Calculator Use on the GRE® revised General Test Quantitative Reasoning Measure

Abstract

Previous research on calculator use in standardized assessments of quantitative ability focused on the effect of calculator availability on item difficulty and on whether test developers can predict these effects. With the introduction of an on‐screen calculator on the Quantitative Reasoning measure of the GRE® revised General Test, it is possible to explore calculator use in more detail. This study investigates calculator usage for the GRE examinee population across examinee and item characteristics. Results suggest that calculator usage in the GRE is very common (75% of responses used a calculator) but is less prevalent for low and high ability examinees and for male, Black, and Hispanic examinees. Items associated with lower levels of calculator usage tended to be more difficult, required less time to answer, and did not present a real‐world application. Quantitative comparison items were also associated with less calculator usage, but other item type and content distinctions showed small differences in usage. Most items exhibited a positive relation between calculator usage and response accuracy (after controlling for examinee ability), that is, responses that used the calculator were more likely to be correct. Items that did not show an association between calculator use and accuracy tended to be easier and had less overall usage of the calculator.