<p>I'm an international student from India and I'm going to take the SAT Subject Test: Mathematics Level 2 in days. Graphing calculators' use feels like Heaven to me and of late I've started programming just about anything I can't remember into my calculator. I know that programs are allowed, but what about programs that only run a couple of Disp functions? For example, a program which doesn't solve anything for me but just shows me all formulas pertaining to parabolas on the screen? Excuse me if I'm overthinking, but in my country, this would be considered cheating, hands down. So my question is, is this illegal (i.e. not permitted by The College Board)? If it is, should I still not do it because it would be unethical? I say that because I believe I'm the sort that can score well with enough study, so should I keep my conscience clear and just learn everything, or should I convince myself that there's nothing to feel guilty in doing this?</p>
<p>Since clearing the memory is not required, you can put in whatever you want. However, the amount of time that you will spend inputting stuff will be significantly greater than any benefit you will receive during the exam.</p>
<p>Yeah, your proctor won’t check your calculator (especially because he/she won’t know who’s taking which subject test), but I definitely think it’s immoral. </p>
<p>My experience is that SAT tests usually have everything you need right there within the question or at the figure at the beginning of the section and there is little need for memorizing formulas. If this is true (is it?), then taking a sheet full of reference formulas (the equivalent of your ‘Disp’) into the test rather than memorizing them will be of no help in the test and is probably not an issue.</p>
This => “should I keep my conscience clear” is about who you are.
Every time you ask that question of yourself your answer is another part of shaping who you are as a person. The bad, corrupt people in the news didn’t start out that way. They just kept answering that internal question one way.
There’s nothing wrong nor immoral about this. You’re allowed to use your calculator to its maximum capability and make use of whatever resources you have during the tests.
Program your calculator as you wish, don’t worry about it. Best of luck for your exam.
Thank you everyone for your replies. I took that test and skieurope, ItsJustSchool were right. They weren’t too helpful as the exam is about time and you don’t have time to look at equations or things. If you know it, you do, and if you don’t, you don’t. I really like the type of questions that College Board (or ETS) sets. I got an 800 on that test.
