Calculating in your head vs using the calculator

**maria_88** · 16-09-2007, 05:56 PM

Hi!

Could someone please give me advise about the Numerical reasoning section.

1. Is it better to use the calculator or are the questions doable with mental arithmetics? I mean, if a questions asks you to calculate 29% out of say 300 (or 600 or anything of this sort) you see the answer quite easily. Are most of the questions this way or do you need to calculate with numbers that are more "difficult"?

2. How much did you use the calculator actually?

3. What about calculating sums, e.g. 234 +258+489+765, would you advise to use the calculator or not? I guess this is individual but would still like to hear some opinions and advise

Thanks a lot in advance!

Maria

**unintendedly** · 16-09-2007, 06:43 PM

I used a calculator; my mental arithmetics isn't bad, but it's a lot faster to use the calculator. It's a lot of percentages etc. and, hey, that's my worst section (says A-grade AS-Level student...I'm good ;D). I always use a calculator. I'm lazy...

**maria_88** · 16-09-2007, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by unintendedly

I used a calculator; my mental arithmetics isn't bad, but it's a lot faster to use the calculator. It's a lot of percentages etc. and, hey, that's my worst section (says A-grade AS-Level student...I'm good ;D). I always use a calculator. I'm lazy...

Thanks for your reply! How many questions did you have time to complete btw?

**unintendedly** · 17-09-2007, 07:54 PM

Oh, I managed to complete the whole section, bar like...two questions...had ages on the first section to spare, wish I could've carried time over lol.

**Miss Monkey** · 17-09-2007, 08:02 PM

I also used the calculator for nearly every question when I did it last year. There were a couple I wasn't sure about and had to guess, but I got them all done. Got a score of 800 in that section so it was my best.

**maria_88** · 17-09-2007, 08:10 PM

Thanks for your answers!

I feel MUCH better when I know I can use a calculator, since the mental arthmetics is not my strongst part! And Miss Monkey, wow, your numerical section score is VERY impresive!

Did you btw find the questions easier/harder than those in the practise book? Or those practise questions on the UKCAT site?