*This policy applies for the USAD National Competition. Please contact your state director regarding the

calculator policy that will apply at your local, regional, and state competitions.

Please be advised that this new policy will allow the use of any model graphing calculator, provided it has none

of the features listed in Section III (Prohibited Calculators) of the USAD Calculator Policy. Please also note the

new requirements for the clearing of memory in graphing calculators.

The United States Academic Decathlon® has always endeavored to reflect current high school curriculum and

instruction in our competitions. Recent surveys of calculator use in high schools nationwide indicate that calculators

are now used in the vast majority of high school mathematics courses across the country, and our decision to allow

calculators is consistent with this practice in math instruction.

I. Competitors May Use Calculators for the Mathematics Test

If competitors wish to use calculators on the USAD Mathematics Test, they are responsible for bringing them to the

test. Calculators will not be provided for students who do not bring their own. Calculator use is permitted only for

Mathematics; competitors will not be allowed to use calculators on any other test.

USAD will now require all students to clear the memory of their graphing calculators before and immediately

following the mathematics test administration.

• All graphing calculators will be subject to inspection by test administrators and test proctors before and

immediately after the math test administration to ensure that the calculators’ memories have been cleared.

• Students will also be required to sign a compliance statement on the math test cover sheets certifying that

they will clear the memory from their graphing calculator immediately before the math test and at the

completion of the math test.

II. Permissible Calculators

If a competitor wishes to use a calculator, it can be only a basic, four-function, or scientific calculator, provided it has

none of the features listed in Section III below.

III. Prohibited Calculators

Calculators with any of the following features are NOT allowed in USAD competitions:

• pocket organizers

• hand-held or laptop computers

• electronic writing pads or pen-input devices

• models with an alphabetic (QWERTY) keypad, e.g. TI-92 or HP-95

• models with paper tape

• models that make noise

• models that can engage in wireless communication (transfer data or information with other calculators)

• models that require a power cord

• models with CAS (computer algebra systems), e.g. TI-89

Because companies are continuously introducing new products, it would be impossible for USAD to maintain an up-todate

list of specific model numbers that possess these features. If a competitor is uncertain whether a particular

calculator will be allowed, the student should bring a backup that does not possess any of the features in question. No

backup calculator will be provided for any competitor whose calculator is disallowed.

IV. Competing without a Calculator

Competitors may opt to take the Mathematics Test without a calculator, however, USAD is suggesting competitors use

a basic, scientific calculator for solving the trigonometry test items.

V. Calculator Failure During a Test

If a competitor’s calculator stops working during a test, the student should continue taking the test without a calculator.

No additional calculator will be provided, and the competitor will not be allowed to take the test again later. However,

as noted in Section III above, a competitor may bring a backup calculator and/or spare batteries to the test