cornell75

For the entry level calculus classes, Math 111/112/122, do you know if you are allowed to use calculators on the tests? Also, my son's calculus teacher includes a "guessing penalty" on the multiple choice part of the tests because she says that college math classes will have a guessing penalty (deduction for a wrong answer vs. just getting no points) and she wants the students to get used to that. Do the tests have guessing penalties?

Majman

This is speaking strictly from my experience in calculus which is going on two semesters now, but we do not use calculators on the majority of tests as it is not needed. As for the guessing penalty I would say that is purely up to the teachers discretion. I believe that the AP test takes off one-forth a point for guessing so he might just be preparing your son for that.

intl_echo

It's true about the calculators. Even some classes whose tests require some small calculations will stipulate that the calculator be only four-function. I have not heard any stories about the guessing penalty.

cornell_girl

When I took 111 and 112 my first year (I'm now a junior), on some tests we were allowed to use calculators (not graphing) and not on others. I was told it changes each semester depending on the test and what the lecturers decide the policy should be. For wrong answers, we weren't deducted points. However, I think there was a stipulation that if it was so outrageous and not even close to correct, you may be deducted points.