The Education Ministry has allowed students to use a calculator in middle and high school math class since March this year. However, people hold differing views about this new rule.




The Education Ministry and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity announced the Second Math Education Master Plan in March this year. Except for early elementary school students, the plan allows students to use a calculator in math class from late elementary school. There are two reasons why students should be allowed to use a calculator in math class.

First, students can concentrate on mathematical thinking. If students use a basic calculator to solve simple calculations like addition, multiplication, and division, they can focus on problem-solving processes. Then they can concentrate on mathematical theorems or conceptions. In addition, using a scientific calculator helps to expand mathematical modeling ability and problem solving skill. A study by Professor Ann Byeonggon published in the seventh Journal of Korean Society Mathematical Education showed understanding mathematical concepts increased 25 percent after using a basic calculator to work out mathematical problems, problem solving skill increased 9 percent, and recognition of patterns in math problems and reasoning ability increased 183 percent. Therefore, using a calculator must be allowed.

Second, using a calculator improves interest in math among students who are not good at figures. Research by Professor Joe Eunjeong of Dankook University showed slow math learners had a difference in confidence, interest, and attention before and after using calculators. Before using calculators, their confidence score was -8, interest was -10, and attention was -10. In contrast, after using calculators, their confidence score was +13, interest was +9, and attention was +4. Therefore, calculators had a positive influence on them. Thus, students should use a calculator in math class.

Using a calculator helps to increase mathematical modeling ability and problem solving skill. In addition, it gives students confidence in mathematics and improves their interest in math. Therefore, students should use a calculator in math class.




The Ministry of Education has permitted students to use a calculator in math class since March 15. It applys to students who are in middle and high school. The policy was suggested to save time solving math problems. However, we need to consider this policy more carefully because it has bad effects such as making it difficult to solve math problems in tests and making students’ math ability weak.

First, using calculators in math class makes it difficult for students to solve math problems in their tests. The policy is only for mathematics class in school. Students can’t use calculators in their tests. Students who are accustomed to using calculators to solve mathematics problems will feel difficulty solving math problems in their tests because they are not skilled at solving problems without a calculator. If the policy doesn’t permit the use of calculators in students’ exams, the policy has no validity

Second, not using calculators in math class strengthens students’ math ability. The OECD published the results of PISA (Program for International Student Assessment), which was based on the math results of fifteen-year-old students in 76 countries, on May 13, 2015. According to the results of PISA, Singapore ranked number 1, Korea and Hong Kong ranked 2, and Taiwan and Japan ranked 4. All of these countries prohibit students from using calculators in math class. However, England and the U.S., which permit the use of calculators in math class, ranked 20 and 26. The countries which prohibit using calculators in math class generally occupy a high ranking. This shows us the potential for strengthening students’ ability in math by not using calculators.

The purpose of using calculators is to solve mathematics problems more easily. It cannot help students’ ability to calculate. Using calculators in math class makes problems such as making it difficult to solve math problems in tests and making students’ math ability weak. Therefore, I disagree with using calculators in math class.