Can You Use a Calculator in the Selective Schools Test?
Can you use a calculator in the selective schools test? For the major Australian government selective / OC pathways parents ask about, the answer is no. Calculators are on the prohibited items list for NSW placement tests, and VIC ACER selective maths is designed as calculator-free reasoning. Always follow the checklist in your admission materials for your sitting.
NSW Selective and OC — official rule
The NSW Department of Education test-day checklist states that calculators are not allowed. Students receive working paper for calculations and planning. Phones, smart watches, and other computing devices are also banned. See the official placement test page for the full allowed / not-allowed lists.
Mathematical Reasoning is explicitly a calculator-free multiple-choice paper (40 minutes on the selective timetable; 40 minutes on OC). Mental arithmetic and efficient written working matter as much as concepts.
Victorian ACER selective entry
Victoria’s Year 9 selective exam (Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning block) assesses reasoning with year-level curriculum content. Families should prepare without relying on a calculator: ACER-style items expect number sense, multi-step working, and estimation under time pressure. Confirm any special arrangements only through official ACER / Department channels if your child has an approved adjustment.
Format overview: VIC exam format.
EduTest / scholarship sittings
EduTest and independent-school scholarship sessions publish their own venue rules. Many numerical sections are also calculator-free, but do not assume — read the school’s candidate instructions for that sitting. Pathway context: EduTest scholarship guide and EduTest practice hub.
How to prepare without a calculator
- Drill mental strategies for fractions, percentages, ratios, and multi-step arithmetic.
- Practise with scrap paper only — same constraint as test day.
- Time Mathematical Reasoning sections; pacing errors cost more marks than exotic topics.
- For NSW, practise on screen so working-paper + click-select feels normal (CBT guide).
Related timing and practice
Section lengths: NSW selective & OC test length. Maths skill guides: mathematics prep, numerical reasoning.
EduSpark timed papers are calculator-free by design for these pathways. Try 1 free paper per subject at free practice papers or browse subjects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a calculator in the NSW selective or OC test?▾
No. The NSW Department of Education test-day checklist lists calculators as not allowed. Working paper is provided for calculations.
Are calculators allowed in the VIC ACER selective exam?▾
Prepare calculator-free. The Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning components assess reasoning and number sense under time pressure. Follow your official candidate instructions for any approved adjustments.
What about EduTest sittings?▾
Rules are set per school sitting. Many numerical sections are calculator-free, but always read the school's candidate instructions rather than assuming.
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