Best Calculators for the PE Exam
Wasim Asghar 
March 17, 2023There are numerous ways of planning for the PE test, yet we will zero in on only one: your calculator strategy. Calculators are a significant requirement of the PE test and significantly affect the time spent per question. You need to think carefully, assuming you will take advantage of them, so here are the ways of ensuring your minicomputer turns into your closest companion.
Choosing the ideal PE exam calculator can be an overwhelming task, and it’s vital to pick it wisely. Not all calculators address your needs. After much debate and reviewing all mini-computers, we have narrowed the list down to the three best PE test calculators endorsed by NCEES®.
NCEES® refers to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. It is an association that is in charge of approving official licensure for both surveyors and engineers. NCEES®, based in the United States, creates, oversees, and rates the assessments utilized for granting licenses to engineers and individuals conducting surveys.
Top PE Exam Calculators
NCEES® Calculator policy states that to secure the authenticity of the tests, the list of approved calculators is evaluated and revised every year so that no harm is posed to the integrity of PE exams. Hence, the calculators that test-takers are allowed to use are very selective and restricted.
The calculator models that are allowed to use in the PE exam are listed down below:
| Model | Manufacturer | Price | Availability |
| All TI-30X and TI-36X models | Texas Instruments | $18 – $25 | Available on Amazon |
| HP 33s and HP 35s models only | Hewlett Packard | $45 – $55 | Available on Amazon |
| All FX-115 and FX-991 models | Casio | $16 – $20 | Available on Amazon |
1. Texas Instruments TI-36X Pro
The essential justification for picking the TI-36X Pro over different competitors is the accessibility of the free informative video that accompanies it. Do you have any idea what’s more invigorating? You can have the best use on the planet accessible and readily available; in any case, if you don’t have the foggiest idea of how to utilize its capacities, you are in a difficult spot. Every calculator has something exceptional to offer so you ought to have a superior comprehension of how to utilize that calculator. Guidance on the model you will utilize is important in addition to picking the best engineering calculator for the FE or PE test.
The other explanation that TI-36X Pro is suggested much of the time is that the latest engineering alumni know about TI-89s and TI-90s. They know how to work with TI’s functions. Since they are familiar with it so usually TI-89 users easily adapt to a TI-36X Pro. Making it way less time-consuming and energy-saving. Isn’t it stunning? TI-36X Pro is by all accounts the best NCEES® approved calculator for PE tests.
2. Casio FX-115 ES Plus
Casio’s glossy silk metal completion is the thing that usually lures people in. The two orange keys separate the visual field and give a reference highlight finding capacity keys. For engineers and test-takers, looking left and right to papers and afterward to the calculator, rapidly finding the ideal keys on the calculator is a necessity.
Like a TI, Casio also has lightweight development. On even ground against the TI in such a manner, it yields a few near favors to the HPs, which are heavier, and to the FX-115W, which is weighty. Moreover, both HPs and the FX-115W are extremely strong. The FX-115W has a sturdy body that keeps it in place and prevents it from moving around when a test-taker irately squashes the keys out of anxiety. However, FX-115 has its fair share of flaws as well. It has four little projections, one close to every edge. Resulting in it being less steady.
3. Hewlett Packard HP 33s and 35s
HP 35s-the vital design and key reaction are an underdog to no other adding machine on the list of NCEES® supported calculators. The HP 33s and 35s are both programmable, and the projects are extremely easy to compose and take care of different issues in more than one way.
When the PE test has an issue, you can program the adding machine to tackle it regardless of how they pose the inquiry. HP adding machines are on the pricier end and are weighty, yet they sure are worth the effort! Use HP 33S or 35s and finish your PE exam like a star!
TI-30XS Multiview vs. TI-36X Pro
Do you know what sets TI-30XS Multiview apart from TI-36X Pro is its four lines of presentation? And this is not the only charm it has. You cannot only look through past entries and see the condition you input but you can also adjust information so that new responses can be inferred. It is a CAS-adding machine, addresses subsidiaries, and tackles analytics issues with clear outcomes.
How to Choose the Best Model for the PE Exam Calculator?
Get yourself one calculator from each manufacturer, whether it be Casio, HP, or TI. Use your calculators frequently and interchangeably while doing your PE exam Prep. Pick the one as the winner you are most comfortable with, the one calculator that is easier to use and that makes your life easier! Voila! You have chosen the best model of the PE exam calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1 - Can you use a calculator for the PE exam?
Yes, of course. NCEES® approves a few calculators that you can use to solve tricky questions on your PE exam.
2 - Is Casio FX991EX allowed in the PE exam?
Yes, all FX-115 and FX-991 models are allowed in the PE exam, which means you can use Casio FX991EX.
Conclusion
To sum up, we have listed down availability, usability, prices, and functionality along with models of NCEES® approved PE exam calculators above. If you found this comprehensive guide helpful, then keep on reading more because at Study For FE, we have a lot more informative tips and tricks for you to ace your PE exam!
Licensed Professional Engineer in Texas (PE), Florida (PE) and Ontario (P. Eng) with consulting experience in design, commissioning and plant engineering for clients in Energy, Mining and Infrastructure.