Touchscreen HP Prime Approved for SAT, AP, Others

Published by KermMartian 9 years, 11 months ago (2014-05-08T18:04:18+00:00) | Discuss this article

Since the HP Prime was first announced in detail, it has been rumored that the calculator would become the first touchscreen calculator allowed on College Board tests like the SAT, PSAT, and AP exams. We have now received word from HP engineer Tim Wessman that the HP Prime has indeed been approved for these tests. Although the guidelines for the exams expressly forbid only pen- and stylus-based touchscreen devices, this marks the first time that any calculator with a touchscreen has been approved for the College Board's exams. Now that the Prime has broken this barrier, we must wonder whether the Casio Classpad fx-CP400 will be approved soon, and if TI will be announcing a rumored touchscreen TI-Nspire CX model.

Mr. Wessman's full announcement, originally posted on a dedicated HP community, details the exact tests that the HP Prime has been approved for, and when this will go into effect:

Beginning with the 2014-15 academic year, the HP Prime graphing calculator is approved for use on College Board tests that allow or require a graphing calculator. These include the PSAT/NMSQT, the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics, and AP Exams in Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Chemistry, Physics 1, Physics 2, Physics C: Mechanics, and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. (Note that some tests permit a calculator only on certain parts.)

Permission is granted on the basis of the HP Prime models reviewed by ETS, College Board, and College Board Test Development Committees in mathematics and science. The HP Prime hardware does not include any prohibited feature, including a QWERTY keypad as part of hardware or software, a stylus or pen-input device, or wireless communication capability (without a visible external peripheral used in the context of classroom-directed technology).

Note that this approval begins with the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2014, the SAT and SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics in October 2014, and the AP Exams in May 2015.

Permalink