VCAA has just announced that,
[VCAA] require custom functionality – including User Defined Functions (UDFs) – on Computer Algebra System (CAS) calculators to be restricted during VCE Mathematics examinations from 2027.
The full statement is here, and is transcribed below.
This is, needless to say, very good news. Yes, there are churlish responses that come to mind, but let’s leave it as the good news it is.
Update: CAS calculator functionality in 2027 VCE Mathematics exams
Principals/Directors, VCE Coordinators and teachers of VCE General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, and Specialist Mathematics
Following broad consultation, the VCAA will require custom functionality – including User Defined Functions (UDFs) – on Computer Algebra System (CAS) calculators to be restricted during VCE Mathematics examinations from 2027.
There are no changes made to arrangements for the 2026 VCE examinations.
The implementation of these changes from 2027 follow feedback responses from nearly 800 teachers and students. Teachers reported the importance that students are required to learn the mathematical concepts contained in the Study Designs and reflect that in their assessment.
The VCAA will notify schools of the approved technology (including CAS calculators) for 2027 before the end of Term 2.
The VCAA will provide detailed information in Notices to Schools after the 2026 examinations, on how to implement the required settings on approved calculators to prevent the use of UDFs during an examination. Instructions for the steps students and schools will need to undertake before entry to the examination centre will also be provided.
Action
Principals/Directors, please ensure that VCE Mathematics teachers and VCE Coordinators are aware that there are no changes for the 2026 examinations, but there will be a change to restrict custom functionality on CAS calculators during VCE examinations from 2027.
Critical dates
N/A
More information
For queries, contact the VCAA General Enquiries team
email: vcaa@education.vic.gov.au
Does anybody know how they plan to enforce this?
As usual, they didn’t go far enough. Implementing resets of Press-To-Test mode on every CAS calculator statewide, is surely going to be a mess. But hey, at least our students aren’t competing in the educational Enhanced Games anymore.
That was standard practice when I was at school (Methods 2010). I’m not sure whether it was mandated, but our school certainly did it before every assessment task including the exams. It was easy enough to get used to the reset
Not that I’m against it, but doesn’t press-to-test disable way more than just UDFs? It’s been a long time since I’ve used it, but I thought it basically turned a CAS back into a graphic calculator.
It depends on which settings are ticked or unticked. There’s a list of about 12 of them, including CAS mode which can be turned on or off. I’ve taught IB in the past and the IBO have a specific list of which PTT settings must be ticked/unticked. However, the configuration of PTT was performed by me. It’s very plausible that a less scrupulous teacher could have enabled their students to breach these regulations. This will be a potential problem if the CAS calculator checking is performed by either students or teachers.
How is this potential problem fundamentally different from any other exam-checking issue?
If it used to be done in Victoria, how can it not be done now?
If other jurisdictions can do this stuff, why not Victoria?
A CAS calculator enhanced by UDFs and Widgets looks exactly the same to the uninformed invigilator as one without them and in Press to Test (except for a sporadically blinking LED).
I’m still pleased about the decision, I just think there was a missed opportunity for a much more sweeping reform, as per usual.
Well, of course I agree with your final sentence. But I still don’t see how the invigilation issue here is fundamentally different. Don’t invigilators always need to be informed? Didn’t this used to be done? Don’t other jurisdictions do it?