Is the Casio FX 97SG X allowed for PSLE or SEC in 2027, and is the newer Casio FX 97SG CW approved? Check the SEAB Approved Calculators and SEAB Approved Dictionaries pages, and follow their official downloadable lists. As at 6 November 2026, the calculator guidelines linked from SEAB were updated on 5 January 2026 and list the Casio FX 97SG CW, Hewlett-Packard HP 10S+ and Sharp EL W531S II Silver Edition among current approved scientific models. The guidance also says previously approved calculators may continue to be used unless SEAB withdraws approval following a relevant policy, syllabus or examination-format change. The January 2026 list shows FX 97SG X: 2018–2026 and FX 97SG CW: 2026–2030. Critically, an approved period ending in 2026 is not, by itself, proof that the older FX 97SG X is banned in 2027: SEAB also maintains previously approved models and reserves the right to withdraw approval when a relevant policy, syllabus or format changes.
For a parent deciding between the two models, the answer is therefore not simply ‘buy the CW because the X expires’. Check the newest SEAB approved and previously approved lists, the exact model number, and the 2027 subject/paper instructions. Model approval is only half the decision. A calculator that appears on the official list is not necessarily permitted in every paper, and a graphing calculator is subject to a special restriction: SEAB’s published guidelines permit graphing calculators only for subjects examined at H1, H2 and H3 levels of the A-Level curriculum. A dictionary’s appearance on the approved list similarly does not mean it is allowed in any English, Mathematics or Science paper a student chooses. First verify the exact subject, examination year, paper and candidate instructions; then check the actual model or dictionary edition. For 2027 SEC candidates, confirm any SEC-specific directions released by SEAB and the school rather than assuming that an older GCE rule applies unchanged.
- Official calculator page: SEAB’s approved calculator list and guidelines.
- Official dictionary page: SEAB’s approved dictionaries.
- Read two conditions: is the model listed or previously approved, and is its use permitted for the exact paper?
- Graphing calculators: not a PSLE or SEC shortcut; SEAB’s calculator guidelines restrict these to H1/H2/H3 A-Level subjects.
- Model labels: check the precise brand, model number and—where required—the graphing calculator’s operating system.
- 2027: verify the newest official instructions before an examination; a 2026 approval list does not create a promise against future policy changes.
- Before exam day: test the power supply, clear prohibited stored material, and follow the reporting and inspection requirements in the current instructions.
1. The three questions that settle most calculator confusion
A parent might ask, ‘Is the Casio FX 97SG X allowed for PSLE 2027?’ It sounds like one yes-or-no question. In fact it contains three decisions. First, is the exact calculator model currently approved or included among previously approved models that remain permissible? Second, does the particular examination paper permit a scientific calculator? Third, are there any current restrictions or candidate instructions that change how the device must be prepared? A model may pass the first test but not the second, and a familiar approved model may still require memory clearing or other compliance steps before use.
This is why shopping titles can be misleading. A product description that says ‘PSLE approved’ may have been written in an earlier year, and a shop’s claim is not the official regulatory source. Students should learn their own device early enough to become comfortable with its display, fraction handling and calculation modes. But adults should verify the approval independently from the official SEAB list. A student who practises for months on a complicated device but then discovers that the relevant paper has different tool permissions has been put at an unnecessary disadvantage.
There is a practical difference between model approval and paper-specific permission. Think of a calculator as an authorised tool in a toolbox. The tool may meet national standards and still be inappropriate for a particular task. A Mathematics paper that tests mental or written techniques may restrict calculator use; another paper may allow it. The correct answer comes from the exact syllabus and examination rules. It should never be inferred from a device’s price, prestige or marketing language.
2. How to read the January 2026 SEAB calculator guidelines correctly
SEAB’s linked PDF is titled Guidelines on the Use of Electronic Calculators in National Examinations. It gives technical conditions, an annex of currently approved scientific and graphing models, and lists of previously approved models that remain usable unless a specified change results in withdrawn approval. The official document identifies January 2026 as its update. This is a better place to start than a screenshot in a parent chat because the complete document includes important explanations in footnotes and later pages.
The visible list of current scientific calculators includes Casio FX 82MS, FX 85MS, FX 95MS, FX 97SG X and FX 350MS, each with published current-list approved periods through 2026; Casio FX 97SG CW appears with 2026–2030; Canon F-960SG with 2017–2026; HP 10S+ with 2013–2029; Sharp EL W531S II with 2018–2026; and the Silver Edition with 2021–2030. These model names are evidence from the January 2026 table, not a guarantee that a January 2027 download will be unchanged. For purchase decisions, compare the complete current annex with the exact label on the device.
