Can You Use a Calculator on the PSAT? Yes (2026)

Yes, on every Math question of every PSAT. Here is what the built-in Desmos calculator does, which handheld calculators are allowed, which are banned, and how to practice so the calculator saves time instead of costing it.

Yes, you can use a calculator on the PSAT. On the digital PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9, College Board says an acceptable calculator "can be used on the entire Math section of the test." You have two options: the Desmos calculator built into the Bluebook testing app, or your own approved handheld calculator, as long as it has no CAS (computer algebra system). You cannot use any calculator during the Reading and Writing section.

The rules below come from College Board's SAT Suite calculator policy, which covers the SAT and all three PSATs, checked on November 2, 2026. If you want the SAT version of the allowed and banned list, see our SAT calculator policy guide; the rules are the same, and this page focuses on what PSAT takers need to know.

The Short Answer for Each PSAT

All three PSATs use the same Math section format and the same calculator rule. College Board's section pages for the PSAT/NMSQT, the PSAT 10 and the PSAT 8/9 each describe the Math section the same way:

That works out to about 1 minute and 35 seconds per Math question, which matters for how you use a calculator. There is no no-calculator portion to plan around: the calculator is allowed on every Math question in both modules. For the full timing of both sections, see how long the PSAT is.

The Desmos Calculator Built Into Bluebook

Every student who takes a digital PSAT has a calculator, even one who brings nothing. Bluebook includes an embedded Desmos calculator with two modes, graphing and scientific, and College Board says you can toggle between them at any point in the Math section. Bluebook's testing tools page adds that you can drag the calculator anywhere on the screen, and that a reference sheet with common formulas appears on every test with math questions.

Three things make Desmos worth learning even if you own a good handheld:

• It graphs instantly. Type both sides of an equation and read where the graphs cross. For many linear, quadratic and system questions, that is faster than solving by hand.
• It is guaranteed to be allowed. You never have to wonder whether a model or a stored program breaks the rules.
• It is your backup. College Board says that if your calculator fails during testing and you have no backup, you can keep going with the built-in Desmos calculator.

For worked examples of the graphing moves that pay off most, see our Desmos practice guide. The PSAT and SAT use the same embedded calculator, so every technique carries over.

Bringing Your Own Calculator: What Is Allowed

College Board's list of things to bring for in-school testing includes "an acceptable calculator," with the note that one is built into the app but you can bring your own. Calculators are not required. If you do bring one, these types are permitted:

• Graphing calculators without CAS features.
• Scientific calculators.
• 4-function calculators, which College Board allows but does not recommend, because they typically do not follow order of operations.

College Board no longer keeps a list of specifically permitted graphing calculators. Instead it publishes a list of prohibited ones, and anything that avoids those features is fine. A few rules apply to every handheld calculator:

• You must remove programs that have algebra functionality, such as programs that solve equations or factor expressions.
• You must remove any stored documents.
• You cannot share a calculator with another student.
• All sound must be off, and only battery-operated calculators are allowed, with no power cords.
• If your calculator has characters one inch or larger, or a raised display others might see, the proctor decides where you sit.

Spare batteries are worth bringing, but College Board says you will have to ask permission to reach them, and they cannot sit on your desk during the test.

Calculators You Cannot Use on the PSAT

The big rule is no CAS. College Board says calculators with computer algebra system functionality "are no longer allowed" on any test in the SAT Suite. A quick way to check: if the model name includes "CAS," or the calculator can factor, expand or solve equations and give exact symbolic answers, it is out. The models College Board names include:

• Texas Instruments: TI-Nspire CAS, TI-Nspire CX II CAS, and every model that begins with TI-89 or TI-92 or has "CAS" in its name. TI-Nspire models without "CAS" in the name are acceptable.
• Hewlett Packard: HP Prime, HP 48GII, and models beginning with 40G, 49G or 50G.
• Casio: ClassPad 300, 330 and 400, ClassPad II (fx-CP400), ClassPad fx-CG500, Algebra fx 2.0, and models beginning with CFX-9970G.

