If your SEC paper allows calculators, check whether you can bring a spare and verify both model numbers against the list for your examination year. SEAB’s national-exam FAQ says it does not restrict the number of approved calculators candidates can bring, and gives PSLE and GCE examinations as examples.
Approval of a calculator model and permission to use one on a specific paper are separate checks. Read the SEC paper instructions first. Pack your spare only if it meets the applicable rules.
- Verify the exact model number on both calculators.
- Test both devices before the exam.
- Check the candidate instructions before taking either calculator into the room.
What makes a suitable spare?
Use a working approved calculator you know how to operate. Practise basic operations you expect to need, such as entering brackets and fractions. If your spare looks similar to your usual calculator but has a different suffix on its model number, look up the full model number before assuming it qualifies.
What if your main calculator stops working?
Raise your hand and follow the invigilator’s instructions before reaching into a bag or asking for another calculator. Under the GCE rules, candidates were responsible for working calculators and could not share them during an exam. Check the instructions for your SEC session.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring a spare to a non-calculator paper?
Follow that paper’s instructions on where to leave calculators. Permission to use them can differ by paper.
Can I borrow another candidate’s calculator during the exam?
Ask the invigilator for instructions. The published GCE rules prohibited sharing during an examination.