>>shriph+jQ
Yes, but the tests effectively require them. For AP Calc there are what I called the "definite integral button" questions where you just have to identify that an integral is needed and plug in to your calculator, if you did it by hand you would take more than the intended time for that problem and get behind. Same for AP Stats, there wouldn't be time to run all the averages and deviations by hand. It's testing whether you know how to use the tool/what to tell your calculator to do. There's a calc inactive section on Calc that is basically what you are saying, but without the calc active section the scores would probably go way down.