TI-30XS ?

[anywhereman_nyc]

I guess this is a question to E&E Committee.

TI sells a new calculator TI-30XS which has basically the same functionality as TI-30X IIS does. The new calculator is easily available at Staples.

The new calculator has 4-line display and some little design improvements.

Why is it not allowed for actuarial exams yet?

[atomic]

Because E&E has to review the calculator and determine whether it is suitable for exam use? Because existing calculators suffice?

[MountainHawk]

I guess this is a question to E&E Committee.

TI sells a new calculator TI-30XS which has basically the same functionality as TI-30X IIS does. The new calculator is easily available at Staples.

The new calculator has 4-line display and some little design improvements.

Why is it not allowed for actuarial exams yet?
They are unlikely to add a new TI calculator unless the TI-30X IIS is no longer easily available, I would think. The 30X IIS is good enough.

[Macroman]

I think the powers that be don't want to allow a calculator that is dramatically better than the existing options to level the playing field.

If you want to pursue this possibility the best way would be with the SOA directly. There is no guarantee that this post will be read by anyone with authority.

[campbell]

It seems the people to contact would be on this list:
http://soa.org/leadership/committees/exam-basic-edu-committees/edu-exam-steering-coord.aspx

You could email the SOA staff (Ken Guthrie looks to be the point man here, with email kguthrie@soa.org) - probably the best place to start. You could also look up some of the E&E membership guys in the SOA directory.

[anywhereman_nyc]

Because E&E has to review the calculator and determine whether it is suitable for exam use? Because existing calculators suffice?

I agree that E&E has to review it before making any decision. The review should include a thorough comparison to existing models in the context of the exam goals and set of skills/abilities tested. Without such a comparative review in the speciific context, it would be quite odd to make an abstract decision that "existing calculators suffice".

They are unlikely to add a new TI calculator unless the TI-30X IIS is no longer easily available, I would think. The 30X IIS is good enough.

What does "good enough" mean? Maybe, an addition of a new improved version of TI-30X IIS could allow E&E Committee to make slight and feasible improvements/variations in the contents of some exams as well?

I think the powers that be don't want to allow a calculator that is dramatically better than the existing options to level the playing field.

If you want to pursue this possibility the best way would be with the SOA directly. There is no guarantee that this post will be read by anyone with authority.

Who says that it is "dramatically better"? It has 4-line display and some little conveniences and little extras. But all the major functionality seems to be the same.

On the other side, I agree that it makes sense to send a question to E&E members directly.

It seems the people to contact would be on this list:
http://soa.org/leadership/committees/exam-basic-edu-committees/edu-exam-steering-coord.aspx

You could email the SOA staff (Ken Guthrie looks to be the point man here, with email kguthrie@soa.org) - probably the best place to start. You could also look up some of the E&E membership guys in the SOA directory.

Thanks for precise and complete references. I am going to follow your advice. Still, first I need to formulate all major differences between TI-30XS and TI-30X IIS.