One particularly easy mistake is to read a model’s ‘approved period’ as if it were a mandatory expiry date for the calculator already owned by the child. SEAB’s published notes explain that models no longer appearing in the current recommended list may continue under its previously approved arrangements. SEAB reserves the right to withdraw approvals when policy, syllabus or examination format changes. Therefore, an old device with a period that ended in 2026 is not automatically disqualified in 2027 solely because of that printed end-year. The correct next step is to check the current and previously approved sections and any new SEAB notice.
There is also a distinction between still legally usable under published conditions and the best device for this student’s learning. A family might find that a child already owns an accepted calculator in reliable condition. There may be no educational reason to buy a replacement just because classmates have a newer model. Conversely, a device with a failing display or inconsistent buttons may be an avoidable source of mistakes. The sensible decision combines compliance, reliability and the learner’s familiarity rather than treating the most expensive model as the safest choice.
3. Why graphing calculators are a separate A-Level issue
SEAB’s official electronic-calculator guidelines place graphing calculators in a distinct category. They are approved for use only in subjects examined at H1, H2 and H3 levels of the A-Level curriculum, subject to the relevant assessment instructions. The published list specifies models and approved operating-system versions. For example, the January 2026 list includes Casio FX-9860GIIs with specified operating systems and the Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE with an enumerated set of operating-system versions. A model number alone may therefore be insufficient for verification.
Graphing calculators must have prohibited stored information and programs cleared before examinations. SEAB’s guidance also prohibits built-in symbolic algebra manipulation and symbolic differentiation or integration capabilities. An A-Level student should practise using permitted graphing features to explore and verify mathematics, but should still understand the mathematics behind the result. A beautifully rendered graph is not an explanation of why a function behaves as it does. Students need to connect algebra, graphs, domains, intercepts, transformations and interpretations.
A student in Secondary 4 taking G3 Mathematics cannot assume that an H2 Mathematics graphing-calculator approval also applies to an SEC paper. The qualifications and permitted tools differ. A parent also should not purchase a graphing calculator for PSLE on the theory that a stronger device gives the child an advantage. If the paper does not permit it, the device is irrelevant. More importantly, early Mathematics should build numerical sense and understanding of relationships, not dependency on advanced display features.
Use the 2027 A-Level subject list for H1/H2/H3 subject requirements and the separate approved-calculator document for device compliance. Those documents have different jobs. The syllabus describes what will be assessed; the calculator guidelines describe which devices and features meet national restrictions; the candidate instructions state how the tools may be used in the actual examination. Following all three is more reliable than depending on one third-party shopping page.
4. Approved dictionaries and e-dictionaries: what the list really means
SEAB maintains a separate dictionary approval page. The official list linked there is labelled for the 2026 PSLE and GCE N(T), N(A), O- and A-Level examinations. It includes printed dictionaries and approved electronic dictionary models for relevant languages. For example, the published Chinese e-dictionary section includes devices in the Besta All Pass and HansVision families, with model-specific periods. The exact approved version matters because an e-dictionary is a device with model, content and interface characteristics; it is not the same as any tablet running a dictionary application.
As with calculators, the official dictionary list explains that previously approved dictionaries can continue to be used unless relevant policy, syllabus or examination-format changes lead SEAB to withdraw approval. It does not mean that all electronic dictionaries are allowed, nor that a student may bring any mobile device simply because it contains dictionary software. A parent’s question should name the exact dictionary model or printed edition and the paper in which they intend to use it. Permission for one assessment should not be silently generalised to another.
The presence of an approved dictionary also does not mean that every national language paper permits it. Different papers may examine language knowledge and comprehension in ways that would be compromised by unauthorised reference tools. Consult the subject syllabus and current candidate instructions for when dictionaries may be used. A teacher’s classroom permission is not automatically a national examination permission. When the current 2027 SEC instructions are issued, families should confirm any transition-specific implications rather than treating the 2026 GCE label on the list as a permanent universal approval.
For learning, dictionaries are helpful when they support careful word choice and understanding, not when the child looks up every unfamiliar word without trying to infer meaning. A good vocabulary routine asks what a word means in context, how it changes a sentence and how it relates to known ideas. An approved dictionary may assist in certain examination circumstances, but fluent reading and thoughtful language use are learned through repeated meaningful encounters with words. The device is a support, not a replacement for language competence.
