[Anonymous]

I’m using becker self study and they (along with pretty much all of the review courses) have a calculator that is similar to the one we will see when sit for the exam. Granted the tape feature is cool to see what you have done, but does anyone else find these calculators annoying?

When I study I use my TI – 83 Plus to do my calculations. I feel that by doing this, I’m not “training/preparing” myself to use the prometric calculator. Will this be a problem come test time?

[barelystayingsane]

I always use my trusty TI-84 Plus when prepping, and I have not found it to be a disadvantage. Do you have a numeric keyboard on your computer? All of the computers at Prometric do, which means that using the Prometric calculator is no different than using your graphing calculator.

[Anonymous]

I do have a numeric keyboard, I will practice with that!

[lyzgrace]

I probably need a different calculator to practice with, because I'm a heavy 10-key user. Trying to + 50,000 – and getting an actual addition can get frustrating, especially in the middle of an already-frustrating question.

That being said, I don't think it put me at a disadvantage, I just had to pay attention. It may actually have helped me because I triple-checked everything I needed to calculate. I think you'll be fine practicing with a hand-held instead of the Becker calculator. I know I'd find it annoying!

AUD: 82
FAR: 78
BEC: 75
REG: 8/1 score release!!

[Anonymous]

You might want to practice with the crappy calculator on your computer because the one on the exams does NOT have a thousands separator comma. You have to put your face 2 inches from the screen and count 0's sometimes. But it does have a tape feature which is nice.

[jsteinberger]

I started practicing w/ the crappy computer calculator as well. One reason was what Kricket mentioned and not having the thousands separator. A more important reason (to me) is that exam will be frustrating enough….I don't need the added stress of getting used to this crappy calculator. I figure the more I can simulate test day when practicing the more prepared I will be.

Think of this…we all know that calculator is annoying and frustrated. Do you want to experience that for the first time (without getting more comfortable with it) while you are already nervous and stressed while taking your exam?

[StephAV]

What is the point of the crappy calculator? No commas! I've been using mostly the Wiley test bank calculator and not having the commas is annoying!

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[evesocal]

When going through the study materials the first time I used a normal calculator. But after that I used the Becker calculator. You have to get used to it and be able to move quickly. And yes, sometimes you have to count digits because there is no thousands separator. It's incredibly annoying.

I never did figure out how to use the horrible spreadsheet tool. Thank God it didn't seem to matter.

Why can't we get a normal calculator tool on the exam?? It defies all logic.

Good luck!!

Licensed in California

May 2013

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[smp73]

I agree with some of the other posters…the fact that there is no comma for thousands on the calculator is obnoxious. I think it would be worth practicing with it to get used to that “lovely” feature.

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[MintsRGood]

I despise that crappy calculator!!! There is nothing worse than counting digits on a monitor from 1997! I use a crappy calculator without commas to study with so I have acclimated to the less than professional equipment. I'm also a scribbler and feel especially sad that I have to use a note board for FAR!!!!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[barelystayingsane]

@Accounting is my LIFO Don't let people freak you out too much. The only time I would have found commas helpful is when you were computing numbers like five million or five billion where you would have to count a lot of zeros. In those instances, I just treat the numbers I'm inputting as thousands and then add ,000 or ,000,000 to the end of my answer. It's really not that big of a deal. Plus, the TI graphing calculator doesn't show commas (at least mine doesn't), so you'll be used to it by the time you get there anyway.

[SeattleAccountant]

Hehe, I wrote to AICPA about their “crappy” calculator, but doubt anything will change.

I use TI-89 (shows commas) for practice and screen calculator for final tests.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[Amay]

I took BEC last Tuesday and they gave me a simple hand calc to use, which I used for most of the test. I then started using the computer one, which to me was better because you can have a running tape of your calculations.

BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀

*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂

[Author]

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