Calculator for GCSE Maths

[Orangesandlemons77]

Please can you tell me the correct calculator to buy? Thanks

Speak to the school its best to buy the one they suggest so the teachers can easily show the children how to use them as they all have the same.

Agree. You may even find they sell calculators at a reduced price, ours did.

Yes. We bought ours through the school.
Also 2 children 2 years apart were told to use 2 slightly different ones.

I also agree. Having a different one from everyone else in the class would be a pain in the arse.

At our school you can buy them from the school cheaper than you can on the shops.

Our school always send letters out beginning of year 10 with the link to the particular calculator they want you to use. Agree with a pp, older child had a different one to younger child.

Your best bet is probably to email whoever is head of maths.

It is usually the calculator recommended by the school and available to buy at a discounted price through the school for the start of year 7. Always check with the school as to which one they want you to get.

Thanks, I have emailed the school now to ask.

If this is for next years year seven, I'd wait until all of the year sevens are told. If you get one now the calculator might change.

If I got an email saying what calculator do we need for maths, I'd tell you what calculator they need for maths now.

Most pupils start their GCSEs in year 10, although some schools start in year 9.

Most pupils start their GCSEs in year 10, although some schools start in year 9.

Exactly. So don't buy a calculator for a year seven - if that's what the OP is doing. Maybe she isn't but if that was what she was doing, then she shouldn't.

This isn't really true of maths - which is constantly building on previous knowledge, so teaching of maths GCSE starts with awareness of number and counting at pre-school age.

If OP has a Year 7, then she should buy them a calculator that will see them through to the end of Year 11. And the school should hopefully tell them which is their preferred model. I can't believe anyone buys a calculator for a Year 7 and then another one in Year 9/10.

That's not what she's saying though.

She's saying it's best not to buy calculator when your child is in year six before the whole cohort has been asked to buy a calculator in case there is a new calculator issued in the meantime.

My DD's went to the same school three years apart and they both had the standard Casio calculator but it wasn't the same model.

It will probably be a standard Casio scientific one but wait until the school says which one they recommend. We can buy them through the school

I don't think you need to get ahead of this one. They'll tell you which one to get when they need it (and probably sell one to you at a good price).

*This isn't really true of maths - which is constantly building on previous knowledge, so teaching of maths GCSE starts with awareness of number and counting at pre-school age.

If OP has a Year 7, then she should buy them a calculator that will see them through to the end of Year 11. And the school should hopefully tell them which is their preferred model. I can't believe anyone buys a calculator for a Year 7 and then another one in Year 9/10.*

I meant don't buy a calculator before the school tells you to buy a calculator.

If her child is currently in year six and the OP is getting him ready for starting year seven then she should not buy the calculator.

I can't believe anyone buys a calculator for a Year 7 and then another one in Year 9/10.

Except if you've got our DS1, who casually mentions at 10pm one night that he hasn't been able to find his (Casio, school recommended and discounted version) calculator for ages and he thinks he needs one for the <whichever 'extra' maths qualification the school had put them in for in year 10> exam in the morning.

He actually managed really well for both that and his GCSEs with whatever brand of calculator I'd never heard of our local open all hours Tesco was able to come up with. We did get him a new school-approved one for A level, though.

My kids really trashed the calculators I bought them for the start of secondary school. And actually a lot of supermarkets stock the model most often recommended for GCSE. I actually got DS1's GCSE replacement from a charity shop, in an unopened package. Prices fluctuate, with good special offers on sometimes, and it's worth looking out for deals. Checking with the head of Maths at their (secondary) school is a good idea though, and asking whether the school has any arrangement to sell discounted calculators, as I had to buy DS1 a more sophisticated one for A level.

Probably also a good idea to check they have what they need at Easter before GCSEs (note to self to speak to DS2 later). I don't think DS1 plays football with his any more, or whatever crazy thing he was doing with his stuff in year 7....