CBT 2012 Placement Tests - calculator?

D

DadOfSwags

Proud USMA2016 Dad
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I came across a post in the USNA forum that made we wonder about our own New Cadets at USMA. The academic placement tests for the NCs are/were scheduled for sometime this week. Were the NCs expected to bring a calculator for the tests? I know DS has his calculator safely piled in his A-Day equipment cache in our living room, ready for us to deliver for the start of his academic year in August, but if he needed one for the CBT placement tests, that was never communicated. Calculator was not on any lists, not the formal USMA one sent prior to CBT, not even on the various lists we saw here in the forums which included some pretty optional items.

It seems unlikely that USMA has 1100 calculators to hand out for the test sessions (especially since the ones the students use these days are the $150 analytical calculators).

Does anyone have any insights or thoughts? Thanks.

(Made it almost a whole week before sliding into helicopter mode.... that's progress I guess). :redface:
 
I was thinking the same thing before we left home last week. After thinking about how little time they had to transfer items into the new duffel bag we elected to leave it at home.
 
Answering my own question... I searched again for "calculator" on here, and came across this from one of our preeminent members -- Just_A_Mom -- which states:


#6 26th February 2010
Just_A_Mom Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,792
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Every cadet takes validation tests and no calculators are allowed (emphasis, mine).


Link to original thread: http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=10985&highlight=calculator



I have zero reason to doubt this answer so... it looks like I can stand down on my (invented) crisis. And thanks, Just_A_Mom, for the info.
 
Last edited:
DadOfSwags said:
Answering my own question... I searched again for "calculator" on here, and came across this from one of our preeminent members -- Just_A_Mom -- which states:


#6 26th February 2010
Just_A_Mom Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,792
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Every cadet takes validation tests and no calculators are allowed (emphasis, mine).


Link to original thread: http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=10985&highlight=calculator



I have zero reason to doubt this answer so... it looks like I can stand down on my (invented) crisis. And thanks, Just_A_Mom, for the info.
Click to expand...

Also, this is directed at your "$150 dollar calculators" comment.

Only certain calculators (non-graphing/programable) are allowed for graded events at USMA. Your son will find this out soon enough but just saying this for anyone reading so they don't buy their new cadet an expensive calculator as a gift to bring to A-Day.

PS: They do in fact have 1,100 calculators laying around...but they don't get issued until the AY starts. :wink:
 
billyb said:
Are these still the type of calculators used? The old HP-15C. I still have mine laying around somewhere with my last 4 etched in it.

http://www.buy.com/pr/product.aspx?sku=223173356&sellerid=25018404

I can't believe that they still sell for almost $150.
Click to expand...

My class was issued the TI 30x which you can get for under $20. I don't know what 2016 will be issued but I can almost guarantee they won't make a leap to a $100+ calculator.

As a side note: The Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering allows (and heavily encourages) the use of the Casio fx-991ES for graded events. I recommend it as well although I am not sure if the core classes have a different policy since I was not made aware of alternatives to the standard issue calculator until I got into my major but I believe any non-graphing/programable calculator would be allowed. If that's the case, tell your New Cadets to get one! :thumb:
 
America's Finest said:
My class was issued the TI 30x which you can get for under $20. I don't know what 2016 will be issued but I can almost guarantee they won't make a leap to a $100+ calculator.

As a side note: The Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering allows (and heavily encourages) the use of the Casio fx-991ES for graded events. I recommend it as well although I am not sure if the core classes have a different policy since I was not made aware of alternatives to the standard issue calculator until I got into my major but I believe any non-graphing/programable calculator would be allowed. If that's the case, tell your New Cadets to get one! :thumb:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, America's Finest. Not sure if it's the norm nationwide, but in our school system they've been using the graphing/programmable calculators for the upper level math classes in high school, at least for the past 9 or 10 years, so it looks likely we'll be hearing from DS at some point about needing us to make a trip to Best Buy before A-Day to pick up whatever he'll need. In fact, I just checked on the website of a major on-line bookseller :)wink:) and the ones you mention, as you say, are to be had for under $20. Good news, and good to have a heads up for that. Thanks again.
 
placement tests

Dear All;
I asked the academic dean this after the parents brief on Monday afternoon. He said, "Do not worry. Your cadet will be provided with what he needs to take the math and chemistry placement tests." (He also told me not to worry about the physics placement exam because Captain America won't be taking that along with his classmates until the end of Plebe Year.)

Captain America did sneak his TI into his bag for R-Day so that he would have it when classes start.

The academic dean also said to forward the IB scores to USMA (just like they are AP scores). FYI.

b/w
Dr. Mom
 
billyb said:
Are these still the type of calculators used? The old HP-15C. I still have mine laying around somewhere with my last 4 etched in it.

http://www.buy.com/pr/product.aspx?sku=223173356&sellerid=25018404

I can't believe that they still sell for almost $150.
Click to expand...

I also still have my HP-15C laying around. Great calculator. I remember smiling whenever someone asked to borrow it and then couldn't find the = button because it was RPN. RPN is great, so fast. Here is a reference for those that don't know what RPN is but think they are a math genius. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_Polish_notation
 
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