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Home / Family & Kids / School Supplies / Best Graphing Calculators for SAT & ACT
School supplies

Best Graphing Calculators for SAT & ACT

Only the school supplies that fit "best graphing calculator", scored on real specs and confirmed review consensus.

1

TI-Nspire CX II (Non-CAS) (White, with Student Software) - College Board's own policy confirms non-CAS TI-Nspire models are SAT-approved — includes a 4-year student software license Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight

  • College Board's own SAT calculator policy page explicitly confirms non-CAS TI-Nspire models are acceptable — this is that model
  • 3.2" color LCD (320x240) and 64MB RAM/90MB storage, well above basic graphing calculators
  • Includes a 4-year PC/Mac student software license
Good 8.2 See Price
$154.05 · checked Sep 22 Calculator SAT approved (non-CAS model)
2

Casio fx-9750GIII Graphing Calculator (Black) - Approved for the SAT, PSAT, ACT and AP exams, confirmed on both Casio's own page and College Board's policy page — programmable in MicroPython Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight

  • SAT/PSAT/ACT/AP approval confirmed directly on Casio's own product page and cross-checked against College Board's official calculator policy
  • Programmable in both CASIO Basic and MicroPython — a genuine differentiator from the TI-84 line
  • Rated Amazon's Choice with 3,612 ratings and 1,000+ bought in the past month
Good 8.2 See Price
$69.29 · checked Sep 22 Calculator SAT, PSAT, ACT and AP approved
3

Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Graphing Calculator (Black) - Approved for the SAT and the ACT Math section, with a color display and rechargeable battery Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight

  • Approved for the SAT (College Board) and the ACT Math section, confirmed directly on Texas Instruments' own policy pages
  • Color display and USB connectivity per TI's own product page
  • Rechargeable battery rated to last about a month per charge under typical use
Fair 7.9 See Price
$110.59 · checked Sep 22 Calculator SAT and ACT (Math) approved

What separates the top graphing calculators on this page?

Two picks tie at 8.2: the TI-Nspire CX II (Non-CAS) at $154.05 and the Casio fx-9750GIII at $69.29 sale ($76.99 regular, casio.com). The TI-84 Plus CE sits at 7.9 and $110.59. Scores come from materials and build (30), functionality (25), independent review consensus (20), durability and care (15), and value (10).

The Nspire earns its score on hardware: a 3.2" color LCD (320x240), 64MB RAM, 90MB storage, and a 4-year PC/Mac student software license. The Casio matches it on score while costing less, and it is programmable in both CASIO Basic and MicroPython. The TI-84 Plus CE brings a color display, USB connectivity, and a rechargeable battery rated to last about a month per charge under typical use.

What should you check before buying a graphing calculator?

Exam approval is the first gate. The College Board's policy page confirms non-CAS TI-Nspire models are acceptable, and the CAS version was banned from the SAT starting August 2025, so confirm "non-CAS" before buying. Casio's own page and College Board's policy page both list the fx-9750GIII as approved for the SAT, PSAT, ACT and AP exams. TI's own policy pages confirm the TI-84 Plus CE for the SAT and the ACT Math section.

Then weigh the trade-offs the owners flag:

  • TI-Nspire CX II: pricier than both the TI-84 Plus CE and Casio fx-9750GIII here, and the CAS/non-CAS distinction trips people up.
  • Casio fx-9750GIII: its Natural Textbook Display differs from TI's interface convention, and some teachers and classes standardize on TI. No independently confirmed outlet review was found.
  • TI-84 Plus CE: costs more than a basic scientific calculator, and it ships in several colors under different ASINs that are functionally identical.

Check what your class or teacher uses before you commit, since interface familiarity matters more than a fraction of a point on a spec sheet.

TI-Nspire CX II (Non-CAS)

For students who want the largest screen and memory here and will use the included 4-year software license on a PC or Mac. Buy it only if you can confirm the non-CAS model.

Casio fx-9750GIII

For SAT, PSAT, ACT and AP test-takers who want MicroPython and CASIO Basic programming at the lowest price on this page. It carries 3,612 ratings and 1,000+ bought in the past month.

TI-84 Plus CE

For students whose classes already run on TI, or who want a rechargeable battery and USB connectivity in a familiar layout.

If your class already runs on TI, the TI-84 Plus CE at $110.59 is the safe pick. Test-takers who want MicroPython programming and the lowest price here should look at the Casio fx-9750GIII at $69.29 sale. Choose the TI-Nspire CX II (Non-CAS) at $154.05 if you want the 3.2" color screen, 64MB RAM and the 4-year software license — just confirm it is the non-CAS model.

Questions about best graphing calculators for sat & act

Which graphing calculators are allowed on the SAT and ACT?
The College Board (SAT) and ACT both publish their own approved-calculator lists, and the TI-84 Plus family is on both. Always check the current policy on the test organization's own site before an exam — calculator functions like a QWERTY keyboard or internet connectivity can disqualify an otherwise-similar model.
How long do insulated lunch bags actually keep food cold?
This varies a lot by design. Good Housekeeping's lab testing found real differences between bags claiming similar insulation — some kept food safely below 40°F (the USDA food-safety threshold) for over 5 hours, others fell short well before lunchtime. A built-in freezable gel lining tends to outperform a bag that relies only on a separate ice pack.
Machine-washable vs. wipe-clean pencil cases — does it matter?
A genuinely machine-washable case (check the manufacturer's own care instructions, not just marketing copy) holds up better to ink leaks and daily grime over a school year than a wipe-clean-only fabric case, which can stain permanently.

*Scores: Materials & build 30 · Functionality 25 · Independent review consensus 20 · Durability & care 15 · Value 10; score = Σ ÷ 10. Prices shown were checked on the date beside each and may change. Affiliate links are added only after a score is locked and can never change it. How we rank.

#1 TI-Nspire CX II (Non-CAS)8.2 · $154.05
See Price