Another school year is right around the corner, which usually means there’s plenty of back-to-school shopping to be had. However, rather than buy notebooks, pencils, highlighters, and calculators, students can replace all of their school needs with a slew of instrumental, easy-to-use apps for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

While cell phones used to be contraband in schools, teachers might think twice before confiscating tools that will make their students more efficient. These 15 iOS apps, rounded up by Zoe Fox ^[1] from Mashable, will ensure your academic and extracurricular lives stay on track and organized.

Some of the apps on the list include Dictionary and Thesaurus apps, a free graphing calculator, a GPA calculator, a homework tracker and organizer, an app that records lectures for later playback, and even a notebook simulator for those die-hard believers in hand-written notes and doodles.

Read more from Mashable ^[2].