UCMAS is not a math program. It is a mental development program that uses mental arithmetic as a tool. There may be some value for kids doing arithmetic that is fast and accurate but the mental abilities and skills learnt at UCMAS are the ultimate goal and can be applied to almost every aspect of child's life, academic or otherwise.

UCMAS is not a math program. It is a mental development program that uses mental arithmetic as a tool. Mental abilities and skills learnt at UCMAS apply to almost every aspect of your child’s life, academic or otherwise.

Consider the following notable facts:

• UCMAS uses a unique curriculum that has proved to be very successful during the past 18 years and in over 40 countries compared to other programs.
• UCMAS is number one worldwide with international presence; the program is available in more than 40 countries.
• UCMAS is number one worldwide when it comes to student base.
• Kids use Abacus from day one, compared to other programs.

UCMAS program comprises of 10 levels, each level is about three months in duration. Please review course information.

Yes, Assessment tests are conducted after each lavel to ensure that the students are understanding the principles taught during that level.

Parents start seeing results after the second level, or about six (6) months. However, attentive parents will notice improvement in different mental parameters earlier.

Yes, for kids with certain disabilities or younger than recommended, there is a placement to assess child's eligibility.

As long as your child can understand and communicate in English, S/he can join UCMAS. Course instructors communicate in English.

No, parents or any unauthorized individuals cannot attend classes with the exception of UCMAS Quality Control Officers. Interested parents are urged to attend orientation.

At a minimum, a child is expected to spend 20 to 30 minutes training everyday. Kids can do exercises as a break from regular school homework.

Ideally, a child will need 20 to 30 minutes training every day with minimum help from parents. Parents are encouraged not to intervene, and will be guided by the course instructor on how they can help.

Children start reaping noticeable benefits from the program after the completion of second level; nevertheless, benefits gained upon completion of the program have a profound effect on child’s mental abilities.

Research is done on kids to measure differences between kids trained at UCMAS and kids who have not. Please check out these links for some available research on the subject.

No, UCMAS training is gradual and every child has to go through it. Better achievement now will be reflected on the overall improvement of the child upon the completion of the program.

UCMAS provides instruction and training but like anything else in life, the child needs to practice and train. The support your child gets from you (as a parent) helps make a difference.

At UCMAS, a shift to the right takes place on normal distribution curve which guarantees improvement, provided kids are doing what they are supposed to do.

Yes. Grading is held after completion of each level and certificates are awarded based on performance.

Mental development comes gradually by involving children in mental challenges of increasing complexity and/or reducing time needed to complete a task. This is a corner-stone in mental development. If we do not allow enough time to understand and practice what is being taught then children may not acquire the intended mental skills. However, intensive trainings are held during summer to help brush up on concepts and/or to help children catch up on a level.

No. This is one of the main reasons why we start the mental training at this young age. Kids who develop their mental abilities now will practically keep them forever, they might stop using the abacus but they will never stop using the mental skills they have developed.

Abacus skills are much like sports or music -- once trained, the child will retain it forever and can easily revive those skills in a very short period of time.

You can, but only for emergency. Typically, only one make-up class is permitted per term. Please contact your course instructor. UCMAS has the right to coordinate this matter to prevent abuse.

You will need to re-register if your child is gone for six months or longer.

UCMAS is designed for normal kids. No results are guaranteed for kids with learning disabilities; however, if parents would like to enroll their kids and monitor their improvement, then it is their personal preference. Please communicate the case of your child with UCMAS course instructor to make special arrangements for children with learning disabilities.

Children with learning disabilities will be assessed by Course Instructors on a regular basis and the feedback of their performance will be discussed with their parents to assess the value benefits of retaining them in the program.

