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You’ve registered for your CIMA exam, revised for months, and now you’re staring at your kitchen drawer wondering: can you actually bring your own calculator to the test centre? The short answer is yes — but only if it’s on CIMA’s pre-approved list, and only if it’s non-programmable. This article walks you through exactly which CIMA approved calculators are permitted, which ones will get you turned away at reception, and how to handle the situation if your preferred model isn’t on the official list.
Yes — CIMA allows you to bring a personal calculator to the exam, provided the model appears on its official pre-approved list and is non-programmable. This applies to both objective test (OT) exams and case study exams, whether you sit them at a Pearson VUE test centre or online via remote proctoring. The exam administrator will inspect your calculator before the exam begins and may reset its memory to ensure compliance.
You are not required to bring a calculator at all. Every CIMA exam includes a computer-based on-screen scientific calculator, and the 15-minute tutorial at the start of your exam gives you time to practise using it. But most candidates — including those preparing for Strategic case studies where speed matters — prefer the tactile familiarity of their own physical device.
The list below is drawn directly from CIMA’s official calculator guidance, last updated 23 April 2024 and published by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. You can view the source document on cimaglobal.com (search “calculator guidance”). The list is not exhaustive — new models are released regularly — but it covers the vast majority of calculators candidates actually use.
| Brand | Approved models |
|---|---|
| Casio | All fx models except graphing/graphic display models. Examples include: fx-83GTX fx-85GTCW fx-85GTX fx-991EX fx-991CW FC-100V FC-200V 100MS 115MS 350ES Plus 570ES Plus 991ES Plus 💡 The fx-83 and fx-85 series are recommended by CIMA for candidates with dyslexia. |
| Texas Instruments | BA II Plus BA II Plus Professional TI-30XS TI-30Xa TI-30XIIS TI-34 MultiView TI-5018SV |
| Sharp | Most EL models except the EL-9950 (a graphing model). Examples include: EL-501X EL-506X EL-509X EL-510RN EL-520X EL-531XH EL-733A EL-738 EL-W506 EL-W531 EL-W535SA EL-W560X |
| Hewlett Packard | HP 10s HP 10bII HP 10bII+ HP 12C HP 12C Platinum HP 17bII HP 300s+ HP 35s |
| Canon | F-789SGA |
| Citizen | All SDC models, plus: SR-275 SDC-888 |
| Brilliant | BS-134 |
| Milan | M228 |
| Aurora | AX-582BL |
Always check your specific model number against the official CIMA guidance before purchase — the list is reviewed and updated twice a year, in June and December.
A calculator can fail CIMA’s check for several reasons. The following features will get your calculator rejected at the door, regardless of brand:
The easiest way to tell the difference: a non-programmable calculator will not have a dedicated “PROG” or programming function button. If yours does, leave it at home.
CIMA calculators at a glance
Official CIMA calculator guidance last updated 23 April 2024
Every CIMA exam — objective test and case study — includes a built-in scientific calculator on screen. It is non-programmable by design and available to every candidate, so there is no unfair advantage to having or not having a physical device.
The 15-minute tutorial at the start of your exam gives you a chance to practise with the on-screen calculator before the timer starts. Many candidates at Certificate level (BA1–BA4) find this more than sufficient and never bother bringing their own. At Operational, Management, and Strategic levels — particularly for finance-heavy papers like F1, F2, and F3 — the volume and speed of calculation required makes a familiar physical calculator a sensible backup. If you’re just starting out, the full range of question types is laid out on our CIMA certificate level page.
If you don’t already own one, two models dominate among CIMA candidates: the Casio fx-83GTX (or fx-85GTX — identical except the fx-85 is solar-powered) for its affordability and familiar layout, and the Texas Instruments BA II Plus for its built-in financial functions like NPV, IRR, and bond pricing. The BA II Plus is particularly popular with candidates moving into the Strategic level, where financial modelling questions benefit from dedicated time-value-of-money keys.
Whichever you choose, the single most important piece of advice is: practise with it. Don’t unwrap a brand-new calculator the morning of your exam. Whether you’re drilling OT questions or working through a case study prep, use the physical calculator you plan to take into the exam. Every button press should be muscle memory by the time you sit down. You can start practising with our free CIMA study materials — the full range of question types is designed to mirror the real exam format, including the scenario-based questions where calculator speed genuinely matters.
CIMA reviews and updates its pre-approved list twice a year, in June and December. If you own a calculator that isn’t listed but genuinely qualifies as non-programmable, you can submit it for review. Email assessment.team@aicpa-cima.com in writing, with the full calculator name and model number (as printed in the manufacturer’s handbook). You’ll receive an acknowledgement, but a decision will only be issued after the next biannual review.
A practical word of warning: do not turn up to the exam with a calculator you’ve submitted for review but not yet received approval for. If it isn’t on the current published list, the exam administrator will not let you use it — regardless of any pending email correspondence. If your exam is imminent, buy or borrow a model that’s already on the approved list.
When you arrive at the test centre, the exam administrator will ask to see your calculator before you enter the exam room. They will check it against the approved list and may reset its memory to clear any stored values. Two practical tips:
For more on how CIMA exams work end-to-end — from registration through to results — head to the CIMA hub page, which covers all four qualification levels and the case study exams.
CIMA approved calculators exist to create a fair exam environment — every candidate has access to the same core functionality, and nobody can smuggle stored notes in under the guise of a programmable device. Bring a calculator from the official list, make sure it’s non-programmable, know how to reset it, and practise with it. Do those four things, and the only thing standing between you and a pass will be the questions themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. CIMA permits candidates to bring a personal calculator to both objective test and case study exams, provided the model is on CIMA’s pre-approved list and is non-programmable. The exam administrator will inspect it before the exam starts.
The main approved brands are Casio, Sharp, Texas Instruments, Hewlett Packard, Canon, Citizen, Brilliant, Milan, and Aurora. Within each brand only certain models qualify — always check the current official list before purchase.
Yes. The Casio fx-83GTX is on the CIMA approved calculators list. It is also recommended by CIMA for candidates with dyslexia, along with other models in the fx-83 and fx-85 series.
Yes. Both the BA II Plus and the BA II Plus Professional are approved for CIMA exams. This is a popular choice for finance papers (F1, F2, F3) and Strategic-level work because of its built-in NPV, IRR, and time-value-of-money functions.
No. Every CIMA exam includes an on-screen scientific calculator available from the 15-minute tutorial onwards. Bringing your own is optional — most candidates prefer it because familiarity and speed matter, especially in the more calculation-heavy papers.
The exam administrator will not allow you to use it. You can either use the on-screen calculator provided, or — if you have time before the exam — buy or borrow an approved model. Submitting an approval request to CIMA does not grant interim permission.
Experience the real CIMA exam feel with our practice materials. Get familiar with the format, sharpen your skills, and boost your confidence. Start practicing today!
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