Help Me!!! GRE & Calculators!!!!!!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Dec 4, 2005

I'm taking the GRE next week & I'm pretty ready for it. Just one more question: I'm taking the computerized version & was wondering if anyone here knows if the computer will have a calculator icon on it for test-takers to use. (NCLEX had the calc icon on the computer & I'm wondering if the GRE does the same (I know we cannot bring in actual calculators to the exam place). If you know, please tell me!!! :) Thank you!!!!!!
-Christine

You are NOT allowed to use a calculator on the GRE. Even if the computer has the calculator icon, you risk invalidating your score if you use a calculator. This is going to change in October of 06 when the test changes, but for now - no calculators allowed.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Dec 4, 2005

You are NOT allowed to use a calculator on the GRE. Even if the computer has the calculator icon, you risk invalidating your score if you use a calculator. This is going to change in October of 06 when the test changes, but for now - no calculators allowed.

How did you find this out? I looked everywhere on the GRE website & couldn't find any information on it. Anyhow, thank you for responding. The thing that is making me nervous is that I can do all the math out by hand, but it's pretty dumb for the test people to say we cannot use a calculator and to then at the same time put a time limit on the test! It wastes so much valuable time to do out long calculations by hand that we'd be doing with a calculator in the real world. Oh well, I had to vent! :)

-Christine

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Dec 5, 2005

How did you find this out? I looked everywhere on the GRE website & couldn't find any information on it. Anyhow, thank you for responding. The thing that is making me nervous is that I can do all the math out by hand, but it's pretty dumb for the test people to say we cannot use a calculator and to then at the same time put a time limit on the test! It wastes so much valuable time to do out long calculations by hand that we'd be doing with a calculator in the real world. Oh well, I had to vent! :)
-Christine

I don't have the exact link right now, but it is on the GRE website - the part that talks about the changes to happen in 06. There will be a 4-function calculator available to test-takers. It identifies this as being in contrast to the current rules which prohibit the use of a calculator.

(FYI about the 06 changes: GRE also will no longer be available as a computer adaptive test - everyone will take the same test and it will only be offered on certain days of the year instead of any time. Unfortunately, they are not going back to the analytical section and dropping the writing section - that was a dumb move on their part, IMO).

TiBette · Dec 6, 2005

I took the GRE in November and calculators weren't allowed. The books and other materials that I used to prepare stated that you shouldn't waste time doing long calculations. You are supposed to be able to answer the questions without them. For example, if you have a negative number with an odd exponent in one column and the same number with an even exponent in the other column, you would automatically know that the number with the even exponent would be greater....or something along those lines. :)