NESA maintains strict rules about which calculators you can bring into HSC Maths exams — and not every scientific calculator makes the cut. You need a non-programmable scientific calculator with no CAS capability.
| Model | Brand | Approved for 2026 HSC | Notes | Typical price | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | fx-82AU PLUS II | Casio | Yes — 1st or 2nd Edition | Check that the full model and edition match NESA's list. | A$35.50 | | fx-100AU PLUS | Casio | Yes — 1st or 2nd Edition | The generic “fx-100” name is not enough; verify the exact case label. | Varies—check retailer | | fx-8200 AU II | Casio | Yes | Newly approved from the 2026 HSC onwards; older approved models remain approved. | A$34.91–A$51 | | EL-531 | Sharp | Only listed suffix variants | EL-531TH, EL-531THB-GR, EL-531THB-WH, EL-531VH, EL-531WH, EL-531X and EL-531XH are listed; check the complete model. | Varies—check retailer | | TI-30XB MultiView | Texas Instruments | Yes | Match “TI-30XB MultiView” exactly. | A$38.38–A$40 |
Prices are indicative Australian retail or marketplace prices checked on 25 July 2026, not recommended retail prices, and can change. Approval is model-specific, so price and visual similarity are never substitutes for checking the official list.
2026 approved-calculator comparison
| Brand | NESA-approved models listed for the 2026 HSC | Exam-day note | | --- | --- | --- | | Abacus | SX-II MATRIX a; SX-II MATRIX n | Check the exact suffix on the case. | | Canon | F717SGA; F-715SG; F-730SX | Only these listed Canon models are approved. | | Casio | fx-82AU; fx-82AU PLUS; fx-82AU PLUS II (1st or 2nd Edition); fx-8200AU; fx-8200AU II; fx-85MS; fx-100AU; fx-100AU PLUS (1st or 2nd Edition); fx-350MS | The fx-8200AU II is the new addition approved from the 2026 HSC onwards. | | Hewlett-Packard | HP10S; HP10S+; HP300S+; HP 10sll | Match the model name exactly. | | Jastek | JasCS1; JasCS EVO; JasCS2 EVO | Reset the calculator before entering the exam room. | | RSB | FB 350MS | Bring the calculator without its lid or instruction card. | | Scholar | SC-250MX | Practise on the same model before exam day. | | Sharp | EL-531TH; EL-531THB-GR; EL-531THB-WH; EL-531VH; EL-531WH; EL-531X; EL-531XH; EL-W531HA; EL-W532TH; EL-W532THB-WH; EL-W532XH | “EL-531” alone is not specific enough; check the complete model. | | Texas Instruments | TI-30XB MultiView; TI-30X Plus MathPrint | Graphing TI models are not approved. |
NESA also lists the SciPlus 2200, SciPlus 2300, SciPlus 3300 and Orion TI-30XS Multiview as accessible calculators. Speech output on models marked by NESA requires an approved HSC Disability Provision. Always compare the exact text on your calculator with the official NESA approved-calculator list and confirm that calculators are permitted for your exam on NESA's HSC exam equipment list.
New for the 2026 HSC: Casio fx-8200 AU II
NESA has approved the Casio fx-8200 AU II calculator for use from the 2026 HSC exams onwards, according to its official notice published on 12 September 2025.
NESA's notice also says there are no changes to previously approved calculators. Read the official notice here: New approved calculator for 2026 HSC.
For a practical classroom comparison with the fx-82AU PLUS II, read the Casio fx-8200 AU II review for HSC maths.
What NESA Requires for Exam Calculators
Calculator permission is exam-specific. Check NESA's HSC exam equipment list for the examination you are sitting, then check the exact model against the approved-calculator list.
An approved calculator must be:
- Scientific — it handles trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential functions
- Non-programmable — you cannot store custom programs, sequences of keystrokes, or text
- Non-CAS — it cannot perform symbolic algebra, calculus, or algebraic manipulation
- Non-graphing — calculators that graph equations are not permitted
NESA's list names specific makes and models — being "scientific" in a general sense is not enough. Accessible calculators and speech output have separate Disability Provisions conditions.
