Physical vs On-Screen Calculators: Which is Better for Your FE Exam Prep?

In this article (and video above), I will be going beyond features and diving deep into the real user experience difference between physical and on-screen calculators—and why it matters way more than you think.

SECTION 1: Why Your Calculator Choice Matters

You’ve got six hours to solve 110 problems on the FE Exam. That’s barely three minutes per question—including reading, calculating, and double-checking. Every second matters. That’s why your calculator can’t just be “allowed”—it needs to be fast, familiar, and frictionless. NCEES allows two options:

• Their on-screen calculator during the exam
• Or your own approved physical calculator

While having a backup is helpful, choosing the wrong primary tool could waste minutes you don’t have.

SECTION 2: On-Screen Calculators – What Slows You Down

The on-screen calculator may look like a basic scientific model, but here’s what makes it tough to rely on:

• You have to click every input with your mouse—no buttons, no shortcuts.
• You’re constantly switching between windows: question, calculator, reference handbook.
• There’s no tactile feedback—you’re never quite sure if you clicked or not.

That constant shifting breaks your concentration and chips away at your flow. For multi-step calculations, it gets clunky fast. Think of it like this: even if it only slows you down by 5–10 seconds per question… that can add up to 20+ lost minutes across the exam.

SECTION 3: The Physical Calculator Advantage

Now compare that to an approved physical calculator—like the TI-36X Pro or Casio fx-115. You get:

• Speed through muscle memory – You’ve practiced with it, and your fingers know where everything is.
• Fewer mistakes – Physical buttons make input more reliable, especially under pressure.
• Smoother workflow – You stay in your mental zone, focused on solving the problem, not fighting your tools.

When time is tight, that kind of consistency is a major edge.

QUICK SHOWDOWN: Physical vs. On-Screen

Here’s a quick side-by-side: The physical calculator allows for a fast input speed and you will likely be smooth in your operation of it since you’ve practiced with it and you’re distraction level will be low since you’re not toggling between different windows, whereas the on-screen calculator will have a slower input speed it will be unfamiliar since you haven’t practiced with it and the distraction level will likely be high because of the window toggling going on on the screen. 

Feature	Physical Calculator	On-Screen Calculator
Input Speed	Fast (buttons)	Slow (mouse clicks)
Familiarity	Practiced & smooth	Clunky & unfamiliar
Distraction Level	Low	High (window switching)
Best For Exam Use?	✅ Yes	🚫 Backup Only

BONUS TIPS:

If you’re preparing now, here are two quick things you can do to stay ahead:

1. Number 1 – Pick your calculator early. Use it for all your study sessions and mock exams—build that muscle memory.
2. Number 2 – Try on-screen calculators at least once. NCEES includes it in their practice tools. You don’t want your first interaction with it to be on test day, just in case you need it.

 CONCLUSION:

When it comes down to it, the biggest user experience difference between the on-screen and physical calculator during the FE Exam is about speed, intuitiveness, and confidence. A physical calculator you’ve practiced with allows you to input faster, access complex functions more easily, and maintain a smooth, focused workflow. These aren’t just minor conveniences—they’re essential advantages in a high-stakes, timed exam. Yes, the on-screen calculator is there as a backup. But relying on it as your main tool is like running a race in shoes you’ve never worn—it’s uncomfortable, slow, and almost guaranteed to throw you off your game. A well-practiced, NCEES-approved physical calculator becomes an extension of your engineering brain. Don’t let a preventable user experience issue disrupt your speed or concentration. It may seem small now, but on exam day, when the pressure’s high and time’s running out, that difference could be what helps you finish strong—and pass. I hope you found this week’s FE Exam article helpful. In upcoming articles, I will answer more FE Exam questions and run through more practice problems. We publish videos bi-weekly on our Pass the FE Exam YouTube Channel.  Be sure to visit our page here and click the subscribe button as you’ll get expert tips and tricks – to ensure your best success – that you can’t get anywhere else. Believe me, you won’t want to miss a single video.

Lastly, I encourage you to ask questions in the comments of the videos or here on this page and I’ll read and respond to them in future videos. So, if there’s a specific topic you want me to cover or answer, we have you covered.

I’ll see you next week.

Anthony Fasano, P.E.
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success