Find the right level for your child — in about 5 to 10 minutes.
A short exam that climbs the nine levels in the order they are taught: reading the beads, direct moves, small friends, big friends, both friends together, three-digit numbers, multiplication and division. Your child starts at the first level they have not passed yet, with room to grow and no time spent on work they have already mastered.
Short and honest
Around 5 to 10 minutes. Soft timers — we never auto-fail. Kids can skip any question they don't want to try.
Real measurement
Every question is built from the abacus rules and checked move by move, so a small-friends question really needs a small friend. Each rule level asks your child both to add and to take away; the reading, multiplication and division levels ask those skills.
No phone, no email
We ask only for your name, and your child's name and age if you want to add them. They are kept with this result, not shared and not used for marketing lists, and you don't need to create an account.
A written advisory
At the end we produce a written advisory scroll with the recommended level, what we measured, observations on strengths and weak spots, and next steps.
Four steps, no surprises.
Here is exactly what happens from the moment you tap Start to the moment you read the advisory.
- 1You enter your nameOnly your name is required. Your child's name and age are optional, and we never ask for a phone number or email.
- 2Your child answers questionsIt starts at the very first level and climbs in teaching order, with three to six questions per level. The exam ends after three misses in a row, so it stops where it starts to get hard.
- 3We score the sessionA level counts as passed with 3 of 4 right (2 of 3 for bead reading and multiplication, 4 of 6 for division). Your child starts at the first level not passed, even if a later one went well, because each level builds on the one before. Speed goes into the notes, never into the level.
- 4You read the advisoryA parent-facing scroll appears with the recommended level, how each level went, observations, and what to do next. You can retake the exam at any time.
Ready when your child is.
Hand the phone to your child when the form asks for their name. The exam runs below. Results appear on screen the moment they finish.
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Ready when your child is.
Tap below when your child is ready. Fill in your name, then hand the phone over. No account and no sign-up.
The fine print.
What if my child doesn't know any of this yet?
That's the most common case, and it's fine. The exam starts at Foundation — bead reading and small numbers. If that tier is too hard, we still recommend Foundation as the starting point. No one fails placement.
Can my child retake it?
Yes, as many times as you like. Each attempt is saved separately so we can see progress over time. The recommended level may change as your child learns.
Do you need my phone number?
No. The exam asks only for your name, and your child's name and age if you add them. We keep them with this placement result only. They are not added to marketing lists and not shared with third parties.
Is this the same as a formal assessment?
It's a starting recommendation, not a certification. Kids sometimes end up moving up or down one level after their first few weeks of practice — that's normal. The advisory exists to get your child started at the right place, not to label them.
Common questions
How long does the placement exam take?
About five minutes. It climbs the levels in teaching order and ends after three misses in a row, so it never runs a fixed number of questions.
Do I need an account to take it?
No. The exam runs in the browser with no signup, no email and no phone number. On this website it asks for a parent’s name, which is saved with each attempt; in the app, the child’s profile is used instead.
What if the recommended level looks wrong?
Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict. A child having a bad five minutes places low; one who has seen the material before places high. Start at the recommendation and move after a week of real sessions.
Can an adult take it?
Yes, and the ladder is the same. Adults usually place higher on arithmetic and lower on bead technique, because the technique is the part that has to be built from nothing.