A question that comes up from time-to-time is: what sort of calculator can I use for my Foundation, Intermediate or Full amateur radio exam?
The current RSGB examination rules state:
Silent, battery powered, non-programmable calculators are permitted. The Invigilators may provide spares but are not required to do so.
If you’re taking the exam online, you still need a physical calculator. A calculator app on your computer, tablet or smartphone isn’t suitable for use during the exam.
Which calculator should I choose?
For the Foundation exam, a basic calculator is perfectly adequate. At Intermediate, a scientific calculator becomes more useful, and for the Full exam I’d strongly recommend one.
If you’re buying a calculator specifically for amateur radio training, it makes sense to buy one that will see you through all three licence levels.
Recommended calculators for amateur radio exams
Casio MX-12 – budget Foundation choice Good for: Foundation
Casio fx-85GT CW+ – simple scientific choice Good for: Foundation, Intermediate and general radio calculations
Casio fx-991CW+ UK – our recommended choice Good for: Foundation, Intermediate and Full – especially more involved formula calculations
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Foundation exam
For Foundation, the calculations are fairly straightforward. You’ll encounter formulas such as:
V = I × R
P = I × V
A basic four-function calculator is enough to handle this sort of calculation. You don’t need a scientific calculator just to pass Foundation.
That said, if you’re planning to progress through Intermediate and Full, buying a scientific calculator now saves buying another one later.
A basic calculator is perfectly adequate for Foundation
Intermediate exam
At Intermediate, the calculations become a little more involved. A scientific calculator isn’t essential for every question, but it makes working with powers, roots and scientific notation considerably easier.
For most candidates, something like the Casio fx-85GT CW+ is more than sufficient.
If you intend to progress to Full, I’d consider going straight for the fx-991CW+ UK instead.
Full exam
For the Full exam, a scientific calculator is strongly recommended.
You don’t have to memorise every formula. The RSGB provides reference data for the examination, including the formulae you’ll need, but you still have to enter the values correctly and perform the calculation.
Some of these calculations are considerably more involved than those encountered at Foundation.
Example formulae from the Full-level reference material
Why we recommend the Casio fx-991CW+ UK
If formula manipulation isn’t your favourite part of amateur radio, a calculator with a clear natural-display system can make life much easier.
The Casio fx-991CW+ UK is Casio’s current advanced scientific calculator. It displays mathematical expressions in a form much closer to how they’re written on paper and includes equation-solving functions that can be useful when working through more complex calculations.
That makes it a sensible one-off purchase for someone starting at Foundation who expects to progress through Intermediate and Full.
See the Casio fx-991CW+ UK on Amazon UK
Are these calculators allowed in amateur radio exams?
The RSGB doesn’t publish a list of specific approved calculator models. Instead, its examination rules specify that calculators must be silent, battery powered and non-programmable.
The current Casio fx-85GT CW+ and fx-991CW+ UK are non-programmable scientific calculators designed for UK examinations, so they fit the type of calculator permitted under the RSGB rules.
If you’re unsure about an unusual calculator model, check with your exam centre or the RSGB before the examination.
Can I use a mobile phone calculator?
No. Mobile phones, smart watches and other electronic devices aren’t permitted for use as calculators during the examination.
The safest approach is to take a separate physical calculator with you.
Can I use a calculator with memory?
Having ordinary calculator memory functions doesn’t automatically make a calculator programmable.
A programmable calculator is one capable of storing and running sequences of instructions or programs. The standard Casio scientific calculators recommended above are designed as non-programmable examination calculators.
Do I need an expensive calculator?
No.
For Foundation, almost any ordinary calculator will do. Even at Intermediate and Full, there’s no need to spend a large amount of money.
The reason for choosing a good scientific calculator isn’t that the exam demands an expensive device – it’s simply that a clear display and useful scientific functions make calculations easier and reduce the chance of entering a formula incorrectly.
Which one would we choose?
If you’re only interested in Foundation and want something simple, the Casio fx-85GT CW+ is more than adequate.
If you’re likely to progress through the amateur radio licence levels, we’d choose the Casio fx-991CW+ UK. It costs a little more, but gives you more useful functionality for Intermediate, Full and general electronics calculations.
Any questions about calculators for the amateur radio exams? Add a comment below.
I’m on the BBDL course and waiting to hear if the Casio fx-991EX PLUS is allowed in the exam.
I hope it is because it makes life so much simpler when transposing a formula.
Hi Rob,
The RSGB’s requirement only states that a calculator must be silent, battery-powered and non-programmable. The FX-991ES Plus conforms to all three of these requirements.
In February 2017, RSGB provided guidance to tutors, referring to the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) guidance on calculators. JCQ provide guidelines for the likes of AQA, City & Guides, EdExcel, OCR, Pearson and other exam bodies. The guidance lists clear criteria, and the FXT-991ES Plus meets all of these. It’s even recommended by one exam body. In the UK, the FX-991ES Plus is sold on the high street with a sticker saying “Recommended for GCSE, AS & A Level”
According to online documentation, the 991ES uses the “Newton-Raphson numerical method” to solve equations (which is not algebraic manipulation), so would appear to be acceptable under JCQ requirements
If, as stated in 2017, RSGB is happy with JCQ’s guidelines, then as the FX-991EX Plus conforms and can be used for mainstream UK exams, I personally can’t see any reason why RSGB would not allow this particular compliant Casio model. I’d find it very hard to imagine the RSGB would go against JCQ / EdExcel/C&G policy on allowable calculators, but you never know. Please let me know what your tutor advises.
Pete
There is an updated version of that calculator now, known as the CASIO FX-991EX
It’s cheaper than the old Plus model and still has the solve button and is still recommended for UK exams. 🙂
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FX-991EX-Advanced-Scientific-Calculator-VERSION/dp/B0719FWP3X/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Casio+fx-991EX+PLUS&qid=1590917715&sr=8-3
Sad that HP 35S does not strictly fit the requirements. I have to buy a casio just for the test, but it does not support RPN, and I am really struggling to use it.
Hi, I passed foundation with your online course.. Very happy. Moving onto intermediate now and see this successor model
Casio FX-991CW
Will that be ok?
73!
M7KFN