Yes, you can use a calculator on the AP Chemistry exam, but only on the free response section. On the multiple choice section, calculators are not allowed at all. Knowing this in advance saves you from planning around a calculator you are not allowed to touch for the first 90 minutes.
The short answer
| Section | Calculator allowed? |
|---|---|
| Section I: Multiple choice | No |
| Section II: Free response | Yes |
The multiple choice section is designed to be done without a calculator, so the arithmetic is kept manageable. The free response section, where you run real calculations and show your work, is where a calculator earns its place.
Which calculators are allowed?
- A four-function calculator.
- A scientific calculator.
- A graphing calculator, including programmable models.
- A second, backup calculator in case one stops working.
What is not allowed
- Phones, smartwatches, or any device that connects to the internet or a network.
- Calculators with a typewriter-style (QWERTY) keyboard.
- Anything that makes noise, prints, or needs to be plugged in.
- Sharing a calculator with another student.
Why is there no calculator on the multiple choice?
The College Board writes the multiple choice questions so they can be answered with reasoning, estimation, and simple mental math rather than heavy computation. Many questions test whether you understand a concept or can interpret data, not whether you can crunch numbers, so a calculator would add little anyway.
What you are given on every section
You are never left without support. Both sections include a periodic table of the elements, and a sheet of formulas and constants is available, which is most useful on the free response section. Together with a calculator on Section II, these are the tools you are expected to use.
A different kind of calculator: your score
There is one more calculator worth knowing about, and you use it after the exam. Once you have your practice points, our AP Chemistry Score Calculator predicts your 1 to 5 result, and the AP Chemistry exam format guide explains where those points come from.
Exam-day tip
Bring an approved calculator and a backup for the free response section, but do not expect to use one on the multiple choice. Practicing the multiple choice without a calculator makes exam day feel normal.
Predict your AP Chemistry score
After a practice test, enter your multiple choice and free response points for an instant 1 to 5 estimate.
Open the calculator