Abacus Course typically takes anywhere from 2.5 to 3 years to complete, if one has to thoroughly cover all the arithmetic topics and at the right pace. As a parent you must be aware that since Abacus is not run by any single globally recognized institution, there are no universal guidelines for conducting Abacus classes. Every Abacus training school follows a slightly different curriculum and hence the duration also varies a little.
How long does it take to complete an Abacus course?
At Mathcruise academy (from where my son is currently attending Abacus classes online for the past 14 months), the total duration of Abacus course is 27 months.
- Abacus course has a total of 9 levels
- Each level is for 3 months
- So, the total duration of the course comes out to roughly 27 months, give or take 1 month
Why does the total duration vary across different Abacus schools?
The main reason for this discrepancy is that Abacus is a supplementary course and is usually not included in the core school subjects in any country. As a result, there is no global governing body for conducting Abacus classes. Every private organization defines their own Abacus structure and hence there is some variance in the total duration of the course across different Abacus schools. However mostly you will find the total Abacus duration in the range of between 2.5 to 3 years. In recent years, people (including governments) are waking up to the benefits of this great course which has existed since the time of our ancestors. Even in India many schools have started to integrate the Abacus program in the regular curriculum, sometimes as ‘optional’ and sometimes as ‘mandatory’ subject.
Interesting Fact
Many Japanese people are still using Abacus in their day-to-day life (instead of digital calculators) and they take pride in teaching Abacus knowledge to kids at an early age, since it is a proven technique to sharpen the mind and boost self confidence in kids.
How many levels are there in Abacus course and what are the topics covered in Abacus in each level?
Here is the level wise breakup of the Abacus course at my son’s training school Mathcruise. I like the clarity with which they have defined their course ‘Abacus for kids’ and it is their commitment to follow this effectively for timely completion of course. This is one of the main reasons why I decided to go with Mathcruise.
| Level-1 | Addition and Subtraction of Single Digit (upto 6 numbers) | On Abacus Tool |
| Level-2 | Addition and Subtraction of Single Digit (upto 10-15 numbers) | via Visualization |
| Level-3 | Addition and Subtraction of Double digit (upto 6 numbers) | On Abacus Tool |
| Level-4 | Addition and Subtraction of Double Digit | On Abacus Tool |
| Level-5 | Addition and Subtraction of Double Digit | via Visualization |
| Level-6 | Addition and Subtraction of Triple and Double Digit Multiplication (Double x Single) | via Visualization |
| Level-7 | Multiplication (Triple x Single) Division (Double By Single) Division (Triple By Single) | Abacus Tool & Visualization |
| Level-8 | Multiplication (Double x Double) Multiplication (Triple x Double)Division (4 digit Quadruple By Single) | Abacus Tool & Visualization |
| Level-9 | Decimals (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication | On Abacus Tool |
| Level-10 | Division (Triple by Double) using Division (4 digit Quadruple by Double) | Abacus Tool & Visualization |
Can I enroll my kids in Abacus for a short term e.g. 1-2 months?
Well, yes you can. But you should not. Here is why.
- Abacus is a long-term course and if you wish to achieve the best results, then you must give it the required time. Patience is the key here.
- Learning Abacus is like learning a new language (similar to Korean or Chinese). Abacus is a new language to learn Maths (different from the regular ways of teaching Maths in modern schools). So, we should not expect to gain proficiency in 1-2 months. Kids need to learn from ground zero, which means single digit addition and subtraction on the physical Abacus tool which looks like below
- The secret of Abacus’ success is the Visualization Technique which is based on hand eye ear coordination, where the child has to perform multiple tasks at the same time. These steps include listening to the question by the trainer, doing the finger movement to change the position of beads on the Abacus tool, and then refreshing the image of the Abacus tool in his mind.
It takes a lot of practice to do the above steps accurately and with great speed. And for each new topic (e.g. multiplication or division), the child has to first learn the concept and practice on the physical tool. Once he is able to do those questions on the tool accurately, then the trainer gets him to practice visualization which needs a lot of patience and practice. We all know that practice makes the man perfect, and that there is no shortcut of practice.
A word of caution
I have met a few parents who told me that their child has been doing Abacus for 2 years and is still doing only addition and subtraction. I was shocked to hear that since in no case addition and subtraction should take that long. My son is currently proficient in addition, subtraction as well as multiplication of double * double digits and he is just about to enter his 15th month of Abacus training. So as a parent you must be asking the right questions from the Abacus trainer about how to measure the overall progress. If you are looking for faster and more result-oriented Abacus classes in Delhi, it is a wise choice to pay more to a school that completes the course in less time (and with great results) than to keep paying less to someone for many years.
How to find the right trainer for the best Abacus course?
When I enrolled my son with Mathruise (a Delhi based Maths academy) for Abacus classes, I did my online research and covered basic aspects like
- Profile of the trainer
- Google reviews of parents (which cannot be fudged)
- Demo videos of their students
- Confidence level of the trainer (you can gauge the confidence in a short interaction with the trainer)
- The quality of their Abacus books
I was amazed to see the clarity with which they have defined the structure of their Abacus course curriculum. Their books are also designed to match their curriculum, which means that every book is divided into 12 weeks and both child and parent can track progress at any given point in time. I really liked this, since we are not dependent on the teacher to know the overall progress. So, you can go with any Abacus school as long as you do the basic research right. And if still in doubt go with the recommendation of any family friend whose child is already doing Abacus and is having good results. But again, remember that Abacus is a slow course and you need to be patient to get great results.
Related Posts:
Why Parents Prefer Mathcruise for Online Abacus Classes in Delhi
How Online Abacus Classes Build Confidence in Kids
Step-by-Step Easy Abacus Tricks for Beginners
