Method

How Does Kumon Actually Work?

The Placement Test

All students who enroll in Kumon are required to complete a Placement Test in each subject. These tests are designed to pinpoint the level of math or reading skills regardless of the student's current academic grade. On each test, students are timed. Accuracy (# of items that are correct) and time are used then plotted on the Placement Test graph. The graph indicates to the Instructor the most appropriate starting point in the Kumon materials. The results often surprise parents because the starting point seems lower than their child's level of ability.

Low Starting Point

Many parents initially feel that their children's ability has been underestimated and that the starting point for their children is too low. It is important for parents and student(s) to know that the starting point is purposefully designed to be below the student's current conceptual level. The Kumon starting point identifies the level at which students are able to complete work quickly and accurately. For example, a student may understand the concept of addition, but if he or she cannot add quickly and accurately, he or she will begin Kumon by reviewing addition. Kumon wants students to achieve 100% in their early work:

• to give students a boost of confidence as they begin Kumon;
• to polish basic skills by increasing speed and accuracy; and
• to help students develop a daily study routing using work that is manageable.

Confidence is particularly important for students who come to Kumon experiencing difficulty at school. These students are often very discouraged by academics, and may not believe that they have the ability to succeed. Starting at a level where they can succeed immediately provides the encouragement they need.

For older students in particular, there is a large gap between their starting point in Kumon and their current schoolwork. However, the fundamentals of math and reading are essential for all subsequent work, and there are no shortcuts to acquiring this foundation.

Daily Work

In Kumon, the student completes a short assignment every day. Regardless of age, many students have trouble establishing a daily study routine. They will have even more trouble if the work they are required to complete is more difficult than they are comfortable with. With a comfortable starting point, daily study can be a positive experience, making it easier to become used to a routine.

Standards of Mastery

• To measure mastery, Kumon assesses students in two areas: their speed and their accuracy.
• Of course, accuracy is observed by the number of correct answers per worksheet. Our goal is 100% correct.
• Speed is assessed by comparing the student's elapsed time for completion of an assignment against a pre-established measure. This measure was developed through years of observation and analysis, and is called the Standard Completion Time (SCT). The SCT differs among levels and, in some instances, within a particular level. The SCT is the number of minutes it should take to complete both sides of one worksheet with a perfect score. SCT's are designed to be neither too easy nor too difficult. They are not designed to make student rush through their work, but they are intended to encourage students to concentrate and stay on-task.

Repeated Practices

• Students must be able to complete an assignment, including any necessary corrections, within the SCT and achieve a reasonable level of accuracy regularly. As students work toward this goal, repetition of materials is perfectly normal and, in fact, is an important tool to help them develop mastery. For example, a student may be working on Level A in the Math Program with a high degree of accuracy, but is taking a long time to finish the worksheets assigned. This student will repeat certain sets to achieve both accuracy and speed before continuing to more difficult work.
• The amount of practice or repetition necessary will vary depending on then needs of the individual student. You can, therefore, expect your child to get repeated assignments of the same materials. After all, practice makes perfect.