Desmos Test Mode vs Aktiv Learning
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Desmos Test Mode
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.
- Exam-compliant calculator modes
- Graphing capabilities
- Scientific calculator functions
- Data tables and statistics
- Interactive sliders
- Points of interest on graphs
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** These are restricted versions of the Desmos Calculators that comply with exam requirements. To prepare for specific state or national assessments, select the corresponding test from the menu in the app. Find out whether Desmos is used for your test at www.desmos.com/testing. If you’d like to use full, unrestricted versions of the calculators, download the Scientific or Graphing Calculator apps or visit www.desmos.com. ** At Desmos, we imagine a world of universal math literacy where math is accessible and enjoyable for all students. To that end, we’ve built simple yet powerful calculators. They’re intuitive, beautiful, and completely free. - - - Graphing Calculator Features: Graphing: Plot polar, Cartesian, and parametric graphs. There’s no limit to how many expressions you can graph at one time—and you don’t even need to enter expressions in y= form! Sliders: Adjust values interactively to build intuition, or animate any parameter to visualize its effect on the graph. Tables: Input and plot data, or create an input-output table for any function. Statistics: Use regressions to find the lines (or other curves!) that best fit your data. Zooming: Scale the axes independently or at the same time with the pinch of two fingers, or edit the window size manually to get the perfect view of your graph. Points of Interest: Touch a curve to show its maximum and minimum values, intercepts, and points of intersection with other curves. Tap any of these points of interest to see their coordinates. Hold and drag along a curve to see the coordinates change under your finger as you trace. - - - Scientific Calculator Features: Variables: Assign values to variables that you can use in other expressions. Since all of your work is held in the expressions list, you can compute a value once and use it in many places simultaneously. Take advantage of the “ans” key, which always stores the value of the previous expression. Arithmetic: Beyond the four basic operations, the scientific calculator also supports exponentiation, radicals, absolute value, logarithms, rounding, and percentages. Trigonometry: Evaluate the fundamental trigonometric functions and their inverses using either radians or degrees for angle measure. Statistics: Compute the mean and standard deviation (sample or population) of a list of data. Combinatorics: Count combinations and permutations and calculate factorials. - - - Four-Function Calculator Features: Simple and Beautiful: Just the basics done right. Add, subtract, multiply, divide, and take square roots. Multiple Expressions: Unlike many four-function calculators, all of your previous work remains visible on the screen. The special “ans” key always holds the value of the previous computation (and updates automatically!), so you never have to remember or copy a result.
Aktiv Learning
This platform offers dynamic problems and interactive tools for college-level chemistry and math. It helps students visualize abstract STEM concepts and provides instructors with real-time insights into class understanding. Features include a mobile-friendly Lewis structure drawing tool and over 250 practice questions.
- Interactive Lewis structure drawing tool
- Dynamic STEM problems
- Real-time class results
- Over 250 built-in practice questions
- Create in-class or homework assignments
- Isoform recognition for answers
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Aktiv Learning is an active learning platform built specifically for college-level chemistry and mathematics. Say goodbye to static content and generic multiple choice questions and hello to dynamic problems that are designed to help students learn and visualize abstract concepts in STEM. Aktiv Learning allows chemistry instructors to ask students engaging questions, such as drawing Lewis structures, and receive real-time information on what structures the class is drawing. The app features a custom-built tool that allows students and instructors to quickly and intuitively draw Lewis structures on mobile devices. Additionally, both students and instructors have access to over 250 built-in questions related to Lewis structures, resonance, molecular geometries, VSEPR, hybridization, sigma and pi bonding, and molecular polarity. Features: • Intuitive Lewis structures drawing tool built specifically for mobile devices - Use as engaging demonstration for your students to show example Lewis structures and reinforce concepts such as the octet rule, formal charge, and VSEPR. Students can take advantage of the drawing tool to visualize the relationship between Lewis structures and molecular shapes. • Create in-class or homework assignments - Perfect for clicker, recitation, or review problems. Students receive push notifications to alert and remind them of pending assignments. • Assign or practice with over 250 built-in questions related to Lewis structures, resonance, molecular geometries, VSEPR, hybridization, sigma and pi bonding, and molecular polarity. • Real-time class results - Quickly find common incorrect structures to address student misunderstanding before exams. • Isoform recognition - Aktiv’s technology recognizes correct answers independent of the drawn structure orientation. • Export student activity - Student participation and performance exported in a tap of a button. • Easy sign-up - Students and instructors can create accounts and join courses all within the app in a few steps. • School IT and device independent - Assign, work, and review from any mobile device and over any network connection. More content and features coming soon!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Aktiv Learning at 73% against Desmos Test Mode's 17%. Aktiv Learning also leads on rating (3.2 vs 1.6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). Desmos Test Mode's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Aktiv Learning sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Desmos Test Mode asks for nothing beyond the download.
Aktiv Learning holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 1.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 369 and 184 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Desmos Test Mode's written reviews are positive against 73% of Aktiv Learning's.
Desmos Test Mode ships an update every 4 months, Aktiv Learning every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.
| Parameter | Desmos Test Mode | Aktiv Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.6 (369 ratings) | 3.2 (184 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 16.5% of reviews | 72.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 369 — better | 184 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 95 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Desmos | Top Hat Monocle |
Customer experience
Desmos Test Mode
Aktiv Learning
User reviews
Desmos Test Mode
From 369 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Useful app for tests
- 🔒 Secure calculator mode
- 👍 Free alternative to expensive calculators
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🔒 Overly restrictive app lock
- 👎 Poor user interface and usability
Aktiv Learning
From 184 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 📱 Works seamlessly on both mobile and desktop
- 💡 Interactive problem-solving tools (Lewis structures, dimensional analysis)
- 🎯 Multiple attempts per question reduce fear of failure
- 📚 Detailed explanations and step-by-step solutions
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- ⏱️ Extremely slow loading times
- 🔐 Login and authentication issues
- 📱 Drag-and-drop functionality malfunctions on iPad
- ❌ Confusing and unclear question directions
Bugs and requests
Desmos Test Mode
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes and freezes during use
- Unexpected phone behavior and lockouts
- Compatibility issues across different devices and OS versions
Requested features
3 requests- Add customization options for the calculator interface
- Improve compatibility with older devices
- Provide more flexible calculator modes during tests
Aktiv Learning
Reported bugs
10 issues- Pop-up warnings flicker and disappear too quickly
- Drag-and-drop fails 70% of the time on iOS
- App crashes on specific problems with no recovery
- Login errors and password reset failures
- Users locked out of questions permanently
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- Window resizing issues on iPad 12.9in
- Questions don't load properly or display incompletely
- Subscripts/superscripts not displaying on Mac
- Split-screen functionality disabled
- Inconsistent performance between app and web versions
Requested features
10 requests- In-app notification system for assignment reminders
- Ability to sign up for courses on mobile app
- Split-screen functionality on iPad
- Zoom capability for periodic table
- Reset button for Lewis structure questions
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- Full solutions displayed after using all attempts
- Better hints and guidance for dimensional analysis
- School login integration on mobile app
- Improved question clarity and directions
- Subscript and superscript display on web version
In-app purchases
Desmos Test Mode
No in-app purchases
Aktiv Learning
- Chem101 Course Activation$29.99
Questions
Is Desmos Test Mode free?
Is Aktiv Learning free?
Which has better reviews, Desmos Test Mode or Aktiv Learning?
Do Desmos Test Mode or Aktiv Learning have ads?
Which is updated more often, Desmos Test Mode or Aktiv Learning?
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