Is the era of the $100 graphing calculator coming to an end?

Re:Is the era of the $100 graphing calculator coming to an end? by morpheuskafka on Monday September 23, 2019 @07:04PM (#21054718)

On the SAT you can use programs and notes (obviously you are not supposed to share test content, but there is no specific prohibited on the notes feature. I think the ACT says you are not supposed to somewhere in the instructions but they do not clear the calculators. Only time I've had them clear the calculators was for some state-mandated EOGs that you could do with your eyes closed.

And it can't be that hard to build a modified logic board that includes an LTE modem or WiFi chip and fits inside the case of a TI-84. If you're just going to copy the answers you wouldn't even need to bother cloning all the math features, just the very basics. The test proctors barely glance at the calculators as they hand out the test books, no one would notice minor changes in the look of the screen or case.

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Re:Is the era of the $100 graphing calculator coming to an end? by swiley on Monday September 23, 2019 @07:43PM (#21054975)

> On the SAT you can use programs and notes

That is definitely a new thing. I wasn't allowed to use a calculator at all when I took the test 4 years ago.

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Re:Is the era of the $100 graphing calculator coming to an end? by morpheuskafka on Monday September 23, 2019 @09:19PM (#21055522)

You may well be right--the test was given a top-to-bottom redesign in 2016, so you would have been just before that. Nowadays there is a calc active and calc inactive section, whereas the current ACT has one math section, all calc active.

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Re:Is the era of the $100 graphing calculator coming to an end? by fragmede on Monday September 23, 2019 @07:25PM (#21054862)

The TI-84 has a USB port, so a backpack case could easily enable Internet access to the phone, though having the TI-84 taking advantage of this access would be a bit harder.

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