CFA CFA Level 1 Can I bring 2 calculators to the CFA exam?

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Can I bring 2 calculators to the CFA exam?

Topic Resolution: Resolved
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    • TylerTX2000
      Participant
        • Undecided
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        27
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        Can you bring 2 calculators to the exam? What do people do to hedge against dying batteries? Is it allowed to bring extra batteries to change?

        I have both HP 12c platinum and BAII Plus and was planning to bring both to the exam if allowed.

      • Up
        13
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        Hi @TylerTX2000 – yes you can bring all of those mentioned: extra calculators, extra calculator batteries and even screwdrivers for battery change. Full checklist of what you can bring is detailed here.

        Interesting that you have 2 completely different calculators and are well versed in both though (which is amazing). Usually candidates just pick one and stick to a type 🙂

        Zee Tan voted up
      • Up
        3
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        I also bought two calculators for emergency purposes.

        Zee Tan voted up
      • Zee Tan
        Keymaster
          • CFA Charterholder
          Up
          1
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          Not only CAN you bring 2, but we recommend it!

          Remember that only two calculator types are allowed:Texas Instruments BA II Plus and Hewlett Packard 12C. Proctors will check all of your calculators, so your back-up calculator must also be an authorized model.

          Another alternative if you only have one is to bring batteries. Here’s a video on how to change your Texas Instruments BA II Plus battery:

          Zee Tan voted up
        • AmyD
          Participant
            • CFA Level 2
            Up
            0
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            Given the switch to computer based testing, is the 2 calculator recommendation still true?

            For my February CBT exam I was not allowed to bring 2 calculators to the Prometric test center.

            They were really adamant that 2 were not allowed, I had to leave one in my bag outside the test room.

            • Zee Tan
              Keymaster
                • CFA Charterholder
                Up
                3
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                Yes – some people are reporting that Prometric is not allowing candidates in with two calculators.

                They should – CFA Institute has confirmed that two calculators are fine.

                The list of locations that we’ve received reports that 2 calculators may not be allowed by Prometric are below. I will update if we get more info.

                • Baku, Azerbaijan: “Only one to the exam room.”
                • Bogotá, Colombia: “Didn’t allow 2 calculators, but allowed extra battery and a screwdriver.”
                  Bhopal, India: “Wasn’t allowed 2 calculators, but allowed extra battery and a screwdriver.”
                • Hammersmith, London, UK: “They didn’t let me take both of my calculators into the exam. Both were Texas Instruments BA II Plus models.”
                • Kensington, London, UK: “Had to keep extra one in the locker, I was only allowed one in the test room. If my exam calculator broke I would be allowed to get my spare one, escorted I think.”
                Zee Tan voted up
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