Calculator skills for IGCSE Maths

Every calculator skill the exam expects, one page each: the exact Casio fx-CG50 keystrokes (menus, F1–F6 and the screens you should see), the same on TI-84 Plus CE, TI-Nspire CX II, fx-991EX, fx-991CW, a worked example, the mistakes that cost marks, and the same idea in Desmos.

Calculators: Casio fx-CG50 (OS 3.80) · TI-84 Plus CE (OS 5.8.x) · TI-Nspire CX II (OS 6.x) · Casio fx-991EX ClassWiz (the fixed ROM) · Casio fx-991CW ClassWiz (the fixed ROM). Checked September 2026.

My calculator:

We open every guide on the calculator you pick (saved on this device only).

Algebra and graphs

Calculus

Statistics

Before every exam

  1. Angle mode. Radians for calculus and most IB/A Level trig; degrees for bearings and triangle questions. On the fx-CG50: SHIFT MENU (SET UP) → Angle. It is the most common way to lose marks on a calculator.
  2. Clear old data. Old lists, frequency settings and matrices silently change statistics answers. Delete them before each question that uses the lists.
  3. Answer memory. Ans (and stored values like A, B) keep full accuracy: use them instead of retyping rounded numbers. Round only the final answer (3 s.f. unless told otherwise).
  4. Exact vs decimal. The fx-CG50 and ClassWiz show fractions and surds in Math mode; F↔D (or S⇔D on the ClassWiz) switches. Give exact answers when the question asks for them.
  5. Table mode. A quick table of values is the fastest way to sketch a graph or find where a root lies.
  6. Exam / Press-to-Test mode. Your school may put your calculator into exam mode on the day. Practise with it once so nothing surprises you:
Casio fx-CG50

Turn the calculator off (SHIFT AC/ON). Hold cos and 7, press AC/ON, release, then F1 (Yes), F2 and EXIT. A green frame and a flashing icon show it is in Examination Mode; it ends after 12 hours or when you connect it to a computer.

TI-84 Plus CE

Turn the calculator off. Hold ◄ and ►, press on, then choose the Press-to-Test settings your exam allows and press OK. The LED blinks while Press-to-Test is on.

TI-Nspire CX II

Turn the handheld off. Hold esc and home/on until the Press-to-Test screen appears, choose the restrictions your exam allows, then Enter Press-to-Test. The LED blinks while it is on.

F1F2F3F4F5F6SHIFTOPTNVARSMENUALPHAx²^EXIT▲▼◀▶X,θ,T(−)×10ˣEXE
The fx-CG50 keys these guides use most (schematic, not to scale). F1–F6 do whatever the bottom row of the screen says.

What you're allowed in the exam

Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Maths A (4MA1) Paper 1H and Paper 2H both allow a calculator. It must not do symbolic algebra (no CAS) or connect to anything; most students use a scientific ClassWiz (fx-991EX or fx-991CW), and graphic calculators such as the fx-CG50 are allowed too.

Which calculator for IGCSE Maths?

A Casio ClassWiz scientific calculator (fx-991EX, or the newer fx-991CW) does everything 4MA1 Higher needs and is what most students use. A graphic calculator (fx-CG50, TI-84 Plus CE) is allowed too and is worth it if you are going on to IB or A Level, where the guides here carry on. CAS calculators are not allowed.

What about Desmos?

Desmos is not allowed in IGCSE exams. Use it to learn, to check an answer and to see the graph behind a question. Every guide ends with a "Do it in Desmos" section: the steps, and exactly what to type into the free desmos.com/calculator .

Sources

Keystrokes follow the manufacturers' manuals for the OS versions shown and were cross-checked against published teaching guides. Where a manual was ambiguous we say so on the page instead of guessing.