The College Board has formally updated and emphasized its calculator policy for the SAT, and the message is clear: calculators with CAS functionality (Computer Algebra System) are not allowed under any circumstances. This policy is already in effect and has serious implications for students planning to take the SAT this year and beyond.
If you’re preparing for the SAT and routinely use a high-powered calculator, this update deserves your full attention. Misunderstanding the calculator policy can lead not just to minor confusion, but to being dismissed from the testing center or having your scores canceled entirely—an outcome that can delay or derail a student’s college application timeline.
This article breaks down what the CAS ban means, why the College Board has drawn a line, how students can comply, and what to expect moving forward.
Understanding CAS and Why It’s Banned
CAS stands for Computer Algebra System, a type of advanced calculator functionality that allows symbolic manipulation of mathematical expressions. CAS calculators can solve algebraic equations, simplify expressions, factor polynomials, and often provide exact symbolic results rather than just decimal approximations.
These capabilities go beyond traditional arithmetic or graphing functions and start to resemble what many would consider automated problem solving. For example, a CAS-enabled calculator can take an equation like x² - 3x + 2 = 0 and instantly return the roots x = 1 and x = 2 symbolically, without requiring the student to perform any of the intermediate steps.
From the College Board’s perspective, this undermines the purpose of the SAT’s Math section, which is designed to evaluate a student’s reasoning ability, conceptual understanding, and mathematical fluency—not just their ability to operate sophisticated technology.
The policy exists to create a level playing field. Not all students have access to the same tools or resources, and allowing some students to bring devices that can essentially “do the math for them” introduces inequity into the testing experience. By removing CAS calculators from the equation, the College Board is ensuring that every student is solving problems using the same set of skills and tools.
What Happens If You Bring a CAS Calculator?
This is where the policy takes on real urgency. The College Board has stated that students who bring or attempt to use a CAS-enabled calculator during the SAT will be immediately dismissed from the test center, and their scores will be canceled. That’s not just a policy violation—it’s a test-day catastrophe.
What’s more, even attempting to use a prohibited calculator can raise questions about academic integrity and trigger formal misconduct reporting. In an era of high-stakes testing and competitive college admissions, these are consequences that no student or parent can afford to take lightly.
This is not an idle threat or an obscure footnote in the test manual. The rule is now prominently displayed in the SAT calculator policy documentation, and testing staff are instructed to enforce it strictly.
Commonly Used Calculators That Are No Longer Allowed
One of the biggest sources of confusion is that many of the calculators now banned for the SAT are still allowed on other standardized exams, including AP math and science tests. For example, the TI-Nspire CX II CAS, the TI-89 Titanium, and the Casio ClassPad fx-CG500 are all widely used in high school classrooms and permitted on the AP Calculus and AP Physics exams. They are not permitted on the SAT.
Even more confusing is that some of these calculators have non-CAS versions with nearly identical names. For example, the TI-Nspire CX II (non-CAS) is acceptable, while the TI-Nspire CX II CAS is not. The distinction is easy to miss—and very easy to make a mistake over.
The only way to be sure is to verify the exact model of your calculator well before test day and cross-check it with the official calculator policy on the College Board’s website. You can access that information directly here:
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/what-to-bring-do/calculator-policy
What Are Your Options?
Students do not need a calculator with CAS functionality to succeed on the SAT. In fact, the Math section has been carefully designed to ensure that all questions can be answered using a standard graphing calculator, a scientific calculator, or even no calculator at all.
The College Board now provides access to a built-in Desmos graphing calculator within the Bluebook™ app used for digital testing. This version of Desmos includes many of the features students need to graph functions, explore data, and perform calculations without introducing the symbolic algebra tools that trigger a CAS ban.
If students prefer to use their own handheld device, they are advised to choose a reliable, test-approved graphing calculator such as the TI-84 Plus or TI-83 Plus, which are widely available, familiar to most math teachers, and explicitly permitted under the current policy.
It’s also worth noting that students who rely heavily on their calculator during practice should begin using the approved device well in advance of test day. Switching to a new calculator at the last minute can create unnecessary stress and slow you down during the test.
Why This Policy Matters
The SAT is not just any school exam—it’s one of the key credentials students use to apply to universities, scholarships, and competitive programs across the country. A misunderstanding about calculator rules is not a small technicality; it’s a risk that can affect college opportunities.
This policy also reflects the broader shift toward fairness and accessibility in standardized testing. By banning advanced tools that offer a substantial advantage to students who can afford or access them, the College Board is trying to keep the test as equitable as possible. It’s not a perfect system, but setting a universal limit on calculator capability is one way to narrow the gap.
Final Thoughts
Calculator policies may not be the most exciting part of SAT prep, but they are among the most important. The bottom line is simple: if your calculator can perform symbolic algebra—solving, factoring, simplifying—it’s not allowed. Bringing one to the test could invalidate months of preparation.
Students, parents, and educators should treat this as a priority in the weeks leading up to the SAT. Review your calculator, double-check the model number, and if in doubt, use the Desmos calculator provided within the Bluebook app.
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