Please clarify calculator needed for DSST Principles Of Finance

[brownstien]

Ive been reading posts here on the exam and saw many were using the TI BA II Plus. Then I saw the following post....

Check out the new candidate bulletin - they changed page 13.

Now it's "non-programmable, four-function" calculators. At least they clarified that one. Before, it was just "non-programmable". The questions are, admittedly, extremely, extremely easy with the BA II. Should have used my 12C to learn this stuff in the first place. I'd much rather use that one in "real life", so that's kind of waste. Anyway... Still, not having the financial tables it would seem to put people at an unfair disadvantage.

Perhaps they'll change the nature of the questions, or perhaps they'll see that everyone is failing them and only then change them. Maybe they've already changed them.

Does this mean no more BA II plus? If not, which version is of more use on the exam...the professional version or the regular?

Thanks

[Matymus]

Ive been reading posts here on the exam and saw many were using the TI BA II Plus. Then I saw the following post....



Does this mean no more BA II plus? If not, which version is of more use on the exam...the professional version or the regular?

Thanks

I took the Finance exam a few months ago and had no problems being able to use the BA-II Plus. As far as I know, that's still an acceptable calculator to use.

[hsing]

I took the Finance exam a few months ago and had no problems being able to use the BA-II Plus. As far as I know, that's still an acceptable calculator to use.

Well, I bought the BA II+. Now, my testing center says it can NOT be used as it is not a basic 4 function calculator. From what I've been able to gather, the tables are available with the pencil version. My center uses the computerized. Now what???? It seems way too much to memorize without being able to use the BAII. The DSST bulletin does NOT help by clarifying you can use the BAII. It actually seems to make it worse by saying you can't.

Any suggestions? I seem to be stuck in the mud on this test and need to get it over with!

[brownstien]

I just called the # listed on the official DSST site (getcollegecredit.com) to clear this up and got absolutely nowhere. The CSR kept saying 4 function calculator over and over + that there is no approved/unapproved calculator list. He finally said it was up to how the indivdual testing facility interpreted it.

Great :mad:

[sgloer]

I agree that a lot of it's probably up to the individual testing center. There's always a testing center that's a lot less "uptight" than the others--unfortunately, they're also often the most unorganized. If the calculator's a big concern, I would try to find one of the lax testing centers and test there, and most likely if you don't bring up the calculator, they won't either....

I just called the # listed on the official DSST site (getcollegecredit.com) to clear this up and got absolutely nowhere. The CSR kept saying 4 function calculator over and over + that there is no approved/unapproved calculator list. He finally said it was up to how the indivdual testing facility interpreted it.

Great :mad:

[hsing]

I took the Finance exam a few months ago and had no problems being able to use the BA-II Plus.

Can you please explain what you mean by 'had no problems'? Did you call and ask in advance? Did you show it to them at the door? Did you have it in your pocket and bring it out while in your little cubicle?

How does one go about getting it approved without raising the issue in advance? Who wants to go in and be surprised at the door either by being told no - when you are counting on it and think it quite impossible to memorize the charts and formulas without? Or, you bring it out and start using it in your little cubby and you are disqualified?

If you call in advance and they check with DSST - they are told only 4 function. That seems to mean no. So, now what?

[chromo]

I don't mean to be rude, but doesn't anyone else feel that if you are that dependent on your calculator, maybe you haven't learned anything? If I bring a calculator to a test, it's only because I don't feel like multiplying and dividing by hand (but I can if I have to).

Sure, formulas are difficult to memorize cold, but if you are only memorizing them without really understanding them, well, that's not much better than relying on your calculator.

I can calculate a standard deviation faster than I can recall the formula for it because I understand why it's the same as the square root of the variance or the root-mean-square of the deviations. I understand what it means to the Z-score and the confidence interval and how the proportion of the deviations X and Y relates to the slope of the regression line and so on and so forth.

I think this kind of understanding is intrinsically rewarding. It's also very flexible. I may not know the answer, but you should see my educated guesses! Just my two cents.

[barcotta]

In the absence of any explanation from the DSST folks, I'm going to disregard the newly-added 4-function phrase. Why?

First off, I'm not sure that the calculator they describe actually exists. On another thread in this forum, mstcrow tried in vain to obtain an intelligent interpretation of which calculator would be allowed based on the published requirements at that time--which is where the "4-function" concept first reared its ugly head. My recollection is that a detailed, intelligent response was not forthcoming--and the response he did receive indicated that only 4-function calculators were permissible. This was in direct contradiction to the published parameters at that time--and he was unable to even find a calculator with only four functions.

