On-screen calculator - can you use the keyboard?

[consuelochavez00]

In the practice exams on manhattangre.com, when you use the on-screen calculator, you cannot use the keys on the keyboard to control it. e.g. if you push "1" on your keyboard, the "1" doesn't show up on the calculator. Instead, you have to use your mouse to press each button on the calculator. On the real GRE, is this the way it works, or can you use the keys on the keyboard to push the buttons?

If the real GRE lets you push the calculator buttons using the keyboard, can you change your practice exams to allow for this also? It is incredibly time consuming to use the mouse to push each button.

[tdearr]

Hi Consuelo,

Thanks for the question. Our calculator does allow for keyboard manipulation (as will the real GRE). In response to your request we looked at the calculator on our tests and observed that the calculator could easily loose keyboard control when a test taker accidentally clicked on certain parts of the window. We have fixed this problem so that it more accurately emulates the real GRE calculator. I hope this helps with any future tests you may take on our site.

Best Regards,
Taylor Dearr

[Lteoli]

I am having this problem as well. I can click numbers using the mouse but the calculator simply will not work with the keyboard. I have tried this in both Firefox and Internet Explorer and run into the same problem in each. Is there another solution?

[tommywallach]

Hey Guys,

I'll forward this problem on to the tech people, but it's a good place for me to mention one of my rules/pet peeves. The GRE does not require a calculator. They actually provide it because it makes people feel better (it's a security blanket), but they didn't rebuild the test in such a way that it's really required.

In other words, if you find yourself reaching for that calculator button all the time, consider two things: 1) Is this math really so hard that I can't do it in my head or quickly on paper? 2) Could I be ballparking this question instead of bothering with the calculation at all?

Believe me that 90% of the times you COULD use a calculator, you'll be much better off just working it out yourself. It's actually time-consuming to hit the button, type in the numbers (however they get inputted!), and then double-check you typed things correctly. It also outsources the work, so you probably don't have it down on your paper, where you're WAY more likely to spot errors in the calculation (people always assume what comes out of the calculator is correct, when they may have inputted something wrong--(i.e. writing .1 for 1%).

In other words, I make sure I'll my students have strong arithmetic skills that mean they're only using that calculator when it will actually save them time.

-t