5. PSLE Mathematics and Foundation Mathematics: the question parents actually need to ask
SEAB’s published scientific calculator guidance explicitly mentions PSLE Mathematics and Foundation Mathematics. Nevertheless, the presence of a suitable model in the national approved list does not mean students can use it on any PSLE Maths task without restriction. Families should read the PSLE information hub, its current format documentation and the candidate rules. At the 6 November 2026 check, the public PSLE subject-format directory is labelled 2026; a parent preparing for 2027 should watch for the later examination-year instructions instead of inventing them.
A child practising with a calculator still needs strong arithmetic and estimation habits. Ask whether an answer’s magnitude makes sense before accepting the screen. If a discount calculation produces a price much greater than the original, a student should question the setup. If a measurement requires a unit conversion, the calculator will not understand the context automatically. Numeracy is the ability to organise and interpret the relationship, while a calculator may speed up permitted operations. The exam rewards what the student can do within its specified format, not how advanced the device appears.
For Foundation Mathematics, use the correct subject format and school guidance. A Standard Mathematics practice book may contain useful foundational tasks, but its full paper structure is not automatically equivalent to the Foundation paper. Similarly, a calculator rule that applies to a current Mathematics component does not establish identical allowances in a different subject. Resource selection should begin with the child’s actual programme. An accurate starting point protects confidence and reduces wasted practice.
6. The first SEC in 2027: avoid copying 2026 N- and O-Level assumptions uncritically
From 2027, the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate replaces the separate N(T), N(A) and O-Level examinations and records subjects at G1, G2 and G3. The official SEC overview and the individual subject syllabuses explain the new framework. A student may take G1 Mathematics K110, G2 Mathematics K210, G3 Mathematics K310 or a distinct Additional Mathematics subject. These are separate examination entries. The calculator question must therefore be attached to the exact examined paper, not simply the student’s Secondary 4 level or Posting Group.
A parent can use the January 2026 national approved-calculator guidelines as a reliable source about the models and broad restrictions published at that time. However, the 2027 SEC is a new examination framework, and the official approved-calculator web page currently refers to PSLE and the older GCE labels. Because the examination framework changes, check the current 2027 SEC candidate instructions or school notices for applicable tool permissions. Do not promise that every sentence in a 2026 O-Level candidate document is automatically unchanged for SEC.
The practical home approach is simple: write down the actual subject code and its papers, check the applicable calculator permission, confirm the model, practise with the same permitted tool under appropriate conditions, and ask the school about any unresolved details. Avoid teaching a child to rely on an unauthorised feature. A correct method that students understand remains useful when the interface changes. A habit of pressing a particular button without knowing what it computes can fail when the paper asks an unfamiliar question.
7. A-Level Mathematics: the formula sheet, the calculator and the reasoning are three separate things
Students studying H1 Mathematics 8865 or H2 Mathematics 9758 may have access to official mathematical formula materials such as SEAB’s MF27 list, where indicated by the 2027 syllabus. That reference material is not the same as calculator approval. A formula sheet gives specified mathematical information. An approved calculator performs authorised calculations. The examination question still requires the student to interpret data, select a model, justify steps and communicate the result. The device and the formula list cannot replace that thinking.
For example, a student using a graphing calculator may inspect a curve and estimate a turning point. But a question might require interpreting the point in a real situation or showing algebraic reasoning. A graph that looks convincing is not proof that the chosen mathematical model fits the problem. Ask the learner to explain the variables, relevant domain, assumptions and reasonableness of the outcome. When a calculator is used correctly, it can support this reasoning. When it is used mechanically, it can hide errors behind precise-looking digits.
Make the student comfortable with any permitted reset, memory-clear and battery checks well before examination day. The official guidelines say that candidates are responsible for working calculator condition, and a malfunction is not a justification for special consideration. In practice, an extra compliant device may be useful if current rules and school instructions allow one, but do not assume a candidate can share devices with classmates during a paper. SEAB explicitly prohibits calculator sharing. Preparation includes technical readiness as well as academic skill.
8. Nine common calculator and dictionary mistakes
- Buying based on an advertisement: verify the precise model with the official SEAB list instead of relying on a retailer’s label.
- Confusing the recommended-list period with an automatic ban: check the rule for previously approved models and current withdrawal notices.
