There is no single calculator that is universally permitted for all IHK examinations. The decisive factors are your local IHK, your specific training occupation or advanced vocational qualification, the type of examination, the examination component, and the date. Read your applicable examination regulations, the current list of permitted aids, and your invitation together. Common phrases such as "not programmed, battery-operated, and without communication capability" only apply within the stated scope and are not a substitute for a model-specific check. If in doubt, ask your IHK in advance in writing, including the full model name and a link to the manual.
Briefly explained: Do not start with a supposedly universal list of models. Start with your specific examination and the documents published for it. Only then should you compare the documented features of the exact model.
Important note: Which aids are permitted is determined by the rules of your specific examination. Review the examination regulations, the announcement of permitted aids, the invitation, and the task instructions together. Clarify any ambiguities in writing with the office responsible for your case. Spickboy does not provide any universal guarantee of approval.
You can find further examination topics in the Spickboy™ Guide.
Which calculator is permitted in your IHK examination?
Only a calculator that meets the current requirements for your examination is allowed. For this, you need at least the following information:
- your responsible IHK;
- the exact training occupation or advanced vocational qualification;
- whether it is an intermediate, final, extended final, or advanced professional examination;
- the examination area and whether it is in written, digital, or practical form;
- the examination date;
- the complete model and, if applicable, software designation.
The AkA page on commercial final examinations demonstrates why this precision is important. For the knowledge test recorded by the examination board, it generally mentions a calculator that is "not programmed, battery-operated, and without communication capability with third parties." However, the same page includes deviations specific to examination areas and professions—such as an area where a calculator is explicitly prohibited. This is not a contradiction, but a difference in scope.
The AkA creates tasks for commercial and commercial-related training occupations for shared use by affiliated IHKs. Its page is therefore important, but it is not a list of aids for every IHK advanced vocational examination or every examination area in Germany.
Which documents must you read together?
Examination regulations
These regulate the institutional framework, responsibilities, and procedures. For example: According to § 13 Paragraph 3 of the examination regulations of the IHK Berlin for final and retraining examinations, which have been in effect since February 6, 2026, the examination date, location, and permitted work aids and materials are communicated in writing or electronically within that jurisdiction. This does not imply the blanket approval of any specific model.
Announcement or list of permitted aids
This assigns aids to a specific examination, occupation, or examination area. Check the title, date reference, legal status, and every footnote. A general overview page may refer to a more precise PDF or a list specific to your examination.
Invitation and specific examination instructions
For its intermediate and final examinations, the IHK Mittleres Ruhrgebiet points out that the invitation contains information on permitted aids and the timing of their use. Instructions may also be included in the written task documents. This applies to the local scope described, but it demonstrates a sensible way to check: do not file the invitation away as a mere formality.
Manufacturer's manual for the exact calculator
The manual provides proof of functions. A shop description or the statement "scientific calculator" does not answer whether the device contains programs, text, formulas, files, or communication channels. Document the model suffix and software version if the rule depends on it.
If two documents seem to conflict, do not invent your own hierarchy. Send the findings to the body responsible according to the examination regulations and ask for written clarification for your specific examination date.
How to correctly read typical phrases
| Official wording | Proven scope | What this does NOT generally imply |
|---|---|---|
| "not programmed, battery-operated, and without communication capability with third parties" | AkA knowledge test and the commercial final examination areas specified there | No statement for every advanced vocational examination; "not programmed" is not automatically identical to "not programmable" |
| Aids only according to announcement and in original, pristine condition | FAQ of the IHK zu Leipzig | No general approval for all calculators or self-added notes |
| "no communication capability and no programmability"; no pre-saved formulas | FAQ of the IHK OstwĂĽrttemberg for its written advanced vocational examinations | No nationwide definition and no transferability to training examinations of other IHKs |
The examples are deliberately different. This is precisely why you should not reformulate official wording into a supposedly uniform IHK rule.
"Not programmed" and "not programmable" are not the same
Linguistically, these terms describe different issues:
- Not programmed: Are there any custom or loaded programs on the device?
- Not programmable: Is the model fundamentally capable of executing custom programs or routines?
Whether a specific IHK makes this technical distinction must be determined by their own guidelines or written information. A reset might change stored content, but the technical capability of the model remains. Therefore, "reset" is not a universal IHK seal of approval.
Other features also remain separate:
- text and note memory;
- formula memory or formula libraries;
- graphic display or symbolic mathematics;
- cable, wireless, or other communication capabilities;
- power supply and battery independence.
The article Programmable calculators in examinations explains the technical distinctions in detail. For alphanumeric notes, Calculators with text memory guides you through the model check.
