I would definitely recommend getting a new one.
The TI BA II plus costs around $30, which is pretty much a drop in the bucket when compared to your entire CFA investment. Even if it works fine, you can’t be certain that the battery will be operational and this could end up costing you even more. It may make sense to buy a used calculator to save a few dollars, but in this instance, the calculator may not function properly and you won’t have a warranty to get it fixed.
Your calculator must remain on your desk in full view and proctors will continue to inspect calculators throughout the administration of the exam. Failure by the proctors to detect an unauthorized calculator prior to the start of the exam, or your possession and/or use of an unauthorized calculator at any time during the exam, does not imply you are in compliance with the calculator policy.” CFA Calculator Guide 1. “Your calculator will be inspected prior to the start of the exam. Here is their exact wording on unapproved calculators: No, and the CFA Institute is very strict about this. Can I bring a financial calculator other than TI BA plus or HP 12C? You can use the same one for all three levels of this exam. No, there isn’t one specifically for Level 1. Is there a specific CFA Level 1 calculator?
Texas Instruments BA II Plus Professional Financial Calculator While the TI BA II plus may require more keystrokes to perform calculations like the NPV, the extra 0.5 seconds longer it takes to complete the computation will not make any difference in your exam. It is much easier to use and more affordable. If you haven’t gotten one yet, the TI BA II plus is really the best calculator for the CFA exam.
Unfortunately, it is not the most intuitive of devices and more time is spent studying the instruction manual and practicing RPN, rather than actually studying the content itself. In the past, my preferred calculator was the HP 12C because everyone in the office carried it. My Recommended CFA Calculator: Texas Instrument BA II Plus The HP12C Platinum Edition is a faster, enhanced version, (e.g., 6 times faster speeds for calculating TVM, loan payments, interest rates, standard deviation).More expensive than the Texas Instrument calculators.