- Assuming any approved calculator is allowed in every paper: consult the current subject and paper instructions.
- Using a graphing calculator at the wrong qualification level: SEAB limits graphing-calculator use to relevant H1/H2/H3 A-Level subjects.
- Ignoring the operating system of a graphing model: check the official model and version, not just the brand.
- Leaving stored information or programs: follow current memory-clearing requirements.
- Arriving with a failing power supply: inspect and test the device beforehand.
- Confusing e-dictionaries with ordinary phones or apps: only specifically authorised tools may be used where permitted.
- Assuming a 2026 rule is final for a 2027 SEC component: verify year-specific candidate instructions.
These mistakes show why examination compliance and educational value are different dimensions. A student can own a fully compliant calculator and still struggle to understand percentages. Another may have excellent number sense but choose a device whose permitted status has not been checked. Both need attention. The most supportive parent is not the one who purchases the greatest number of tools, but the one who ensures that the student has the correct tool, understands it and can do the mathematics independently where required.
9. Before buying a new calculator: a seven-minute audit
Place the existing calculator on a table and read its actual model number, not just the family nickname ‘our Casio’. Open SEAB’s current approved list. Search for the exact model in both the current and previously approved sections. Note whether any published restrictions or withdrawal notices affect it. Check the student’s actual examination and paper rules. Then test the screen, buttons, battery and familiar operations, including brackets, fractions and basic calculations. If the device is compliant, reliable and understood, buying a newer model may offer little immediate benefit.
If a purchase is necessary, verify the model before paying. Avoid buying a device based purely on similarity in appearance to a listed model. A model suffix can signal an important difference. Likewise, if the product is a graphing calculator, verify the authorised operating-system version and subject permissions. A classroom teacher can help the student understand what features are educationally useful. The school can provide the current examination guidance that applies to a registered candidate. Retailers provide products; they do not determine examination policy.
A new device should be introduced early enough for the student to become fluent with its keys and screen. Switching calculators days before a high-stakes examination can introduce avoidable mistakes, even when the new model is more sophisticated. Have the student perform familiar calculations, explain the steps and check answers through estimation. The aim is dependable operation. Learning time should be devoted primarily to the concepts and processes that the examination assesses.
10. Three case studies that clarify the real decision
A parent believes a Casio model expired at the end of 2026
A parent sees an approval period ending in 2026 beside an older scientific calculator and assumes it must be thrown away before PSLE 2027. Instead of guessing, the family reads SEAB’s complete approval guidelines, including the section explaining that previously approved calculators generally remain usable unless approval is withdrawn for a relevant reason. They also check any 2027 notice when published. The family avoids an unnecessary purchase without ignoring the possibility of future policy changes.
An A-Level student assumes a graphing calculator is automatically allowed in every subject
A JC student has a model that appears in SEAB’s graphing calculator list. The family checks the actual H1/H2/H3 examination subject and paper requirements before deciding how to use it. They confirm the permitted device type and relevant operating-system rules, clear prohibited stored content and practise mathematical interpretation rather than relying on the screen. The student’s preparation addresses both compliance and reasoning. Model approval is treated as a necessary condition, not sufficient permission for every assessment.
A Mother Tongue learner wants to bring a phone-based dictionary
The family sees that SEAB publishes approved e-dictionaries and assumes any electronic dictionary application is acceptable. A teacher directs them to the exact approved dictionary list and the subject’s permitted-material instructions. They discover that approval applies to specified models and contexts, not to any multipurpose electronic device. The learner continues practising vocabulary and comprehension without depending on a tool whose examination use has not been authorised.
11. A four-week practical readiness plan
Week 1: verify what is permitted
Write the candidate’s qualification, year, subject and paper. Check SEAB’s approved calculator and dictionary information and read the current instructions applicable to that assessment. Record the device’s exact brand and model, plus operating system if relevant. Ask the school about unresolved points. Avoid purchasing replacements before this check. A single page of accurate information is more useful than a collection of old screenshots that lack context.
Week 2: learn the underlying work
Use the correct subject syllabus to identify numerical, mathematical or language skills. For Mathematics, practise selecting operations and estimating outcomes before checking with a permitted calculator. For languages, build vocabulary through meaningful contexts rather than depending on constant dictionary lookups. Ask the student to explain their decisions. The aim is competence that survives when the tool is unavailable or the question changes form.
