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The 9-bead 3G system needs just two formula sets instead of the traditional six — so children progress faster, build mental arithmetic earlier, and carry that number confidence into every subject.
Most abacus systems use a 5-bead tool and require students to memorise six separate formula sets. The 3G system redesigned both.
The patented 3G abacus combines the traditional and soroban tools into one. Children switch between representations effortlessly — building deeper number intuition than either tool alone.
Traditional abacus demands six formula sets. The 3G method reduces this to two, cutting learning time and freeing mental bandwidth for speed and accuracy training.
The 9-bead layout mirrors the place-value system used in Singapore's maths curriculum — so skills transfer directly to school work, not alongside it.
3G Abacus has won Singapore's Outstanding Enterprise Award and the SME 500 Award. Its students compete — and win — at international mental arithmetic championships.
Children progress at their own pace, assessed individually — not by age alone. Our coaches advance each student when they are ready.
Introduces numbers, bead movement and basic addition through games and hands-on practice. Builds the foundation for formal abacus learning and sharpens early number sense — an ideal companion to kindergarten maths.
The core programme covers the full 3G Abacus mental-arithmetic syllabus. Students work through Elementary (addition and subtraction up to 5 digits), Intermediate (multiplication and division, decimals) and Advanced (complex multi-operation problems at speed). About 80% of students finish their classwork within the 1.5-hour session — no homework needed.
Designed for students who want to push further — increasingly complex problems, higher-speed mental calculation targets, and preparation for International Grading Examinations and open competitions across the region.
Abacus training activates both brain hemispheres simultaneously — left for logic and calculation, right for visualisation. Those cognitive gains carry into every classroom subject.
Moving beads physically engages the left brain; visualising the abacus mentally engages the right. Repeated practice in both modes builds a stronger, more balanced brain — an outcome recognised by early-childhood researchers worldwide.
Each calculation demands undivided attention. Students who complete the 3G programme consistently develop improved ability to focus for extended periods — a skill that pays dividends in every subject at school.
The progression from physical beads to pure mental visualisation trains children to calculate complex sums in seconds — without a calculator. Number confidence follows naturally.
Holding and manipulating numbers mentally is a working-memory exercise. Regular abacus practice strengthens short-term memory — the same capacity used for listening, reading comprehension and problem-solving.
The physical bead-counting stage builds fine motor control alongside cognitive processing — particularly valuable for younger learners whose hand–brain pathways are still developing rapidly.
Children who can calculate faster than their classmates develop a positive relationship with mathematics. That early confidence — rather than maths anxiety — shapes attitudes toward STEM for years.
3G Abacus students don't just learn — they compete at national and international level. The results speak for themselves.
Five Edufarm 3G Abacus students won first place at Malaysia's largest international abacus competition — an event with over 2,000 participants from across the region.
3G Abacus students collectively hold over 110 international competition awards across Southeast Asia and beyond — a record built over more than 20 years of programme development.
Students can sit for official International Grading Examinations at each programme stage — earning a recognised certification that documents their mental arithmetic proficiency level.
The programme is open to children from age 4 (N2) through to age 12 (P6). A Preparatory course eases the youngest learners in gently, while the main Children's course runs three levels — Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced — for primary school children aged 7 to 12. For more on choosing the right age to start, see our full guide to abacus class in Singapore.
The 3G system uses a patented 9-bead tool that requires only two formula sets — versus the six sets required by traditional abacus. Children learn faster, progress further, and find it easier to connect abacus skills to the place-value system used in Singapore school maths.
Most children complete the full programme — Preparatory through Advanced — in 2 to 3 years at one session per week. Pace varies by individual; our coaches assess each child's progress and advance them when they are ready, not on a fixed timetable.
Rarely. About 80% of students complete all their practice work within the 1.5-hour class. The structured session format is designed so children get enough repetition in class without needing to take work home — an important consideration if your child is already doing other activities or tuition.
Yes — Edufarm students regularly enter local and international mental arithmetic competitions. In 2024, five of our students took first place at Malaysia's largest international abacus competition with over 2,000 participants. Participation is optional; competitions are open to students who reach the appropriate level.
Age to start, how long it takes, 3G vs traditional, and what to look for — a plain-English guide for parents.
Read guide →Different methods for different goals — an honest comparison to help you choose.
Read comparison →An honest look at what abacus can and can't do for PSLE Maths.
Read guide →Both are established abacus mental-arithmetic methods — here's how they actually differ.
Read comparison →3G Abacus, Letterland Phonics, Creative Art and P1 Preparatory — see the full enrichment lineup at Edufarm.
View all →For K2 children heading to Primary 1 — cover the curriculum before day one so they start ahead, not catching up.
Learn more →The DfE-validated phonics programme used in 110+ countries — paired with 3G Abacus, many children attend both.
Learn more →Classes are available islandwide at Edufarm centres. WhatsApp or call us to find the nearest class with available slots for your child's age group.