Doing well in GCSE Maths can depend on having the right tool for the job. In this case, the best GCSE calculator can serve your child well from the start of Year 10 all the way to exam day and beyond. Let's look at how to pick the right calculator and what models are best for GCSE. ✖️➗
Contents
- Best maths GCSE calculators
- GCSE calculators: top tips
- Which features should you consider while buying a GCSE maths calculator?
Best maths GCSE calculators
The best maths GCSE calculator for your teen depends on their needs. If their maths teacher has recommended a specific calculator brand or model, it's best to go with that one since GCSE maths lessons could be tailored around it, at least for the next school year.
To get an idea of what the best maths GCSE calculators are, we have put together the top GoStudent recommendations:
Casio FX-991EX: The top performer for GCSE and more
This scientific calculator is suitable for both GCSE Maths and A-Level exams! It's a great choice if you know that your child likes maths and is likely to want to continue taking the subject after GCSEs. ↗️
GCSE calculator tip: This GCSE calculator model is the updated version of the Casio FX-991ES Plus. The older model can be found cheaper second-hand and should share most of the key features for GCSE. It's a great way to save money on school supplies.
As always, it's best to see what their maths teacher recommends for lessons since exercises and instructions may be tailored to a specific calculator type. 🤓
Key GCSE calculator features:
- Appropriate for GCSE and A/AS Level
- 500+ mathematical features
- Solar power and battery backup for better reliability
- Polynomial equation solving feature
- Auto power function
- Displays equations in the same format as maths textbooks
Casio FX-85GTX or FX-83GTX: solar or not solar
These two GCSE calculator models offer the same features except solar power. ☀️
- The FX-85GTX is both solar and battery-powered.
- The FX-83GTX is only battery-powered.
This difference makes the FX-83GTX slightly cheaper than the FX-85GTX model, even though they are identical for developing GCSE maths skills in every other respect.
As Casio themselves explain, these two models are cheaper than the top-of-the-line FX-991EX because they lack equation-solving features which are not absolutely necessary for GCSE Maths. It's worth keeping in mind that this makes these two models unsuitable for A-Level maths.
GCSE calculator tip: These GCSE calculator models are the updated version of the Casio FX-83GT and 85GT Plus models respectively. The older model can be found cheaper second-hand. You might also have a friend or family member who has a spare one. 💷
Again, it's worth checking with your child's GCSE maths teacher to make sure they don't have specific recommendations. The latest versions of these models do have new mathematical features such as ratio calculations, not present in the previous generation. 😮
Key GCSE calculator features:
- Appropriate for KS3, KS4, and GCSE
- 270+ mathematical features
- User-friendly menus
- Dual solar and battery power on FX-85GTX model
- Displays equations in the same format as maths textbooks
Texas Instruments TI-30X Pro MultiView
Casio isn't the only calculator brand out there. The Texas Instruments TI-30X Pro Multiview offers all the GCSE Calculator features you would expect and then some.
It's best to check with the GCSE maths teachers about what calculators your child's school recommends. While this GCSE calculator model has all the needed features, the layout could be unfamiliar to your child. This could cause difficulties if Maths lessons are designed with a different calculator in mind.
Key GCSE calculator features:
- 4-line display shows more than one calculation at a time
- Maths fractions, power, root, and factorizing GCSE criteria met
- Advanced functions meet DfE A and AS-Level requirements
- Dual solar and battery power
- Displays equations in the same format as maths textbooks
GCSE calculators: Top tips
The GCSE Maths pass rate (GCSE grade 4 or more) for 2022 has dropped to just over 20% according to estimates by FFT Education Data Lab.
Whether this means more Maths GCSE resits is too early to tell, however these are our top tips to help your child get the most out of their GCSE calculator ➕➖
1. Calculator consistency
If your teen can stick to the same calculator throughout Year 10 and 11, they will be familiar with how it works. Having the same GCSE calculator means your child will be comfortable with how it works during their exams.
2. Clean and protected
Get your teen to use the protective cover or pouch designed for the calculator. This will ensure it will serve them well throughout the GCSE Maths curriculum.
3. Make sure your teen knows key GCSE calculator functions and shortcuts
These are the top 5 GCSE calculator functions your teen needs to learn during GCSE maths 📝
- FACT function: This feature displays a number as the product of its prime factors. They should know the shortcut to get the result once they have studied this topic in class.
- Mixed numbers: This will be useful when studying fractions. Knowing how to enter these properly will make maths tests and homework much more pleasant.
- Entering time values: Did you know you can enter durations as hours and minutes on modern calculators? It's essential your teen knows how to do this for those maths problems with schedules and durations.
- Getting a percentage out of a fraction: The shortcut key combo for this one has changed between current and past Casio calculator models. Make sure your teen knows how to display a percentage from the fraction they entered.
- Finding the highest and lowest common factor and multiple: This is another feature relating to fractions that needs a specific shortcut that may be different depending on your calculator.
Which features should you consider when buying a GCSE maths calculator?
Make sure that the calculator you choose to buy can perform the following functions:
- GCSE calculations ➕➖
The primary and essential feature that you should check is that the calculator performs all the tasks necessary for GCSE maths and science. Some of the topics covered under the GCSE syllabus are decimals, probability, and quadratic equations.
- Statistics settings 📈
The statistics settings can not only help you answer statistics-based questions on your exams with accuracy and efficiency but can also prove helpful in the long term. With this feature, you can rest assured that you won't have to buy a new exam calculator when you start your A-levels.
- Solving equations ➗
This is perhaps the best feature you can look for while choosing calculator models. This function will also be helpful for you as the GCSE syllabus involves solving equations.
However, even with GCSE calculators, GCSE maths can be extremely challenging. So if you want to achieve the best scores in their GCSE exams, book a GoStudent free trial now!