I just did some internet research and was also unsuccessful in finding a four function calculator. Additionally, we have a few that we bought at a dollar store recently--and those have at least six functions. I found some used calculators that were described as four-function--however those also had at least six functions--some had more.

So, based on this, I have concluded that their requirements cannot be fulfilled by any commercially available calculator. Their position before they changed their documentation was that their published requirements actually meant that only four function calculators were allowed. That was clearly untrue. Then, they took the time to change it, but failed to do two important things.

1. They failed to provide any guidance with regard to which calculators were permissible and which were not. Instead, they provided a description of a non-existent calculator.

2. They failed to provide any explanation with regard to the reason for the change. Additionally, there is no available information with regard to any change in test content. This is important because the previous requirements clearly permitted a financial calculator and if they've changed nothing in the test and removed the tool that everyone describes as "key" to passing the exam--they have created an unbelievably unfair disparity between test takers prior to this change and future test takers.

We deserve a description of SPECIFIC calculators that are permissible in addition to an explanation of the change and what they've done to maintain an even playing field between past and future test-takers.

Since any available calculator of which I am aware will be in violation of the new description, I intend to walk into the test center with my BAII to take the test. If I have a problem, I'll try taking the test somewhere else. If after 2-3 attempts I have not yet taken the test, I'll try it with whatever calculator the center will let me use or I'll take a class. I have a strong sense that if the test hasn't changed, a class may be easier than the old test with the new calculator requirements.

Given the importance of maintaining fairness in testing and the ABSOLUTE EASE of clearly communicating changes and requirements, their lack of communication and competence in this area is unconscionable.

Can you please explain what you mean by 'had no problems'? Did you call and ask in advance? Did you show it to them at the door? Did you have it in your pocket and bring it out while in your little cubicle?

How does one go about getting it approved without raising the issue in advance? Who wants to go in and be surprised at the door either by being told no - when you are counting on it and think it quite impossible to memorize the charts and formulas without? Or, you bring it out and start using it in your little cubby and you are disqualified?

If you call in advance and they check with DSST - they are told only 4 function. That seems to mean no. So, now what?

[snazzlefrag]

2. They failed to provide any explanation with regard to the reason for the change. Additionally, there is no available information with regard to any change in test content. This is important because the previous requirements clearly permitted a financial calculator and if they've changed nothing in the test and removed the tool that everyone describes as "key" to passing the exam--they have created an unbelievably unfair disparity between test takers prior to this change and future test takers.

Barcotta,

I agree entirely.

When I took the Principles of Finance exam, I used the BAII+ to my absolute utmost advantage. I used it not because I couldn't, or wouldn't, memorize all the formulas (as someone has wrongly suggested) but rather, I used the BAII+ simply because I was ALLOWED to use it.

In fact, I would have been foolish NOT to take advantage of the financial calculator since it was perfectly legal to do so at that time, and my score was being measured against others who could use the same financial calculator if they chose to do so.

Here's the issue as I see it now...

It is not necessarily unfair to disallow the use of a financial calculator, as long as:

A) NOBODY taking this exam is allowed to use a financial calculator.
B) This exam is no longer scored using the same benchmarks used when financial calculators were allowed.

In regards to Item A: Since there is a very real and obvious lack of consistency in the enforcement of the 4-function calculator rule amongst the various testing centers, fairness IS severely affected and the exam can no longer be considered "STANDARDIZED".

In regards to item B: DSST has some explaining to do. Something is very wrong if a person taking the exam now, without the use of a financial calculator, is measured against those of us who COULD use the calculator.

This is an extremely serious issue which must be addressed and remedied by DSST immediately.

I would cry foul if I were not allowed the use of a financial calculator whilst Joe Schmoe is allowed to use one at the test center 10 miles up the road. Where is the "standardization" in that?

I think you guys are right to be indignant about this. Fairness should be inherent in this system of standardized exams. Without fairness, the system fails entirely and fails ALL OF US entirely.

Snazzlefrag

[chromo]

I agree with your view, Snazzlefrag. In my earlier post I was only speaking to those who seemed frightened by the idea of taking the test without their calculator. I think this is a positive change; however, you are right to question the fairness of it. I hope that the test has been made easier to compensate for the change. I also hope that the rule is clarified and clearly expressed to the testing centers so that it can be uniformly enforced.