The conclusion first
No. The rules for the centralized computer-based test published on csca.cn explicitly state that calculators are strictly prohibited, and the CSCA integrity exam commitment also prohibits bringing or using one. This is not a question of "how strictly the exam room is invigilated"; it is a hard requirement written into the rules. Do not count on luck, and do not waste revision time on the assumption that "maybe I can bring one."
Now consider the time. The official syllabus gives math 60 minutes for 48 single-choice questions — an average of 75 seconds each. In those 75 seconds you have to read the question, decide, calculate and choose an answer. The time actually left for calculating is far less than you imagine.
So the focus of your preparation is not "calculating fast" but "calculating less and knowing the basics cold": memorise the values you are expected to know until they need no thought, and skip the steps you should skip without hesitation. Below, in order: the rules, where the calculation load is concentrated, which calculations to practise until they are fluent, how to save calculation on multiple-choice questions, and how to practise day to day.
First, the rules: you really cannot bring a calculator
Centralized computer-based test
- According to the rules for the centralized computer-based test on csca.cn, calculators are strictly prohibited.
- According to the CSCA integrity exam commitment, bringing or using a calculator is prohibited.
- Scratch paper is issued uniformly by the test site and collected after the exam; you may not bring your own. The permitted stationery is a black pen.
- It is worth checking the latest version of the candidate instructions on csca.cn before the exam, and following the latest official documents.
At-home online exam
- You may use only a small whiteboard, or blank paper in a transparent file bag, with an erasable whiteboard marker.
- Erase it on the spot after the exam.
From this you can derive two practice requirements directly: scratch space is limited, and whatever you write you must be able to erase. In normal practice, do not get into the habit of writing in big strokes and filling a page before going back to look for something; in the exam room there is neither the space nor the time.
Three direct impacts on preparation
- There is no chance to "press a key and then check"; the first pass must be correct.
- Scratch work must be economical and clear, otherwise 75 seconds is not enough.
- Mental arithmetic and estimation are not bonus skills; they are essential.
75 seconds per question: where the calculation load is concentrated
According to the official syllabus: 60 minutes, 48 single-choice questions, averaging 75 seconds per question.
We counted 7 past papers totalling 333 questions, of which 36 were on the definition and relationships of trigonometric functions and 16 on logarithms and logarithmic functions; these are the two areas where the calculation load is most concentrated.
Two conclusions follow. First, these two areas deserve your time first; practising them until fluent gives the most direct return. Second, within 75 seconds you still need time to read the question, decide and choose an answer, so the part actually used for calculation is smaller still; therefore, save a step wherever you can.
One reminder: the figures above are a count of these 7 papers only and do not represent the proportions in every exam, and the official body has not published a score distribution by knowledge point. The purpose of the count is to help you set priorities, not to guess questions.
Four types of calculation you must practise until they become automatic
Trigonometric values of special angles
You must be able to write down sin, cos and tan of 0°, 30°, 45° and 60°, along with sin and cos of 90° (tan 90° is undefined), directly, without going through the step of "drawing a triangle and working it out."
Suggested practice method: use card-style dictation, once a day for a week. When writing from memory, write only the values and the corresponding angles, not the derivation.
Example: write the value of sin 30° + cos 60°. The answer is 1/2 + 1/2 = 1. You do not need a pen, because both values should already be in your memory; reaching for a pen is actually slower.
Logarithm rules
Three main lines: the logarithm of a product, the logarithm of a quotient and the logarithm of a power. Add the relationships among common values, such as lg 2, lg 5 and lg 10.
Example: simplify lg 2 + lg 5. By the logarithm of a product, this equals lg 10 = 1. The key is to react immediately when you see that 2 times 5 gives 10, rather than looking up approximate values.
Simplifying fractions and radicals
Rationalising the denominator, combining radicals and reducing fractions: these three come up repeatedly in algebra questions, and they are also where it is easiest to waste time on scratch paper.
Example: simplify 1/√2. The result is √2/2. Why is it worth practising? Because the simplified form can be used directly in later addition, subtraction and size comparison, whereas 1/√2 means dealing with the denominator again every time it is used.
