Robert Jones\’s Interactive Maths

Hi, this is very random but i was wondering if the pupils doing higher maths at your school were given/expected to buy graphics calculators for the course and exam. i was just wondering because i was having a bit of a rant because i think its unfair that some people use graphic calcs in their exams while other use scientific ones giving people that do an unfair advantage. Thanks

Hi Mandy. It’s a bit vague really. We have sets of graphic calculators that pupils can use in class, but they don’t get to take them home, and we do suggest that it might be a good idea for them to buy one. I read your rant, and agree that it does all seem a bit unfair!

so they dont get to use them in the actual exam? To be honest if you didnt take any other sciences and dont plan to carry on with maths you wouldnt really buy one though as they are like £35. Do many pupils buy them or do they just stick to scientifics? Do you by anychance know if its the same with many other schools? I was having an arguement with my teacher about it and he was saying that most schools provide them with graph calcs, but he seems to be wrong!
Thanks

Sorry about the slow response Many - I’ve been away on the school ski trip to Italy. Pupils do get get to use graphic calculators in one of the maths exams. Quite a few pupils buy them - sometimes second-hand from older pupils. I think it’s a similar story in other state schools. We do have graphic calculators that pupils can use in school, but they can’t take them home.

Oh, ok then, thanks