Check the current approved list on the NESA Approved Calculators page before purchasing a calculator, and check again before sitting the exam. The list changes between years.
Calculator fluency should be practised beside the NESA HSC maths reference sheet, especially for financial maths, statistics, measurement, and trigonometry questions.
Selected NESA-Approved Calculator Models
The following calculator families include models on NESA's approved list. Always match the complete model name rather than relying on the family name.
Casio fx-82AU PLUS II NESA lists both the 1st and 2nd Editions. Check the edition and full model name printed on the calculator before the exam.
Casio fx-100AU PLUS NESA lists the fx-100AU PLUS 1st and 2nd Editions. Approval does not imply that a model is better suited to a particular mathematics course.
Sharp EL-531 Only the exact EL-531 suffix variants on NESA's list are approved: EL-531TH, EL-531THB-GR, EL-531THB-WH, EL-531VH, EL-531WH, EL-531X and EL-531XH.
Texas Instruments TI-30XB MultiView The TI-30XB is on NESA's approved list and is used by students who prefer the Texas Instruments layout. Like all approved models, it is non-programmable and non-CAS.
While these are approved models, verify the status of your specific version with NESA's published list for the current exam year in case of recent adjustments.
Banned Calculators in the HSC
The banned calculator types are easier to explain than the approved list:
| Prohibited feature | What NESA means | Common examples | | --- | --- | --- | | Programmable | A user can enter, store and later execute a sequence of steps. | Programmable scientific calculators | | Graphing | The calculator can graph data or store, manipulate and graph functions. | TI-84 Plus and other graphing models | | Computer algebra system (CAS) | It can differentiate, integrate, solve equations or manipulate algebra symbolically. | Casio ClassPad and TI-Nspire CAS | | Inbuilt financial functions | It directly computes depreciation, annuities, interest or break-even points. | Financial calculators |
CAS calculators are banned from HSC exams. CAS stands for Computer Algebra System — these calculators solve equations symbolically, differentiate and integrate algebraically, and simplify expressions. The Casio ClassPad range and the Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CAS are examples.
Programmable calculators cannot be used even if they lack CAS. Any calculator where you store a sequence of operations or write a program is excluded.
Graphing calculators that plot function graphs — the TI-84 Plus, for example — are not permitted.
If your exact model is not on the approved list, do not assume that it will be permitted in the exam. Confirm questions with your school before exam day.
How to Prepare Your Calculator for Exam Day
Ask about a backup. Batteries die and buttons stop responding. Check your school's exam instructions before deciding whether to bring a second approved calculator.
Check the battery before you leave. Replace it the week before the exam. Don't replace it the night before; give yourself time to confirm the calculator is working correctly after the battery change.
Know the functions you have practised. NESA says candidates must be familiar with their calculator's operation before the exam. Practise the operations relevant to your course on the exact model you will use.
Read each question's answer requirements. Calculator approval does not change whether a question asks for an exact value, a decimal approximation, units or a specified degree of accuracy.
Arrive early enough to sort out calculator issues. If a supervisor questions your calculator at the door, you need time to resolve it before the exam clock is running.
Ask your maths teacher about curriq — it's free during early access for NSW schools. Students use it to practise HSC-style questions grouped by content identifiers, so they can see which content areas they have covered and which need more work. These identifiers support content navigation; they are not formal NESA outcomes. Learn more at curriq.com.au.
FAQ
What calculator can I use in the HSC?
You can use a calculator that appears on NESA's current approved calculator list for the HSC exam you are sitting. Check the published list before purchasing and again before the exam.
Is the Casio fx-8200 AU II allowed in the 2026 HSC?
Yes. NESA has approved the Casio fx-8200 AU II for use from the 2026 HSC exams onwards.
Are CAS or graphing calculators allowed?
No. NESA says approved calculators may not have graphing capability or CAS functionality.
What happens if I bring an unapproved calculator?
Exam supervisors can refuse to let you use an unapproved calculator. The definitive source is NESA's current approved calculator list.