This is a myth. There is no scientific evidence that we use only 10% of our brain. However, there is a lot of evidence against this notion such as:

• The damage to a relatively-small area of the brain, such as that caused by a stroke, or Parkinson’s disease may cause devastating disabilities.
• Brain imaging research techniques such as PET scans (Positron Emission Tomography) or FMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) clearly show that the vast majority of the brain does not lie fallow. Even during sleep, it is just a different active state.
• From an evolutionary point of view it is unlikely that larger brains would have developed if there was not an advantage.
• The saying “Use it or lose it” seems to apply to the nervous system. Many studies have shown that if the input to a particular neural system is eliminated then neurons in this system will not function properly. So it seems reasonable to suggest that if 90% of the brain was not used then many neural pathways would degenerate.

On the other hand, mental training, or sometimes called "mind training or exercise" is a process in which we put some strain on our brain in order to develop and strengthen neuro-connections. Actually this is how we learn new skills or benefit from new experiences.

During brain development and training, many new synapses are formed. In fact, some synapses are eliminated later on in development. This period of synaptic development and elimination goes on to "fine tune" the wiring of the nervous system. Many studies have shown that if the input to a particular neural system is eliminated, then neurons in this system will not function properly. This healthy practice of mental training is merely but a small contribution to our own well being: a sharper, quicker, smarter mind can completely alter our status in life and bring us more wealth, joy and interest.

Course Instructors will arrive ahead of time of their class and will not leave until all parents pick their children up.

Malaysia. The abacus we use is called “Soraban Abacus” which is of Japanese origin.

Course Instructors are trained on course materials, conducting education to students and communicating with parents. Certified Course Moderators deliver timely training to course instructors and attend classes at random to provide guidance and to enforce quality control.

No. UCMAS program is designed to improve mental abilities in young children during brain development age. Results with elder children are rather inconsistent and unproven.

UCMAS is an International program that prevails in more than 40 countries, all following a standard curriculum.

Through training for each of these skills. Development occurs while challenging the child’s ability gradually but continuously to improve her/his use of the skill.

• Concentration
  Kids are trained to be involved in different processes happening at same time. They gradually learn how to be focused on the task in hand and ignore different kinds of distraction.
  
  
• Observation
  Through the training on the flash cards and during solving mental math problems, kids take only a glance at the card or problem to start the numbers’ processing. This significantly enhances their observation abilities.
  
  The same goes for listening since kids are trained to hear numbers only once during problem solving because numbers are not repeated. With time kids significantly develop improved listening skills through continuous training.
  
  
• Imagination & Visualization
  Kids are challenged to start forming a virtual abacus early in the training and soon will start using this imaginary or virtual abacus in solving problems. This continuous use of imagination and visualization techniques significantly improves the kid’s skill in these two parameters.
  
  
• Memory
  Kids memorize different images during their numbers training and during solving problems; they tend to memorize momentarily each image constructed after doing any arithmetic and before giving the final answer. This continuous use and training of memory significantly improve this ability especially what is known as the photographic memory.
  
  
• Speed & Accuracy
  In UCMAS one of the real challenges is time. Kids are gradually trained to give extremely accurate results in shorter and shorter times. This continuous challenge will teach kids how to optimize the use of time while staying accurate.
  
  
• Creativity
  Having developed imagination and visualization as well as memory, concentration and the other mental parameters and through the whole process of the right brain training and activation, kids will find it easier to be creative and inspired.
  
  
• Self Confidence
  As a result of the continuous positive feedback received from parents, teachers, peers and the community as well as the exposure during the program to different audiences in demonstrations, along with the improved mental abilities- kids will be given an extremely powerful boost to their self -image and confidence that will further help them in their future challenges.
  
  
• Academic Achievement
  Having developed all the above-mentioned parameters, it is normal for kids at UCMAS to have a very strong foundation for academic achievement and excellence.
  
  

• Improves Concentration
• Improves Observation & Listening
• Improves Imagination & Visualization
• Strengthens Memory
• Enhances Speed & Accuracy
• Promotes Creativity
• Boosts Self-Confidence
• Lays down a Strong Foundation for Academic Achievement
• Develops Astonishing Mental Arithmetic Abilities