Under the SAT calculator policy for 2026-27, you may use the Desmos calculator built into Bluebook, or bring your own graphing, scientific or 4-function calculator, as long as it has no CAS (computer algebra system). College Board's policy page says calculators with CAS "are no longer allowed for tests within the SAT Suite of Assessments." You can use a calculator for the whole Math section, but not for Reading and Writing. To get comfortable with the built-in tool first, try the free practice calculator on our Desmos on the SAT page.
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We quote the official SAT Suite calculator policy wherever the exact wording matters, and we show a quick way to check your own calculator before test day.
What is the SAT calculator policy for 2026-27?
The SAT calculator policy lets you choose between the Desmos calculator inside Bluebook and an approved handheld calculator. College Board says: "You may use your own approved handheld calculator or take advantage of the Desmos calculator embedded in Bluebook." The only hard line on the type of calculator is CAS.
Picked your calculator? Create a free account and practice SAT Math with the same tool you will use on test day.
Start 1-day free trial →The same page covers the PSAT-related tests too, because it is one policy for the whole SAT Suite. College Board's "What to Bring" list for the SAT asks for "an acceptable calculator for use on the Math section of the test," and adds that there will be an embedded calculator in Bluebook (SAT what to bring). Bringing your own is optional. The policy says: "Calculators are not required, but bringing a familiar, approved model is recommended."
College Board's SAT structure page lists the Math section as 70 minutes in two 35-minute modules, with 44 questions. You can use a calculator through all of it. In the Reading and Writing section, your calculator goes under your desk.
Are CAS calculators allowed on the SAT?
No. CAS calculators are banned on every test in the SAT Suite. The policy opens with this sentence: "Calculators with CAS (computer algebra system) functionality are no longer allowed for tests within the SAT Suite of Assessments."
College Board gives its reason in the same paragraph: "As usage of CAS calculators evolves, their functionality provides users with distinct advantages over nonusers." In plain terms, a CAS calculator can factor, expand and solve equations in symbols, so it can do the algebra for you. The policy's FAQ calls the guidance "a clarification of existing policy," because the old wording about prohibited features no longer described the newer CAS models well.
How can you tell if your calculator has CAS?
Check three things. College Board says a calculator has CAS functionality if it:
- Has "CAS" in the model name.
- "Can symbolically manipulate algebraic expressions (like factoring and expanding)."
- "Can solve equations and give exact symbolic answers, not just decimals."
Try this at home. Type an expression such as (x + 2)(x + 3) and ask the calculator to expand it. If it returns x2 + 5x + 6 as an expression, it has symbolic algebra and you cannot use it. A non-CAS graphing calculator can graph that expression or evaluate it for a number, but it cannot rewrite it.
Apps count as well. The rules say you "must remove programs that have algebra functionality (e.g., solving equations, expanding algebraic expressions, factoring algebraic expressions, etc.)" from your calculator. A non-CAS model with an algebra app installed is still a problem until the app is gone.
Which calculators are allowed on the SAT?
Four kinds are allowed: the Bluebook Desmos calculator, non-CAS graphing calculators, scientific calculators and 4-function calculators. College Board does not recommend the last group. The table sums up the policy page.
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| Calculator type | Allowed on the SAT? | What College Board says |
|---|---|---|
| Desmos in Bluebook (graphing and scientific) | Yes | "Students can toggle between the two." Available for the whole Math section. |
| Graphing calculator without CAS | Yes | Includes "plotting and graphing windows, data entry and storage windows, data analysis functions, trig functions, and programming options." |
| Scientific calculator | Yes | Includes "built-in memory to store interim calculations, statistical functions, pi, trig functions, and scientific notation." |
| 4-function calculator | Yes, but not recommended | "They typically do not follow order of operations." |
| Any calculator with CAS | No | "Only non-CAS calculators may be used." |
| Phone app, laptop or tablet | No | Cell phone calculator apps are prohibited; tablets and laptops are prohibited "unless an approved accommodation." |
There is no longer an approved list to look up. The FAQ says: "We no longer maintain a list of graphing calculators that are specifically permitted for use on the SAT Suite." Instead, you check your model against the banned list and the three CAS tests above.
Which calculators are banned on the SAT?
The policy names these CAS models as examples. If your model is here, leave it at home.
- Texas Instruments: TI-Nspire CAS, TI-Nspire CX II CAS, every model number that begins with TI-89 or TI-92, and any model with "CAS" in the name. College Board adds: "TI-Nspire models that do not include 'CAS' in the name are acceptable."
- Casio: ClassPad 300, 330 or 400; ClassPad II (fx-CP400); ClassPad fx-CG 500 or fx-CG500; Algebra fx 2.0; and every model number that begins with CFX-9970G.
- Hewlett Packard: HP Prime, HP 48GII, and every model number that begins with 40G, 49G or 50G.
The policy also bans calculators with these features, whatever the brand: apps or programs that do symbolic algebra, QWERTY keyboards, wireless internet, Bluetooth or cellular connection, built-in cameras or audio and video recording, electronic writing pads or pen input, and paper tape. College Board's own calculator policy flyer notes that its guidance and photos "only represent a partial list of prohibited calculators." A model missing from the list may still be banned, so run the CAS checks.