How to check your calculator in six steps
- Note the exact examination: IHK, occupation or qualification, exam type, area, and date.
- Collect official documents: Open the applicable examination regulations, current list of aids, invitation, and any linked addenda.
- Mark the scope of application: Check whether each source truly covers your occupation, examination component, and date.
- Document the model: Note the full name, suffix letters, and software version. Use the official manufacturer manual.
- Compare features individually: Do not lump together programs, text, formulas, graphics, communication, power supply, reset, and mode.
- Ask in writing: Quote the unclear wording, name your model, and include the manual link. Plan an explicitly permitted backup device in case no timely clarification arrives.
A good inquiry doesn't just ask: "Is my calculator allowed?" Better is: "I am taking the examination in [Subject/Area] on [Date] at the IHK [City]. The list of aids states [wording]. My model [full name] features [specific attribute] according to the manual. Is this model permitted to be used in this examination area, and what state must the device be in?"
What should you bring on the day of the exam?
Your invitation and the current list of aids are your starting points. Depending on the requirements, proof of identity, permanent writing materials, or other explicitly mentioned aids may also be required. A general packing list would be unreliable.
For the calculator itself:
- check the model and required state;
- do not install any custom content or programs that are not explicitly permitted;
- check the power supply and permitted accessories in advance;
- only take explicitly mentioned aids;
- follow local instructions and ask before use if there is any uncertainty.
The Checklist for permitted aids offers preparation that spans across different examinations.
What happens if you use a non-permitted calculator?
This depends on the applicable examination regulations and the facts of the case. A device can be considered an unauthorized aid without the consequences being identical in every case. The article Attempted cheating in an examination explains possible procedures and consequences using narrowly defined official examples.
This article does not evaluate the probability of being caught and does not provide instructions on how to bypass controls. The safe path is timely written model clarification or the use of an unambiguously compliant substitute.
Frequently asked questions about calculators in IHK examinations
Is a calculator permitted in every IHK examination?
No. Different examination types and areas may provide for different aids. The AkA page itself shows areas where a calculator is not allowed. Check the list and invitation applicable to you.
Is there a nationwide model list for all IHK examinations?
There is no universal model list for all IHKs, occupations, advanced training, and examination components. Official sources often work with functional characteristics or examination-specific aids.
What does "not programmed" mean at the IHK?
The exact scope of the meaning is determined by the specific rule on aids and any potential clarification from your IHK. Do not assume, without confirmation, that every fundamentally programmable model that has been reset is permissible.
Is a calculator allowed to store formulas or texts?
Only if the specific rule allows these functions and, if applicable, custom content. Official IHK examples may explicitly limit formulas, programs, or additions. Check each memory type separately.
Is the information from my vocational school sufficient?
It can help with orientation. For the IHK examination, however, you should rely on the official examination documents and information from the IHK office responsible for that exam. Ask in writing in case of contradictions.
What should I do if my model is not mentioned anywhere?
Send the model name, software version, manual link, and relevant functions to the responsible office. Request a written answer for your specific examination, area, and date. Without clarification, using an unambiguously permitted substitute is the lower-risk plan.
Conclusion: Exam first, model second
The question "Which calculator is permitted at the IHK?" can only be answered with your full examination context. Collect the regulations, announcement of aids, invitation, and task instructions, mark their scope of application, and then cross-check every relevant model feature. Old experience, a well-known model name, or a reset does not replace this process.
Sources and status
Sources checked on August 24, 2026. IHK documents may change depending on the examination, date, and legal status; reopen the currently linked originals before your examination.
- IHK-AkA, Examination Board for Commercial Final and Intermediate Examinations: Permitted aids in the final examination, visible page status January 24, 2024, accessed August 24, 2026. Scope: the commercial final examinations and examination areas of the AkA shown on the page.
- IHK Berlin: Examination regulations for final and retraining examinations, decided December 3, 2025, in effect since February 6, 2026. Scope: final and retraining examinations of the IHK Berlin.
- IHK Mittleres Ruhrgebiet: Permitted aids for intermediate and final examinations, no visible update date, accessed August 24, 2026. Scope: examinations shown there and local instructions.
- IHK zu Leipzig: FAQ aids in the examination, update March 2026, accessed August 24, 2026. Scope: local clarifications regarding announcements of aids of the IHK zu Leipzig.
- IHK OstwĂĽrttemberg: FAQ examination procedure for advanced vocational examinations, no visible update date, accessed August 24, 2026. Scope: written advanced vocational examinations of the IHK OstwĂĽrttemberg.