Shortlist and buying guide · the ranked board is on its way
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What to look for
Check which exam boards allow it; GCSE and A level have different rules on graphic calculators.
Models worth comparing
From manufacturers' specifications and published UK reviews, read on 6 October 2026. Not tested by us. In no particular order: these are not ranked, and we do not say which is best until the customer ratings are in.
Budget
Casio fx-83GT CW+
Key Stage 3 and GCSE students who need a dependable, exam-approved calculator that teachers will recognise.
Casio states it is permitted in GCSE and A level exams, plus Scottish National 5 and Highers
290 functions, including HCF, LCM and recurring decimals
Textbook-style display, clip-on cover and a free three-year guarantee
Watch out for: Casio recommends it for Key Stages 3 and 4; probability distributions for A level statistics are only listed on the fx-991CW+ UK.
A level Maths and Further Maths students who want graphing, 3D plots and Python alongside an exam-approved calculator.
Over 3,000 functions, with graphing, statistics, matrices and probability distributions
Backlit high-resolution colour display and USB-C connection for files and updates
Casio states it is permitted in all UK calculator exams, with a built-in Exam Mode
Watch out for: JCQ rules bar access to stored information in exams, so expect to put it into Exam Mode before each paper and practise doing so beforehand.
Functions
3,000+
Exam approval
All UK calculator exams, including GCSE and A level (in Exam Mode)
Recommended for
GCSE Further Maths, A level Maths and Further Maths
We are gathering the customer ratings this board needs from UK shops. When they are in, the ranked list replaces this guide at the same address, scored the way every board is: star ratings weighed by how many people left them. How we score.