Top comments
These will be fine for the new GCSE but NOT the new A Level that is starting this September as it doesn't have the necessary statistical tables built in, nor can it work with matrices. There are also lots of 'unrequired but very very helpful' functions in the more advanced calculators (including but not limited to graphics).
Best non-graphics calculator that does all you need (and much more) is the Casio FX-991EX as mentioned above. The 991ES is okay too (looks like a silver version of this one) but much older and the interface is poor and very unintuitive compared to the 991EX.
In fact, if they're doing further maths at A-level they'll want the FX 991EX, might only be a change of letter but the difference is huge. Google it and you'll see there is much discussion about whether it's actually allowed in the exams but it definitely is. Taken all the stress away from my 16 year old, who had both the FX 85GT and the simpler version of the FX 991.
It's not officially available in the UK at the moment but Amazon UK import it and there are several suppliers on ebay, usually in India. You tell it from the 'normal' version by the particularly tacky fake carbon finish and chrome buttons :smiley:
All comments (32)
In fact, if they're doing further maths at A-level they'll want the FX 991EX, might only be a change of letter but the difference is huge. Google it and you'll see there is much discussion about whether it's actually allowed in the exams but it definitely is. Taken all the stress away from my 16 year old, who had both the FX 85GT and the simpler version of the FX 991.
It's not officially available in the UK at the moment but Amazon UK import it and there are several suppliers on ebay, usually in India. You tell it from the 'normal' version by the particularly tacky fake carbon finish and chrome buttons :smiley:
It seems more complicated than any of the Scientific Calculators listed above but is also >£60. I recently re-sold my older version for £55 delivered on Amazon as it had been in a draw for a few years.
Obviously this is fine for GCSE. And AS. And probably A level maths. But you'll want to be certain you don't need a graphical calculator as we did. I imagine you would need something like I have suggested for studying mathematics at university.
If she's doing further maths do her a favour and get the 991 EX though, she might not know she needs it now, as my lad didn't until he saw one of his class mates and now they all want one, but that calculator alone has made up for one of his module teachers being rubbish. It might be 10 times the price but £30 for their future is nothing.
Amazon actually had it for £20 a couple of weeks ago when I bought one but I didn't realise it was a bargain at the time. Even cheaper through Amazon US including postage but I don't know what the lead time is like.