Calculator Rules — Texas CBE and Digital SAT (2026)
Calculator rules trip up more students than the math itself. The wrong device — or the wrong assumption about when you can use it — can cost you points before you write a single answer. Here's the practical guide for both Texas CBE math subjects and the Digital SAT Math section.
Texas Credit by Exam (CBE) — UT High School
The CBE administered by UT High School (UTHS) generally permits standard four-function, scientific, and graphing calculators on the math exams (Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus). UTHS does not provide a calculator at the testing center, so you bring your own.
What's typically allowed:
- TI-30Xa, TI-30XS, TI-30 series scientific calculators
- TI-83/84 and TI-Nspire (non-CAS) graphing calculators
- Casio fx-9750GIII, fx-CG50
- HP 39gs, HP Prime
Generally not allowed:
- CAS-enabled devices (TI-Nspire CAS, TI-89 Titanium, HP 50g) on most CBE administrations
- Calculators with QWERTY keyboards
- Cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops
- Calculators that produce paper tape, make noise, or have wireless capability
Policies vary by district and may change between administrations. Always verify the calculator policy with your school counselor or the UTHS exam-day instructions before test day. Some districts proctor on-site and apply their own clarifying rules.
Practical tip: bring fresh batteries and a backup. Borrowing a calculator at the test center is rarely an option.
Digital SAT Math — College Board
The Digital SAT changed the calculator rules in a big way. As of 2024, calculators are allowed across the entire Math section — both Module 1 and Module 2, all 44 questions, all 70 minutes. There is no longer a "no-calculator" portion of the SAT.
Better yet: every Digital SAT test-taker gets an embedded Desmos graphing calculator built into the Bluebook testing app. It's the same Desmos most students use online — no learning curve, no setup, available at the click of a button on every math question.
You can also bring your own approved calculator. The College Board's official calculator policy lists currently approved models.
Strategy note: Even though calculators are allowed everywhere, most Digital SAT Math questions are designed to be solved faster without reaching for one. Save the calculator for problems where arithmetic precision matters (radicals, decimals, function evaluations at non-trivial inputs) and rely on mental math for the rest.
How we practice the calculator rules
Practice sessions on Texas CBE™ assume you'll use a calculator when the real exam permits one. Numbers in our problems are designed to feel realistic at SAT/CBE difficulty — sometimes you'll want a calculator, sometimes you won't. The SAT Math Quick Drill gives you 10 questions in 15 minutes so you can practice the pacing instinct of when to reach for Desmos and when to do it in your head.
This article is for educational guidance only. Calculator policies are set by the testing authorities (UTHS, College Board, school districts) and can change at any time without notice. Always verify current rules with your school counselor or the official testing organization before exam day.