The Student Room Group
Yes, GDCs are allowed for all 3. However they should delete your programmed before the exam. or you should and they shoudl check
Reply 2
I heard that they weren't allowing calculators for Paper 1 for the HL Exam in May 2008. I really, really, really hope this is wrong, because I honestly cannot to arithmatic or any kind of math in my head. That's why I was horrible at math until like two years ago when I was allowed to use a calculator. I think I can get one anyway, because I'm diagnosed with dyscalculia. Can you imagine that?
Reply 3
loll. So do they expect us to write down what we used on the calc to arrive at our answer?

i.e. Trace->intersect: x= blah blah or defint(f(x)),x,-392,234) to arrive at answer blah blah

Because I see marks given for showing work? Whereas use of calc requires minimal work... lol
No don't describe your calc procress. Like your putting binompdf or whatever means nothing since that's just a calc command. Just say, if you use a graph to answer your question, sketch the graph. Or if it's a calculation, type, for example:

X~N(n,p)
P(X>x) = P(Z>(x-n)/p) or whatever it is, it's been a while since I did stats
= blahblah from GDC or from table

Or

You deduct from the question that you have to do 5C4. Then put down 5C4 = blah despite that you're doing this on the calc. IT shows you know the process you are doing and not just pulling a number out of thin air.

Put down the necessary lines of working that you can deduct from the question. Put *something* down as working for all question even if it's the simples of things, don't just put the answer.

zack: I heard it is true about M08 no calc paper 1. I'm sure it will be stuff that are doable without a calc.
zackinbaltimore
I heard that they weren't allowing calculators for Paper 1 for the HL Exam in May 2008. I really, really, really hope this is wrong, because I honestly cannot to arithmatic or any kind of math in my head. That's why I was horrible at math until like two years ago when I was allowed to use a calculator. I think I can get one anyway, because I'm diagnosed with dyscalculia. Can you imagine that?


Yes there is no calculator for Paper 1, but then again the format of the test is changing, so they will put problems which can be solved without a calculator on the paper 1. I was actually given a set of problems "Interim Specimen Questions" for "First Examination in May 2008". It had a section which talked about why they were changing the examination model and what exactly the format would be, but I seem to have lost the paper after doing the problems earlier. If I can find it later, I'll scan it for you. In any case, I'm sure you will do fine, just as HMS said.
Yes, NOV 07 is the last session where GDC is allowed. Hell yeah. :biggrin:
Reply 7
hell yeah :smile:
its not just HL - calc won't be allowed on any p1 in maths...
Reply 8
I think its actually better w/o calculators, since i'm not always good with them. The IB will create the questions so that you can do them by hand then, so you won't really have problems with calculations.
I have a TI-83, while all my friends have Casio, TI-83+ or newer. The really basic programs like quadratic, polynomial and linear equations they have as a standard application on their calculator, while I have to program them on mine. Are my programs really doing to be deleted before the tests? That would just be so unfair! I'll have to graph or do polynomials by hand :frown:
Reply 10
No, there are some programs allowed like PolySmlt - which solves polynomials, so that no matter what calculator you have, you have same chances as others.
Reply 11
What. You can have polynomial solution programs on your calculator? And all this time I've been using the stupid binomial equation?
Reply 12
no extra programs allowed what so ever. I hade polysmlt, got it in 05 by an IB math examinator but for my mocks and exams I cant use it. Guess the syllabus changed or something.

Binomial... just just nCr thing in 2nd Math

Otherwise the solver function works for some simultanious equations.
Reply 13
Well, I have polysmlt and I am pretty sure you can use it (got it on physics and noone deleted it, though calculators were checked). And on Casio they have such option build in, so IBO had to all this program to even the chances for TI users. And if they like to check if you can solve polynomials they can still do by asking to find exact values or smth like that.
polysmlt is one of the few apps that is allowed, there is a checklist for all these things, and how to delete programs etc. I have the file (for TI) but it is too big to attach here.
Reply 15
even if you dont have polysmlt you can use the matrix stuff, but then again polysmlt is easier so yeah :smile:
Reply 16
rocksandfossils
Yes there is no calculator for Paper 1, but then again the format of the test is changing, so they will put problems which can be solved without a calculator on the paper 1. I was actually given a set of problems "Interim Specimen Questions" for "First Examination in May 2008". It had a section which talked about why they were changing the examination model and what exactly the format would be, but I seem to have lost the paper after doing the problems earlier. If I can find it later, I'll scan it for you. In any case, I'm sure you will do fine, just as HMS said.


Excuse me, I think I might just make a loop out of a quadratic function and hang myself with it. Despite what you all may think, I really do need my calculator to survive. See, in my brain, 2 + 2 is actually equal to 5. Really. I have to do the simplest calculations on the calculator because there's a short somewhere in my brain. Perhaps I can get untimed testing for learning disabled students.

(I know I'm being melodramatic... I just love math, but not the... logistics of it all.)
Reply 17
zackinbaltimore
Excuse me, I think I might just make a loop out of a quadratic function and hang myself with it. Despite what you all may think, I really do need my calculator to survive. See, in my brain, 2 + 2 is actually equal to 5. Really. I have to do the simplest calculations on the calculator because there's a short somewhere in my brain. Perhaps I can get untimed testing for learning disabled students.

(I know I'm being melodramatic... I just love math, but not the... logistics of it all.)


If you've read 1984, you should know that 2 + 2 can equal 5. :wink:

How about Maths SL without a calculator? They'll give problems doable without one, right? I'm pretty okay with basic arithmetic, but I detest long division. :confused:

Oh, also...what is the exact reason for getting rid of calculators for Paper 1? I'm awful at Maths and am really scared of that exam as a result.
Reply 18
zackinbaltimore
See, in my brain, 2 + 2 is actually equal to 5.


Yeah, I know what you mean. Maybe addition I can handle in my head, but when it comes to subtraction I am like "Where the hell is my TI !" :P.
Luckily I am in the last year of calculators being allowed on all papers :biggrin:.
Reply 19
Milkfed
If you've read 1984, you should know that 2 + 2 can equal 5. :wink:

How about Maths SL without a calculator? They'll give problems doable without one, right? I'm pretty okay with basic arithmetic, but I detest long division. :confused:

Oh, also...what is the exact reason for getting rid of calculators for Paper 1? I'm awful at Maths and am really scared of that exam as a result.


I bet it has something to do with trig... not being able to solve triangles or something without a triangle. I bet there are going to be a lot of root-2-over-2's or root-3-over-twos (I didn't feel like finding all the signs for that).