Many people often assume that
learning mental arithmetic is merely a
method to improve the speed and
accuracy of calculations, for example,
adding 10-digit numbers within a few
seconds.
Acquired an astonishing calculation
speed, it is actually only the end
result of having developed the
following mental abilities such as:
concentration, observation,
visualization & imagination, and
memory.
UC MAS and Kumon are direct
competitors. In both cases, they
offer Math and English, and the
availability is dependent on the
respective centre. Each centre
has its own operating days and
timing for classes.
 A. KG2/ BASIC (AGE 6 &
BELOW)
 B. BASIC (AGE 7 &
ABOVE)
 C. KG3/ ELEMENTARY ‘A’
(AGE 6 & BELOW)
 D. ELEMENTARY ‘A’
(AGE 7 & ABOVE)
 E. KG4/ ELEMENTARY ‘B’
However, there is more to this
because when the children are
learning U C MAS Mental
Arithmetic, they are actually also
undergoing the process developing
other aspects of the mind.
In both cases, the level of Math
in which a person participates is
dependent on current
competency level. Students will
move from level to level and at
the higher levels.
 F. INTERMEDIATE ‘A’
 G. INTERMEDIATE ‘B’
 H. HIGHER ‘A’
 I. HIGHER ‘B’
 J. HIGHER ‘C’
 K. ADVANCE
 L. GRAND LEVEL/ OPEN
UCMAS is a tool for brain
development. The harmonious
action between the organs of
human body and limbs, especially
the triggering of “image in brain” is
the promoter of tapping the
function of the brain in mental
arithmetic by Zhusuan.
The course stressed on the basic
principles of addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division, the
calculation of continuous multiplication
and division, integral substituted
calculation, percentage calculation and
square root and cube root calculation.
The oldest surviving counting
board is the Salamis tablet
(originally thought to be a
gaming board), used by the
Babylonians circa 300 B.C.,
discovered in 1846 on the island
of Salamis
UCMAS use the abacus. Through
constant exploration and practice the
children get the concept of numbers. It
is only a beginning with numbers. Soon,
all the information is absorbed and
processed faster in the mind. The
learning of abacus helps the
understanding of natural science
because it has concrete string balls to
help thinking.
In Malaysia, we have over 300 UCMAS
centers all over the country,” claims
Wong adding that UCMAS, which is
currently offering franchising
opportunities, has successfully set up
offices in various countries including
India, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia,
Singapore and New Zealand
The counting board is a piece of
wood, stone or metal with carved
grooves or painted lines between
which beads, pebbles or metal discs
were moved. The abacus is a device,
usually of wood (plastic, in recent
times), having a frame that holds
rods with freely-sliding beads
mounted on them.