KUMON > For Parents > Enrolment FAQ

Enrolment FAQ

Q: What is the right age for my child to start Kumon?

Kumon students range from preschoolers to high school students and in some cases adults.

Q: What kind of results will I see in my child?

Through studying with the Kumon Method, your child will experience the joy of learning and the discipline for daily study will be instilled with good study habits.

Q: Does self-learning mean that the Instructor does not teach anything?

Self-learning means that students study worksheets and correct their own mistakes independently. The instructor observes how each student studies, plans and assigns worksheets, motivates and guides the students by giving subtle hints.

Q: How does Kumon help my child improve his/her school grades?

Kumon will help your child improve his or her school grade through the academic knowledge and work skills gained through studying topics beyond school grade level.

Q: How does Kumon help my child with problem sums?

Through Kumon, your child is able to develop reading comprehension ability, strong calculation ability and analytical ability which are the essential abilities in order to solve problem sums.

Q: What is the difference between Kumon and tuition?

Kumon is an independent, self-study curriculum. By studying at a level that is appropriate to the child’s ability, the child will be able to advance beyond his or her school grade level without being specifically taught.

Q: Is Kumon for struggling or gifted children?

Both, and every child in between. This is because of our individualised approach to education, which always asks the question: “What is best for this individual child?” Following a diagnostic test, a study plan is set to develop the ability of the child and to progress them beyond the Kumon International Standard (an international approximation of their school level) regardless of their starting point. Kumon welcomes students with special educational needs, gifted and talented children, and all those who believe they can achieve more and fulfil their potential.

Q: Why do Kumon students complete worksheets every day?

A small amount of daily work is set for Kumon students because completing an appropriate amount of work on a regular basis is simply more effective than longer study sessions with extended breaks – they will learn more efficiently and make faster progress as they apply what they have learned. This routine also encourages effective study habits and a positive attitude to study.

Q: How do the Kumon programmes relate to a child's age?

They don’t. A Kumon student progresses based on their current ability and not their age, although we believe that every child has unlimited potential and can ultimately tackle advanced work through well-paced and individualised instruction. We have children of similar ages studying different material and children of different ages studying the same material. Everything is dependent on the student’s needs, not on how old they are.

Q: How is a Kumon student taught?

Kumon is a self-learning programme but each student receives regular support from their Instructor. The carefully developed worksheets teach students how to find the answer for themselves, whilst their Instructor offers guidance when necessary. The key role of each Kumon Instructor is to observe their students working, making sure that work is set at the right level and that they are developing at the right pace.

Q: How often does a Kumon student go to the study centre and for how long?

Kumon students visit their Kumon centre twice a week for as long as is required to complete their work for the day, this is usually about 30 minutes per subject. This will depend on their current needs, the difficulty of the work, and study centre flow.

Q: Why is Kumon work timed?

Fluency is integral to mastering a topic; this means not only being able to complete work accurately, but also quickly. Finding the answer to 8×7 is one thing, being able to recall the answer immediately is quite another. Fluency, as well as accuracy, is key to enabling your child to tackle more challenging work successfully.