Statistics tends to scare a lot of people right out of the gate—but it’s really not as bad as its reputation suggests. I’ve rated it a difficulty level 4, but that’s more because of the subject matter itself, not the exam format. In fact, many folks are pleasantly surprised when they see their scores. The exam is definitely challenging, but there seems to be a pretty forgiving grading curve. I’m telling you this to help take the edge off. It’s easy to get rattled—trust me, I’ve been there—especially when the first dozen questions don’t give you that warm and fuzzy feeling. But if you’ve studied the material, you’re going to be fine. One of the most common questions I hear about this exam is about calculators. The official word is that the testing software includes a calculator. The real-world answer? Many testing centers will let you use your own—and I suggest you do. If you’re looking for a solid option, I recommend the Texas Instruments BA II Plus Professional Financial Calculator. It’s reasonably priced and makes a big difference during the test. Just make sure you get one that comes with the instruction booklet, because you’ll want to spend some time learning your way around it.