A popular model like the TI-84 does not appear anywhere on College Board's banned list. Even so, the safe habit is the same for every model: confirm it cannot expand or solve in symbols, and delete any algebra programs.
What are the test-day rules for handheld calculators?
The rules are short, and misusing your calculator can end your test. From the policy page:
- "Students can't share calculators."
- "You must remove any stored documents from your calculator."
- "You may not use a calculator while working on the Reading and Writing section." It goes under your desk for those modules.
- "Calculator covers must be kept under your desk at all times."
- "You must turn off all sound."
- "Only battery-operated, handheld equipment can be used for testing. No power cords are allowed for calculators."
- A calculator with characters one inch or larger, or a raised display others might see, means you "will be seated at the discretion of the proctor."
College Board spells out the penalty: "You'll be dismissed and your scores canceled if you use your calculator to share information during the test or to remove test questions or answers from the test room."
The policy also covers a dead calculator: "If your calculator fails during testing and you have no backup, you can continue testing using the built-in Desmos calculator." A dead battery does not end your Math section.
Should you use Desmos or your own calculator?
Use the one you know best. College Board says: "We encourage you to use the calculator that is most familiar to you on test day," and "don't bring a calculator new to you."
The built-in Desmos has two modes, graphing and scientific, and you can switch at any point in the Math section. It also leaves you nothing to pack or charge. Our guide to the College Board version of Desmos shows where to open it and how it differs from desmos.com. If you are still unsure whether it is permitted, read is Desmos allowed on the SAT. For the scientific mode, see when to switch from graphing to scientific.
A calculator is not always the fastest route. The policy itself says "the Math section includes some questions where it's better not to use a calculator, even though you're allowed to." Our list of signs you should skip Desmos covers those questions.
Why are CAS calculators allowed on AP exams but not the SAT?
College Board says CAS gets in the way of what the SAT measures, but not of what AP exams measure. In its words: "Calculators with computer algebra system (CAS) functionality can affect accurate assessment of the math abilities that the SAT Suite is designed to test. CAS functionality doesn't present the same problem for AP exams." The AP calculator policy is separate, so a calculator you use in AP Calculus may still be banned on the SAT. Check both lists if you take both tests.
Does the SAT calculator policy change every year?
It can. College Board says: "Calculator guidelines for the SAT Suite may change as frequently as once a year. Such changes will be finalized and communicated in time for each year's August SAT Weekend administration and for fall in-school testing." Read the official page again before each test date, even if your calculator passed last year.
How should you practice with your test-day calculator?
Practice on real SAT-style questions with the exact tool you will use on test day. College Board suggests learning the Desmos options through the test preview, a Bluebook practice test or the Desmos website.
For more questions, our October 2026 SAT Math question bank has 106 questions and the September 2026 SAT Math question bank has 194. Work them with your calculator open, and note which questions went faster without it. Every month we have is listed on the SAT question bank page. For Desmos drills with full solutions, try our Desmos SAT practice problems. To track your work in one place, create a free account; it is free to create and needs no card.
How we built this page
Verified 2026-10-22. We fetched College Board's SAT Suite calculator policy page, its SAT calculator policy flyer, the SAT "What to Bring" page and the SAT structure page on 2026-10-22, and quoted them directly. Question counts for our two Math banks come from our own database (tests 4235 and 2915) and the live bank pages, read the same day. We do not list any calculator as approved that College Board has not named; when in doubt, use the built-in Desmos calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SAT calculator policy for 2026-27?
You may use the Desmos calculator embedded in Bluebook or your own approved handheld calculator. Graphing, scientific and 4-function calculators are allowed if they have no CAS. Bringing your own is optional, and you can use a calculator for the whole Math section but not for Reading and Writing.
Are CAS calculators allowed on the SAT?
No. College Board's policy says calculators with CAS (computer algebra system) functionality are no longer allowed for tests within the SAT Suite of Assessments, because CAS gives users distinct advantages over nonusers.
How can you tell if your calculator has CAS?
College Board lists three signs: the model name includes CAS, the calculator can factor or expand algebraic expressions symbolically, or it can solve equations and give exact symbolic answers instead of only decimals. Any of these means you cannot use it.
Which calculators are banned on the SAT?
Examples named by College Board include the TI-Nspire CAS, TI-Nspire CX II CAS, any TI-89 or TI-92 model, the Casio ClassPad 300, 330 and 400, the HP Prime and the HP 48GII. Phone calculator apps, laptops, tablets and calculators with QWERTY keyboards are also banned.
Should you use Desmos or your own calculator?
Use the one you know best. College Board encourages students to use the calculator most familiar to them and warns against bringing one that is new to you. If your own calculator fails during the test, you can keep going with the built-in Desmos calculator.
Why are CAS calculators allowed on AP exams but not the SAT?
College Board says CAS functionality can affect accurate assessment of the math abilities the SAT Suite is designed to test, but it does not present the same problem for AP exams. AP has its own calculator policy, so check both lists if you take both tests.
Does the SAT calculator policy change every year?
It can. College Board says calculator guidelines may change as often as once a year, with changes finalized in time for each August SAT Weekend administration and for fall in-school testing. Check the official page before every test date.