How to maximise results from Math-Whizz
Math-Whizz gets the best results with well-informed parents who schedule time for their children to use Math-Whizz and view their online reports on a regular basis
back to top
How to complete the assessment
The assessment is a very important part of the Math-Whizz service. The initial assessment determines your child's learning plan. Ensure your child is relaxed and motivated before beginning, and do not provide assistance with the math. If your child gets stuck, encourage him or her to click the 'Don't Know' button. The assessment will take between 20 and 30 minutes but this does not have to be completed at one sitting - if your child logs out of the assessment, Math-Whizz will save their progress.
Please do not help or let others help your child with the assessment.
Since part of the assessment does not contain voice-over, your child may need assistance with understanding the questions, particularly if they are younger or struggle with reading and/or reading comprehension. Help your child to understand what the question is asking by reading the question out loud. Then leave your child to answer the question on their own.
back to topUsage to get the Best Results
Based on experience and our track record with students, Whizz Education recommends usage times for Math-Whizz Tutoring Plus for students as follows:
| Skill Level | Suggested time on Math-Whizz per week | Expected Results* |
| Underachieving students | 90 minutes per week | 96% of students advance their Math Age by more than 1 year in a year's worth of usage, with an average progress in Math Age of more than 2 years in the first year of usage. |
| The majority of students | 45-60 minutes per week | Expected average annual improvement in Math Age is between 1.3 and 1.6 years. |
| Gifted and Talented students | 30 minutes per week | Student will continue to be challenged and will see improvement. |
* based on analysis of 1,260 boys and 1,352 girls, mainly aged between 5 and 11, using Math-Whizz Tutoring Plus for at least 6 months and for an average of 9 months, primarily during the year ended 30th April, 2009
back to topScheduling Usage and Tips and Support Material
It is key that you create a weekly routine for your child to use Math-Whizz two or three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes.
Download and print the weekly planner, let your child put it up on their wall, and agree usage times. Then stick to it!
A key role for parents is to drive their child's schedule so that they can get the recommended usage of Math-Whizz Tutoring Plus. Because of the simulated tutoring aspect and online delivery parents have great flexibility creating schedules for your child. Turning off the television is a good way to eliminate un-necessary distractions.
back to topWhat if my child gets an exercise they can't complete
It's normal for students to fail some exercises or tests. If your child struggles with a fractions lesson (as an example), there is no point moving them forward until this is dealt with. So, just like a human tutor might do, the mathematical principles behind the fractions lesson are immediately addressed with a different animated exercise. This may be key to understanding the more complex concept - using a different, and often simpler, explanation.
back to topMaintain your Child's Interest
Whizz Education have many exciting features to entertain and motivate your child. However a lot of the features can only be accessed if students have enough credits. The only way to earn credits is to complete lessons in Tutor or Replay Mode.
When your child has completed their assessment we recommend you show them the Whizz bedroom, and get them to decorate it, and visit the Whizz shop. Your child can buy anything from the Whizz shop, as long as they have enough credits. A great motivational tool is to get your child to find something in the Whizz shop that they would like to buy. This will help them plan ahead and provide a focus for completing lessons.
Whizz Education will also keep you informed of any events and promotions that will keep your child interested during the school holidays, preventing what's known as 'learning loss'.
By telling your child you have looked at their progress chart, they will feel that you are taking an interest in their Math-Whizz progress but, more importantly, it will make them aware that you will know if they have been spending too long in the bedroom and not enough time in Tutor Mode. This can be done without mentioning math age.
back to topImportance of Managing the 6 Week Blues
Children enjoy the experience of learning with Math-Whizz.
IMPORTANT NOTE: as a parent, you may experience some resistance from your child after the novelty period of the first few weeks has worn off. It is important you continue with your child’s weekly routine of usage during this period. When you are able to sustain recommended usage for a few more weeks, experience has shown that the schedule of usage becomes a habit. This leads to sustainable usage which in turn leads to ongoing improvement in your child’s math and confidence levels.
Print out the weekly planner and let your child choose two short sessions a week that they commit to using Math-Whizz. This gives your child ownership as they chose their schedule. Put the planner up on the wall and then encourage your child to stick to it!
back to topProven Results for students
Analysis of usage and performance data from live students that used Math-Whizz for at least 10 minutes per week for more than 6 months to May '09 (2,612 students in all) produced findings summarized in the graph below (see proof pack at http://www.whizz.com/research/index.html for more details):
back to top