Beyond CAS, College Board also prohibits calculators with QWERTY keyboards, devices with wireless internet, Bluetooth or cellular connections, devices with cameras or audio or video recording, tablets and laptops (unless approved as an accommodation), electronic writing pads and pen-input devices, cell phone calculator apps, and calculators that use paper tape.

Watch for this one: a CAS calculator that is allowed on an AP exam is not allowed on the PSAT. College Board says AP keeps its own calculator policy and that CAS does not present the same problem there. If your math class uses a TI-Nspire CX II CAS, leave it home and use Desmos.

Reading and Writing: The Calculator Goes Under Your Desk

The calculator rule applies to the Math section only. College Board says you may not use a calculator while working on Reading and Writing, and you must put it under your desk during those modules. Calculator covers stay under your desk the whole time.

College Board also warns that using a calculator to share information, or to remove test questions or answers from the room, gets you dismissed and your scores canceled. That is the reason behind the rules on wireless devices, stored documents and sharing.

Desmos or Your Own Calculator: How to Choose

College Board's own advice is to use the calculator you know best. Here is a practical way to decide:

• Use Desmos if you have practiced with it, you want graphing, or your handheld is a CAS model.
• Bring your handheld if you are fast with it and do not want to switch tools mid-question. A non-CAS graphing or scientific model you use every day in class is a good choice.
• Do both if you like: Desmos is on screen either way, so you can use a handheld for quick arithmetic and open Desmos to graph. If you bring one, check it against the prohibited list the week before, not the morning of.

Whatever you choose, do not bring a calculator that is new to you. College Board says to bring one you know and to practice with the same calculator you will use on test day.

How to Practice With the Calculator Before Test Day

College Board suggests three ways to learn the embedded calculator: explore the Math section in Bluebook's test preview, take a full practice test in the Bluebook app, or use the free Desmos graphing and scientific calculators on the Desmos website. A plan that works:

1. Learn the three Desmos moves that matter most: graphing both sides of an equation to find a solution, finding the vertex or zeros of a quadratic, and entering a list of data to get a mean.
2. Know when not to use it. College Board notes that some Math questions are better solved without a calculator, even though one is allowed. If you can see the answer in two lines of algebra, typing it in only costs time.
3. Write first, calculate second. College Board suggests getting your thoughts down on the scratch paper you are given before reaching for the calculator.
4. Practice under the clock. At about 95 seconds per question, a calculator helps only if using it is automatic. Timed sets are where that happens.

For the formulas Bluebook gives you and the ones you still need to memorize, see our PSAT formula sheet guide. For topic-by-topic drills, see PSAT math practice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Using a Calculator on the PSAT

Can you use a calculator on the whole PSAT math section?

Yes. On the digital PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9, an acceptable calculator can be used on every question in the Math section. There is no no-calculator portion.

Can I use a TI-84 on the PSAT?

The TI-84 family is not among the models College Board names as prohibited, so a TI-84 without CAS fits the rules, as long as you remove any programs with algebra functionality and any stored documents. College Board no longer publishes a list of approved models, so the test is whether a calculator avoids every prohibited feature.

Can I use a TI-Nspire on the PSAT?

Only a model without "CAS" in its name. The TI-Nspire CAS and TI-Nspire CX II CAS are prohibited; College Board says TI-Nspire models that do not include "CAS" in the name are acceptable.

Is there a calculator on the PSAT 8/9?

Yes. College Board's PSAT 8/9 Math page uses the same wording as the PSAT/NMSQT: an acceptable calculator can be used on the entire Math section, and Bluebook's Desmos calculator is available there too. For more on that test, see our PSAT 8/9 guide.

What happens if my calculator dies during the PSAT?

You keep going with the Desmos calculator built into Bluebook. College Board says students whose calculator fails with no backup can continue testing on the embedded calculator.

Can I use my phone as a calculator on the PSAT?

No. Cell phone calculator apps are on College Board's prohibited list, along with tablets, laptops (unless approved as an accommodation) and any device with wireless or Bluetooth connectivity.

The calculator only helps when you already know what to type. Larry Learns has 30,000+ SAT and ACT practice questions on web, iPhone and Android, with a score estimate that tracks your progress as you go, and the free tier gives you 3 quizzes a day. Try a free math quiz, or create a free account to keep your practice in one place.