Calculator for GCSE maths

[SisterMaryLoquacious]

DD is in year 10 and struggling with maths. Her LSA has just told us that she’s having problems using the (elderly but entirely standard, no graphs or programming) Casio scientific that we sent her in with. When asked about this she just says that she doesn’t like it and the school ones are “better” in some unspecified way.

What do we need to get her? I think the board is AQA if that makes a difference.

[SisterMaryLoquacious]

(And no, asking the school is unlikely to be possible)

[TeenTimesTwo]

Casio fx-85GT PLUS

I have recently bought this for myself to be the same as DD2, y9 as my 40yo Casio was so different.

She needs the same so when the teacher is saying how to do trig she has the same buttons, hopefully in the same place.

[TeenTimesTwo]

Though, actually asking the school if they have a recommended one (or even can supply at a cheaper place) would be ideal.

My old calculator you had to do '60 sin' whereas DD's one you do 'sin 60'

My old calculator you had to bung things in memory to reuse, DD's one you just say 50 / ANS (or whatever).

[TeenTimesTwo]

Other differences, DD's one understands fractions, and can switch between decimals and fractions, it can also factorise number (!)

[Ethelswith]

The Casio ClassWiz seems to have cornered the market in thus.

It does one at about £15 which is clearly marked as suitable for GCSE, and one at about £30 for A level.

It might be the same one as teentimestwo recommends, as it does have a F-something name, but I can't remember it, packagung long gone and teens at schoool at the moment.

[NoBaggyPants]

As above, but it's now been updated to the fx-85 GTX

www.amazon.co.uk/Casio-fx-85GTX-Scientific-Calculator-Black/dp/B07L68RQCX/ref=sr_1_3?hvlocphy=1006814&hvnetw=g&keywords=casio%20fx85gt%20plus&hvadid=259098993984&qid=1559894156&gclid=CjwKCAjwlujnBRBlEiwAuWx4LeyQeKZ-E7DfQy4webM3XVPhz8xIXx4xQw2rpIQm3fk5AixvWk3hZhoCFbkQAvD_BwE&s=gateway&hydadcr=25329_1767992&hvpos=1t1&hvdev=t&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-300651918368&adgrpid=52867641493&hvrand=17014626682911004377&sr=8-3&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[evilharpy]

Can she write down the model number during her next class? Or take a photo of the calculator?

[OKBobble]

I am unsure why asking the school is likely to be impossible. Ours sent out suggested models for gcses and then again a different higher tech one for A level. It is in their interest to tell you what model best supports the work your DC does. The Casio ClassWhizz rings a bell here too.

[RedSkyLastNight]

If asking the school is impossible (why?), can she not ask her friends what they use?

[sunnyshines]

Wouldn't the school maths teacher have a recommendation?

[SisterMaryLoquacious]

Long story why asking the school is difficult. No friends to ask. I have asked her to take a note of the model number of the school calculator but am not getting my hopes up.

However the ClassWhizz looks like it’s a plausible answer, and for 15 quid from Argos it’s worth a punt.

[noblegiraffe]

This version is the solar powered one and cheaper than Argos.
www.amazon.co.uk/Casio-fx-85GTX-Scientific-Calculator-Black/dp/B07L68RQCX/ref=sr_1_3?s=gateway&keywords=casio%20fx83&qid=1559922703&sr=8-3&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[TeenTimesTwo]

noble
Any advantage for GCSE to have the slightly newer version?
And if so, should I wait until y11 in-case an even better once comes out?

[SisterMaryLoquacious]

Thanks Noble - that’s just reminded me that I have a five pound Amazon voucher that’s due to expire so I should probably go for that.

[noblegiraffe]

Teen honestly they don’t use most of the buttons as it is, so if there are slight improvements it’s highly unlikely anyone will know what they are, let alone teach the kids to use them!

[TeenTimesTwo]

Thanks, as I suspected.

[fairweathercyclist]

OP does the school have a website with a uniform page? It may also include the recommended equipment on it. Although I see that ours and the other local secondary just say they sell a calculator but not what the model is.

[dontrollover]

DC is in Year 10 and we were advised to get the CASIO FX-991EX if there's a possibility that they will be doing maths A Level. In fact we were told it was compulsory for A Level and so they may as well get it now so they can start using some of the more advanced features sooner rather than later.

[ElectricLions]

We were told which calculator to buy before they started year 11, it is the same one as Teen plus school sold it at a discount and the language dictionary. I have sons in years 11 and 8.

I would contact school yourself and either ask the maths department or your DD's LSA.