Common numerical values and squares
Common square numbers, along with approximations such as √2 ≈ 1.414 and √3 ≈ 1.732, should be familiar enough that you can estimate with them at any time.
Example: estimate between which two integers √50 lies. Because 49 < 50 < 64, it follows that 7 < √50 < 8, and since it is closer to 7, the value is about 7.07. The whole process needs no calculator.
A unified practice method
Do not use a calculator at any point; use paper materials or a small whiteboard. For each type, aim for accuracy first, then speed, and only then work against the clock. Do not reverse the order: chasing speed first will only turn mistakes into habits.
Four ways to calculate less on single-choice questions
Estimation
First judge the order of magnitude and the range, then decide whether an exact calculation is needed.
Example: roughly what is 2√3? The options are 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5. Estimate √3 as 1.7; 2 × 1.7 = 3.4, which is closest to 3.5. There is no need to work out the exact value (2√3 ≈ 3.46).
Plugging in the options
When the options are specific values, substituting them back into the original expression to check is often faster than solving forward.
Example: which pair gives the two roots of the equation x² − 5x + 6 = 0? Options: A. 2 and 3; B. −2 and −3; C. 1 and 6; D. −1 and −6. Plug in only the first number of each pair: substituting 2 gives 4 − 10 + 6 = 0, which holds; substituting −2 gives 4 + 10 + 6 = 20, substituting 1 gives 1 − 5 + 6 = 2, and substituting −1 gives 1 + 5 + 6 = 12 — none of which equals 0. The answer is A, with no need to solve the equation.
Special values
For expressions containing parameters, take simple values such as 0 or 1 to screen the options quickly.
Reminder: before taking a special value, first confirm that the question's conditions allow it — for example, a denominator cannot be 0, an expression under a square root cannot be negative, and the argument of a logarithm must be positive. A value that the conditions do not allow cannot be used.
Eliminating by looking at the options
Signs, parity, ranges and units can all rule out a batch of options at once.
Example: if the result of a question must be positive (for example, a sum of squares or a length), first cross out all the negative options; usually only two remain, and you then decide whether to calculate.
The limits of these methods
Estimation and special values can only be used to eliminate; you cannot treat "guessing correctly" as sufficient. In the end, you must be able to explain clearly why the remaining option is correct. In addition, these methods build on the "four types of calculation" above: if you cannot even remember roughly what √3 is, estimation has no foundation.
How to practice normally
Two hard requirements
- No calculator, including for regular homework and self-testing. Phone calculators count too; during practice, put your phone out of sight.
- Time limit: set a pace of 75 seconds per question, and complete a full set in 60 minutes.
Use the same scratch tools
Normally use a small whiteboard, or a transparent document bag with blank paper and a dry-erase marker, to simulate the writing area for the home online test. For the centralized computer-based test, the test center provides paper and collects it after the exam, so when practicing do not rely on bringing your own scratch notebook, and still less should you get used to drawing large tables on paper.
Record the cause of errors
Divide wrong answers into two types: calculation errors and reasoning errors. Calculation errors show that the basics are not solid; go back to the "four types of calculation" section to brush up on special angles, logarithm rules and radical simplification. Reasoning errors mean your strategy has not caught up; go back to the "calculation-saving methods" section to brush up on estimation, substitution, special values and elimination. If you record the two together, you will not be able to grasp the key points when reviewing.
Pacing schedule
Once a week, do a full 48-question set under timed conditions; the rest of the time, practice by knowledge point. The preparation section on csca.cn provides official math sample questions and the 2025 version of the exam syllabus for download. You can start with the sample questions to get a feel for the question types and pacing.
Common misconceptions
- Assuming you can take scratch paper away with you, or bring your own scratch paper.
- Assuming you can use the calculator on your phone or computer during the at-home online test.
- Spending all your time on difficult problems while refusing to spend time writing out special angles and logarithm rules from memory.
- Knowing only how to calculate the long way round, without using the answer options and estimation.
Next steps
In one sentence: the rules do not allow calculators, and the 75-second pace does not allow hard calculation.
If you want to practice trigonometry, logarithms and logarithmic functions, algebraic simplification and other content systematically by knowledge point, you can do so in the CSCA.PRO Learning Center.