Can You Bring a Backup Calculator? A SEAB Exam Checklist

A backup is allowed only within the applicable examination rules

SEAB’s public FAQ answers a practical question students and parents ask: whether more than one approved calculator can be brought to national examinations. The FAQ says the number of approved calculators is not restricted for the covered PSLE and GCE-Level examinations. This does not mean calculator use is permitted in every paper.

Check the paper as well as the model

Use SEAB’s current approved-calculator page and the rules for your examination and paper. Match the model number carefully, including any suffix printed on the device. Do not assume a similar-looking calculator is approved because a classmate uses one, and do not rely on an undated screenshot shared in a chat.

SEAB’s PSLE rules specify calculator use for Mathematics Paper 2 and Foundation Mathematics Paper 2. For other examinations or a later examination year, check the relevant current documents rather than extending that permission to a different paper. Ask your teacher or the examination authority if a model’s status is unclear before buying or bringing it.

Make the backup familiar and usable

If you bring a permitted backup, practise the operations you actually need on it. Check how to enter fractions, handle brackets and return to the required mode. A different keyboard layout can slow you down even when both devices are approved.

Check power and display condition in advance, and follow the applicable instructions about labels, stored material or other features. Keep the original brand and model markings legible. A spare device is a precaution; it does not replace knowing the rules or checking the main calculator before leaving home.

Use a practice paper to rehearse the switch

During a suitable practice session, complete a few questions on the main calculator and then repeat similar operations on the backup. Read the displayed result critically: does its size make sense, and have you entered the intended expression? Write the mathematical steps required by the question rather than treating the screen output as the whole solution.

Try this with a calculator-permitted section from our Primary 6 papers, Secondary Mathematics collection or H2 Mathematics papers, as appropriate. Always follow the instructions on the particular paper; the collection name alone does not determine whether a calculator is permitted.

Pack by the current examination checklist

Make a short list of the permitted equipment, identification and other items required for your exam, using the official instructions. Check it the day before rather than relying on memory in the morning. If something fails during the examination, follow the invigilator’s directions; do not assume equipment problems automatically qualify for special consideration.

The sensible target is dependable, familiar equipment and a clear understanding of when it may be used. There is no need to purchase a newer model just because somebody else has one if your existing model is permitted and works reliably.

Sources and further reading

Checked on 27 October 2026. The question below is real; the practical planning suggestions in this article are our editorial guidance.

• Can I bring more than one calculator and/ or dictionary into the examination hall for the GCE-Level examinations? — Undated SEAB FAQ, displayed as updated two years ago; accessed 27 October 2026.
• SEAB: current approved-calculator list
• SEAB: PSLE examination rules