Whether you may use a calculator, and which kind, is set by Cambridge for each subject code, exam year and paper. Read the current syllabus for your exact code before you buy a model or plan how you practise.
This page explains who is responsible, where to look and how to match your revision to the rule. Use it with the syllabus and exam-year navigator and the exam guidance section.
Who is responsible for the calculator rules?
Cambridge writes the rules in each syllabus. They say whether a calculator is allowed, what kind, and any conditions. Your exam centre applies them in the exam room and can tell you about anything it checks on the day.
You are responsible for bringing a permitted calculator and knowing how to use it. We are a tuition team. We do not set the rules, but we help you practise with and without a calculator.
Why is the rule not the same everywhere?
Different subjects need different tools. A subject that tests number skills may ban a calculator on one paper, while another subject may expect one throughout.
Even within one subject, related codes can differ. For example, Mathematics 0580 and International Mathematics 0607 are separate qualifications, so the wording for one does not automatically apply to the other. See Mathematics 0580 versus 0607 for how to keep them apart.
What should you check, and where?
- Confirm your exact subject code and exam year. The finding the correct syllabus guide shows how.
- Open the syllabus for that year. Use the Cambridge subject catalogue, or a syllabus document such as the Mathematics 0580 2025-2027 syllabus if that matches your code and year.
- Find the section on calculators. Look in the assessment information or the general information near the end of the syllabus. Note whether the rule is stated for the whole subject or for particular papers.
- Read the conditions. Look for any limits on the type of calculator, and on functions or features.
- Check for notices. Open the syllabus changes page in case your exam year is affected.
- Ask your exam centre whether it has any additional requirements for the exam room.
What should you ask your exam centre?
- For my papers, which calculator rule applies to each one?
- Do you have any checks on calculator models on the day?
- If my calculator has a cover, stored memory or extra functions, do I need to do anything before the exam?
- Who should I speak to if I am unsure about a specific model?
A worked example of reading the rule
A student wants to know what to practise. The student looks up the calculator section and writes a simple table.
| Paper | What the syllabus says about a calculator | What I need to practise |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Copy the syllabus wording here | Methods that show full working |
| Paper 2 | Copy the syllabus wording here | Efficient use of allowed functions |
The student copies the wording straight from the syllabus instead of paraphrasing, so the plan rests on the actual text. If the syllabus and this page ever disagree, follow the syllabus.
A common mistake
The usual slip is to practise only with a calculator, then meet a paper where it is not allowed. The reverse also happens: practising only without one leaves you slower than you need to be on a paper that permits it.
The fix is to practise under both conditions, matching each practice paper to the rule for the real one. See the calculator-free strategy practice for worked approaches to non-calculator work.
How can a teacher help?
A teacher can watch how you work with and without a calculator and show you where working or accuracy slips. They can also help you use the functions the syllabus expects, such as storing values to avoid rounding too early.
If non-calculator papers are where marks go, Mathematics tuition lets an assigned teacher drill that with you one-to-one. See how our tuition works and the paid trial.