Week 3: use the tool accurately, where authorised
For papers that permit calculators, practise using the appropriate model on relevant exercises. Check brackets, order of operations, fraction entry, data display and whether the answer is sensible. For A-Level graphing, practise interpreting graphs and numerical results while respecting the assessment’s permitted functions. For a dictionary, practise finding information efficiently only in a context where the reference is authorised. Students should learn that a tool supports knowledge; it does not decide what a question means.
Week 4: inspect and rehearse
Review the official documents again for changes. Test device condition, verify the exact model and clear any prohibited material as instructed. Simulate the relevant study task using only permitted resources. Ask whether the student can handle an unfamiliar question when the tool produces an unexpected result. Prepare a short examination logistics checklist with confirmed requirements, not guesses. There is no need to create a frightening ritual; a calm, reliable process is the goal.
12. Frequently asked questions
Is Casio FX 97SG X approved for Singapore examinations?
SEAB’s January 2026 calculator document lists Casio FX 97SG X as a scientific calculator with a current-list approved period through 2026. The same guidance explains how previously approved models continue unless approval is withdrawn. Check the latest model list, the exact examination year and paper-specific permission before deciding whether a student may use the device in 2027.
Is Casio FX 97SG CW approved?
The January 2026 SEAB scientific-calculator list includes Casio FX 97SG CW with a listed period of 2026–2030 and notes the vendor-updated model’s November 2026 availability. Always consult the current official list for the exam year and confirm the paper permits calculators.
What if my calculator’s approved period ends in 2026?
Do not conclude that it is automatically banned in 2027. SEAB’s guidelines include previously approved calculators that may continue to be used, subject to any relevant withdrawal. Verify the exact model and current notices rather than treating a date column as the entire policy.
Can a Primary 6 pupil bring a graphing calculator to PSLE?
SEAB’s published calculator guidelines restrict graphing calculators to H1/H2/H3 A-Level subjects. For PSLE Mathematics and Foundation Mathematics, consult the relevant scientific-calculator guidance and current paper rules. A graphing device is not a general PSLE option.
Can a student use a calculator in every SEC Mathematics paper?
Do not assume that. Permitted tools are governed by the specific syllabus and candidate instructions. Check the G1/G2/G3 subject code and paper, and ask the school about any unresolved SEC 2027 tool requirement. Model approval alone is insufficient.
Are previously approved calculators still allowed?
SEAB says previously approved models can continue to be used unless approval is withdrawn following certain changes. Read the latest current and previously approved model lists, and confirm whether the particular paper permits calculators. Older does not automatically mean prohibited.
Can an A-Level student use any graphing calculator?
No. SEAB specifies approved models, operating-system versions and feature restrictions, and graphing calculators are limited to relevant H1/H2/H3 A-Level subjects. Students must clear prohibited stored programs and data as instructed.
Are Besta and HansVision e-dictionaries permitted?
Specific models appear in SEAB’s approved dictionary list, with model-dependent approval periods. The brand alone is not enough. Check the exact version, current list and the particular examination paper’s rules. A phone app is not equivalent to an approved stand-alone e-dictionary.
Can students share calculators in an examination?
SEAB’s calculator guidelines prohibit sharing devices during an examination. Candidates are responsible for the working condition of their own calculators. Prepare a reliable, permitted device rather than relying on another student’s equipment.
Does a faulty calculator qualify for special consideration?
SEAB’s calculator guidelines say that faults in the candidate’s calculator, including power supply problems, are not justification for special consideration. Test the device early and follow the examination’s permitted equipment and backup rules.
13. Official verification and next reading
Official documents: SEAB approved calculators page, calculator guidelines and model lists (January 2026), SEAB approved dictionaries page, approved dictionary list (2026), combined calculator and dictionary resources, PSLE hub, SEC overview and 2027 A-Level subjects. Verified 6 November 2026; current regulations always take priority over a previous-year guide.
Related eduKate reading: which calculators are allowed for PSLE and SEC, 2027 SEC Mathematics paper and calculator guide, SEC G1/G2/G3 Mathematics papers, 2027 subject codes and syllabuses and 2027 A-Level subject finder. These complement but cannot replace official candidate regulations.
The right examination tool is not necessarily the newest or most elaborate one. It is an authorised, reliable tool that the student knows how to use without surrendering their understanding to a screen. Verify its status, practise the reasoning and keep the final examination instructions close.
For the broader equipment rules: read the general SEAB approved calculators and dictionaries guide. This page particularly addresses frequently confused model names and why an approval-period end year is not automatically an examination ban.