NSML competitions do not allow calculators.

This change was made in 2024 based on several factors, including:

  1. Some school districts are moving to online calculators like Desmos. Students in those districts will no longer own traditional calculators.
  2. Other school districts require their students to purchase calculators with computer algebra systems.
  3. Computer algebra systems have become so powerful that they reduce problem solving to a typing exercise.

Calculators (Legacy)

If a calculator is on the current list of approved graphing calculators on the College Board’s AP Exams Calculator Policy, then it is legal for NSML competition use.

Frosh and Sophomore level contests currently forbid calculators with Computer Algebra Systems (CAS), which will exclude some of the calculators on the list.

Rules for all calculators are:

  • Calculators must be battery or solar powered.
  • Calculators may not have printouts.
  • A student may use at most three calculators.