Can you use a calculator

Hello everyone,

I have browsed old posts on the forum and I can't seem to find a definitive to answer as to whether you are actually allowed a calculator in the 70-291 exam or not. I have looked on Microsofts website to and can't find the answer. Some people have said that you can use the windows scientific calculator on the exam. Does anyone know if this is correct?

Thanks

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dynamik

I think it varies based on the testing center. I would plan on the scientific calculator not being available.

rwwest7

Yes, you can. There is a big "calculator" button on every question. And it brings up the standard windows calculator. You can use it for converting binary to decimal and back.

Slowhand

Testing centers are not supposed to allow any outside help on the exam, aside from a dry-erase board and a marker for notes. Count on the exam being pre-loaded up on your test machine and not being able to access Windows resources. If they allowed you to use the calculator, little would stop people from trying to find a way to go online and get the answers to their questions.

As for using a calculator. . . well, you should be able to do the subnetting in your head, just as with other networking infrastructure exams, (such as the CCNA). If you can't do that, then you're not ready for the test.

cjthedj45

cjthedj45 wrote: »

As for using a calculator. . . well, you should be able to do the subnetting in your head, just as with other networking infrastructure exams, (such as the CCNA). If you can't do that, then you're not ready for the test.

Yes I hear what you’re saying but all the resources I seem to be using keep referring to the method of using the power of button on the calculator. I'm not very mathematically minded and I don't know how to work out 2 to the 3 = 8 for example without a calculator. I feel ready on the rest of the exam and I deliberately left subnetting till last because it is what I have found the hardest. I tend to read it, understand it but then have trouble applying it. If you have any other resources you may think then please let me know. The exam is booked for 3rd of March but I may need to reschedule. I have Wednesday booked as study then I will do a couple of hours every night then the whole weekend. Fingers crossed![/QUOTE]

meadIT

cjthedj45 wrote: »

Yes I hear what you’re saying but all the resources I seem to be using keep referring to the method of using the power of button on the calculator. I'm not very mathematically minded and I don't know how to work out 2 to the 3 = 8 for example without a calculator. I feel ready on the rest of the exam and I deliberately left subnetting till last because it is what I have found the hardest. I tend to read it, understand it but then have trouble applying it. If you have any other resources you may think then please let me know. The exam is booked for 3rd of March but I may need to reschedule. I have Wednesday booked as study then I will do a couple of hours every night then the whole weekend. Fingers crossed!

Powers of 2 are easy, just jot them down on your whiteboard if you can't remember them. Each one doubles the last:

2^1 = 2
2^2 = 4
2^3 = 8
2^4 = 16
2^5 = 32
2^6 = 64
2^7 = 128
2^8 = 256
2^9 = 512
2^10= 1024
2^11 = 2046
2^12 = 4096
. . .
. . .

Slowhand

cjthedj45 wrote: »

Yes I hear what you’re saying but all the resources I seem to be using keep referring to the method of using the power of button on the calculator. I'm not very mathematically minded and I don't know how to work out 2 to the 3 = 8 for example without a calculator. I feel ready on the rest of the exam and I deliberately left subnetting till last because it is what I have found the hardest. I tend to read it, understand it but then have trouble applying it. If you have any other resources you may think then please let me know. The exam is booked for 3rd of March but I may need to reschedule. I have Wednesday booked as study then I will do a couple of hours every night then the whole weekend. Fingers crossed!

The best thing to do is to keep plugging away at it until you get it. Try things like learntosubnet.com, searching Google for sites that give you subnetting questions, or even poking through CCNA books which tend to give a more thorough explanation of subnetting than most Microsoft books. The only "trick" is to keep practicing.

cjthedj45

Slowhand wrote: »

The best thing to do is to keep plugging away at it until you get it. Try things like learntosubnet.com, searching Google for sites that give you subnetting questions, or even poking through CCNA books which tend to give a more thorough explanation of subnetting than most Microsoft books. The only "trick" is to keep practicing.

Thanks Slow Hand for the advice and the lesson in working out the "power of" This has helped. I will try the learn to subnet site to. My next goal is the CCNA so I may have to invest in the CBT nugget by jermey as everyone seems to think his subnetting lesson is very good.

Thanks again

rwwest7

You don't need to have subnetting mastered in order to pass the 291. Unless of course you get a really bad draw of questions. You will need it mastered for Cisco, but not MCSA.

You have full access to the calculator, it's built into the test engine. You're NOT going to the start menu, it's a button on every question.

amp2030

I doubt I'm breaking the NDA by saying that subnetting was a really minor part of the test when I took it. That being said, if powers are a problem you can easily do them on the standard windows calculator too, if you want 2 to the 5th just press 2, then press the multiplication button, then press the "=" button 4 times...

dynamik

You always get the calculator, but not necessarily the scientific version, which is what's necessary for the binary conversion (I assume that's why he's asking).

neathneathneath

dynamik wrote: »

You always get the calculator, but not necessarily the scientific version, which is what's necessary for the binary conversion (I assume that's why he's asking).

Took 70-291 recently and Scientific Calculator option was there.

(the calculator button is there for all questions but not sure if the scientific option is available all of the time - it was certainly there when I tried it a couple of times).