Glasgow School Launches International Abacus Maths Olympiad

The British Youth International College (BYITC) is launching an international Abacus Maths Olympiad for its Supermaths students.

Rashmi with an Abacus - Oct 2022

Based on the school’s innovative Abacus Maths training programme, the new competition presents pupils with a series of mental arithmetic problems to test the skills they have honed through Supermaths tuition.

BYITC Founder Dr. Rashmi Mantri said, “The Abacus Maths Olympiad will challenge our students to engage with their training in a fun and interactive way, and also let them see how far they have already come."

“We know that working on arithmetic problems alone can be monotonous, so we have introduced a competitive element so that students can improve their analytical skills in a more dynamic way."

Aimed at children aged 4 to 15, the challenge is open to students worldwide who are currently enrolled in or have completed Supermaths training. Similar to the tuition programme itself, the Olympiad is split into 11 levels. The top performers at each level will be awarded prizes for their impressive arithmetic skills.

Dr. Mantri added, “We believe Abacus training is one of the most effective ways to learn Maths. But it’s not just about getting good grades - it is a highly effective tool for general cognitive development.”

The BYITC is now the largest Abacus Maths classes provider in UK. Founded in 2015, the Glasgow-based academy has grown to welcome over one thousand students around the world through its online classes.

Its original Supermaths programme remains one of the school’s most popular. Split into a junior and senior track, both courses offer a mix of weekly teacher-led Abacus Maths classes and online tutorials. The Abacus method teaches students how to calculate complex sums first with a physical abacus board, then through visualisation.

Dr. Mantri said, “We have created a fun and engaging way of learning. Besides helping kids master mental arithmetic and perform rapid calculations, Abacus training has many other proven benefits such as improved memory and problem-solving skills."

“The abacus is widely accepted as once of the most versatile tools to train your brain for mathematical calculations involving large numbers. With it, kids can learn to calculate faster than a calculator.”

Pupils training for the Olympiad can also make use of the world’s first digital abacus maths learning application, developed by the BYITC for its students. The app features a virtual abacus tool as well as videos, practice questions, classwork and homework so pupils and parents can track their progress.

Dr. Mantri added, “We hope that by taking part in the competition, our Supermaths students will further develop their enthusiasm for number crunching. Our aim is to not only improve their arithmetic skills, speed and accuracy, but also boost their confidence.”

The Abacus Maths Olympiad opens on 1st December 2022, and runs until 31st December 2022. Results will be announced on 10th January 2023.

Information on how to participate can be found on the Supermaths website www.supermaths.co.