Changes to policy and curriculum

Calculators in Exams policy

Warning: the content within this page reflects what was communicated to students in the 2015/16 academic year. As such, this information may no longer be factually accurate.

The University has redefined which categories of calculators are allowed in mathematics and statistics exams. These changes will affect the following modules from no earlier than October 2015.

Modules and the type of calculator authorised

• Essential mathematics 1 (MST124): Type Y will be permitted from June 2016.
• Essential mathematics 2 (MST125): Type Y will be permitted from June 2016.
• Analysing data (M248): Type Y will be permitted from June 2016.
• Practical modern statistics (M249): Type Y will be permitted from June 2016.
• Applications of probability (M343): Type Y or Z will be permitted from June 2016 and Type Y will be permitted from June 2018.
• Linear statistical modelling (M346): Type Y or Z will be permitted from June 2016 and Type Y will be permitted from June 2018.
• Optimisation (M373): Type Y or Z will be permitted from June 2016 and Type Y will be permitted from June 2018.
• Mathematical methods and fluid mechanics (MST326): Type Y or Z will be permitted from June 2016 and Type Y will be permitted from June 2018.
• Dynamics and partial differential equations (MS327): Type Y or Z will be permitted from June 2017 and Type Y will be permitted from June 2018.
• Waves diffusion and variational principles (MS324): Will have no change from current categories as the final start date of this module is October 2015.

All other mathematics and statistics modules either don't have an end-of-module exam or, if they do, don't permit a calculator to be used.

Please also note that from June 2016 no calculator instruction manuals will be permitted in exams for mathematics and statistics modules.

Explanation of calculator categories

X - A non-scientific calculator i.e. with no functionality such as log, sin, cos, etc

Y - A scientific calculator; (the type recommended to be used on MST124 and MST125)

Z - A programmable calculator but without a set of dedicated alphabetic keys.

These calculators must not:

• Be designed or adapted or adapted to offer algebraic manipulation; differentiation or integration; language translation or Communication with other devices/the internet
• Have retrievable information stored in it such as databanks, dictionaries, mathematical formulae or text

Furthermore, for Type Z, the University does not consider the ability to store programs as being excluded under the prohibition of text and/or mathematical formulas storage, and a calculator that can perform numerical differentiation and integration is permitted.

Why this is happening

The University has updated the categories of calculators permitted in examinations to better reflect the types of calculator currently available, and to bring its policy in line with that of public examinations in the UK. For this reason, the school of Mathematics and Statistics has taken this opportunity to review which types of calculators are permitted in its examinations, and to take a consistent approach so that students can plan ahead for their studies.

Please talk to your Student Support Team if you need any further information. You can find out how to contact them on Contact the OU. Please note, however, that staff are unable to give advice about the suitability of individual makes or models of calculator. It is your responsibility to ensure that the calculator you are using meets the requirements for the examination you are taking.