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"What is a TI-Nspire?"

A TI-Nspire, or a Texas Instruments - Nspire, is a graphical calculator.  More specifically, when you hear students refer to the TI-Nspire, 9 times out of 10 they are referring to the CX model, which is astoundingly allowed in exams.  Yes, it can do a lot for you, but it can also be very gruelling to learn how to use it - most of the tutorials online are either ancient and unclear, or simply just irrelevant.  This is why I have created this section on the site - to teach you how to use it.

"Great!  I'll just buy one now..."

Well.  That's the thing - these monstrous instruments cost a hefty amount; between £85 and £110, depending when you buy it.  Is it worth it?  If it will push you up a grade, then sure, but I'm not sure that this will be the case for everyone.  What most people overlook, is that the TI is a "checking" tool more so than a "doing" tool.  You won't get rewarded working-out marks for shoving your calculation in your TI and writing down the answer - especially not at A-Level.  This means that, if you don't know how to do a question, your TI isn't just a get-out-of-jail-free card - and so what's the point?

People buy these TI's, so there obviously is a point.  For example, it can provide working out for some topics, but you still have to have knowledge about said topics to carry out the calculations (for example, the Chi-square test).  From what I have gathered after speaking to professional teachers and university graduates who have studied Mathematics - there really is no need to have a TI.  However, I will say that ​if you are studying Further Pure 2 or 3 then having a TI is beneficial at this point.  This means that I recommend A2 Further Maths students to purchase one, though I am aware this may not be in the budget of some of those students.  You're not missing out on much.
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A TI-Nspire CX model
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