Assessment Resources & FAQ

Testing calculators may exclude various features that aren’t helpful in testing environments. For example, you can’t import graphs, add images, log into your account, save or share links, or link to external resources from a testing calculator.

Visit our Testing page to practice using the version of the calculator you’ll see on test day. Each national exam or state has a corresponding testing PDF that highlights key differences between the testing calculators and standard calculators.

Test creators, administrators, and state departments of education typically collaborate once a year to decide which calculator features will be enabled or disabled for the next year’s assessment. This process generally happens the summer before the upcoming school year. So, updates to the calculator on desmos.com during the school year don’t usually appear on that year’s tests.

For the most up-to-date version of the calculator you’ll see on your exam, visit our Testing page to find the right practice testing calculator and PDFs that explain how each calculator is configured for the listed school year.

Along with the calculators on our Testing page we offer a Desmos Test Mode app that allows for offline practice and use on day-to-day quizzes and exams in the classroom. The app is available on Apple and Android mobile devices as well as Chromebooks.

Learn more in our article on Using Desmos on In-Class Assessments.

Part of the v138 Chrome update disabled all Chrome apps by default, which can cause the following error message upon opening the app: “Can’t launch unsupported Chrome app. Notify your administrator about this issue.”

We're working with Google on a long-term solution, but in the meantime, Google Admins can re-enable the app for the 2025-2026 school year by following these steps:

1. Sign into your Google Admin console and find the Chrome Apps allowed for kiosk mode setting
2. Set Configuration to Keep using Chrome apps in kiosk sessions for a limited time.

Learn more in Using Desmos on In-Class Assessments.

No. Desmos is not considered a computer algebra system (CAS), which is recognized by its ability to solve equations algebraically, simplify expressions, and perform exact arithmetic without rounding or truncating decimals. While Desmos can quickly evaluate expressions, plot, and graph, students must be able to analyze and interpret the outputs.

Both the Graphing Calculator and Scientific Calculator are available on the digital SAT in Bluebook, so test-takers don’t have to choose between one or the other.

You can toggle between each calculator during the exam. However, content in one calculator won’t carry over to content in the other calculator, so double-check that you’ve toggled into the correct calculator before inputting anything.

Not all AP Exams feature the same Desmos calculator. Some even offer two.

• Biology: Scientific Calculator 
• Chemistry: Both Scientific and Graphing Calculators
• Environmental Science: Scientific Calculator 
• Macroeconomics & Microeconomics: Four-Function Calculator 
• Networking: Four-Function Calculator 
• Physics 1 & 2, Physics C: Both Scientific and Graphing Calculators
• Precalculus, Calculus AB & BC: Graphing Calculator 
• Statistics: Graphing Calculator 

For exams that include both the Scientific and Graphing Calculators, test takers will be able to toggle between them.

Just like all other testing calculators, you can find the SAT and AP Exam testing calculators on our Testing page. You can also practice in Bluebook, which you can learn about on the College Board’s website. There, you can find the most up-to-date information on the formats for the SAT and AP Exams as well.

No. Desmos is available as an option in Bluebook for all test takers, but both the SAT and AP Exams also permit a variety of handheld calculators that you can use instead of or in addition to Desmos calculators.

View the full list of acceptable calculators for the SAT Suite of Assessments and the AP Exams.