Calculator Programs -- Legal or no?

rs8389
Mon, 15 Jan 2007 15:58:09 +0000

Yes, Taggart, I understand your point, but there is nothing in the Collegeboard rules that specifically bans programs, nor is there some unwritten law that memory is to be erased prior to testing. I think there is one rule that says you can’t do anything that would give you an unfair advantage over others, but that’s debatable, since anybody with half a brain can put a program in his calculator.

I know what you mean, that it’s ridiculous, since the whole test is completely feasible without a calculator. For some, it can make the difference between college acceptance and rejection, which is unfair, since they didn’t deserve to be accepted in the first place (just to keep it clear, I’m not one of these people - I took Math 2c and only touched my calculator on 2 problems to do some multiplication).

About the morals, it’s a tough call. As much as programs are technically allowed, I realize that it’s not really “right” to do it. Then again, we’re here discussing SAT problems right after the test, which is specifically banned by Collegeboard, and it seems like nobody is having an ethical dilemma. Hard to say what’s wrong and what’s not…