# NCTest vs Desmos Test Mode

The clearest difference is rating: NCTest at 3.7 against Desmos Test Mode's 1.6. Desmos Test Mode's advantage is ratings volume (369 vs 3) and review sentiment (17% vs 0%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

NCTest holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Desmos Test Mode has 369 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of NCTest's written reviews are positive against 17% of Desmos Test Mode's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

NCTest ships an update every 2 months, Desmos Test Mode every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NCTest | Desmos Test Mode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nctest/id669592120/reviews)** | [1.6 (369 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desmos-test-mode/id977381005/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **369** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **16.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 0 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [North Carolina State University - CUACS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1427620139) | [Desmos](https://appshunter.io/developer/653517543) |

## What reviewers say

### NCTest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nctest/id669592120)

This application allows for the administration of online assessments for students in North Carolina, covering grades K-12. It is designed to facilitate educational testing and evaluation processes for the state.

**Highlights:** Online assessment administration, Supports K-12 grades, State-specific testing, Educational evaluation tool

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Desmos Test Mode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desmos-test-mode/id977381005)

This app provides restricted versions of graphing and scientific calculators designed to meet exam requirements. It allows users to practice for specific state or national assessments by selecting the appropriate test mode. Full, unrestricted calculator features are available in separate applications.

**Highlights:** Exam-compliant calculator modes, Graphing capabilities, Scientific calculator functions, Data tables and statistics, Interactive sliders, Points of interest on graphs

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Useful app for tests
- 🔒 Secure calculator mode
- 👍 Free alternative to expensive calculators

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🔒 Overly restrictive app lock
- 👎 Poor user interface and usability

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes during use
- Unexpected phone behavior and lockouts
- Compatibility issues across different devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- Add customization options for the calculator interface
- Improve compatibility with older devices
- Provide more flexible calculator modes during tests


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NCTest free?

NCTest is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Desmos Test Mode free?

Desmos Test Mode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NCTest or Desmos Test Mode?

NCTest is rated higher. NCTest averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Desmos Test Mode averages 1.6 from 369 ratings.

### Do NCTest or Desmos Test Mode have ads?

Neither NCTest nor Desmos Test Mode shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NCTest or Desmos Test Mode?

NCTest ships an update every 2 months, and Desmos Test Mode every 4 months. Most recently, NCTest was updated on October 7, 2026 and Desmos Test Mode on October 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*