Casio FX-83GTX Scientific Calculator, Black

Product Information

Casio describes the fx-83GT CW as “the new upgraded version of the Casio fx-83GT X” and the fx-991CW as “the new upgraded version of the Casio fx-991 EX”. That seems misleading to me, when the models are so completely different. It would be far more honest to call them “the replacement for” their predecessors. For GCSE Maths, you will need a scientific calculator, but just about any model will do; see AQA’s guidance below for a list of the functions you need.

As for the question of when is the best time to introduce the new ClassWiz range to particular year groups, we know teachers will always be the best-placed to answer this. You know your students, their learning patterns and how well they respond to different methods in the classroom.The Format key is another useful improvement to the ClassWiz range, replacing the S↔D (standard to decimal) button found on previous handsets. That’s EIGHT key presses instead of two – not to mention having to remember which menus to go into.

On previous handsets, it was only possible to define and evaluate functions in this way within Table. For more information on what calculators are permissible in exams, take a look at my Clueless about Calculators blog post. Finally, a colour warning As I mentioned previously, lots of functions – too many to list here – now require more key presses than they did before. A particularly annoying one is nCr (to calculate the number of combinations of r items chosen from a set of n – used in binomial expansion and the binomial probability distribution). Previously it was the Shift function above the ÷ key, but now it takes the following series of key presses to get to the same place: A major change that has been implemented with the new CW ClassWiz range is the introduction of a new menu structure to access functions. While common functionality, such as the trigonometric functions sin, cos and tan, still have their own dedicated keys, many other features – including functional analysis, probability and conversion – are now listed in a menu accessed via the new Catalog key.Another one that’s been brought to my attention: the functionality of the button has been changed so that it no longer “attaches” itself to the preceding number. It’s not actually wrong but it’s a change that will be very confusing for many students! The Casio fx-83GT CW ClassWiz is the new upgraded version of the Casio fx-83GT X (the UK’s best-selling scientific calculator), containing additional features, to include a high definition display and improved menu navigation. Allowed in every UK exam where a calculator can be used. Recommended and approved for Key Stages 3 & 4 (including GCSE, National and Higher, Junior and Leaving). As well as making life easier and enabling more intuitive learning for students, this can be a big classroom time-saver for teachers. Gone are the days of having to explain how certain functions are accessed through a sequence of key presses. Now, you can encourage students to delve into the menu and see what they can find for themselves.

If you have the older GT Plus then it will still do everything you need for GCSE, so don’t worry about that!Going a step further, you can also use this new key to define functions in terms of another function.