FAQ

• Which level is right for my child?

The grade levels listed next to the class is a recommended level and 80% of the existing students fall into that range. If your child is new to Cool Math we recommend you sign up a lower class, e.g. a 4th grader will enter 3-4th class instead of 4-5th class.

• Can we change class?

Yes and that is not uncommon. If you child is over/underchallenged in the existing class we will be happy to move him/her to the previous/next level.

• Do you offer trial class?

Yes, your child can try one class before committing to it. If you decide to not continue you don't need to pay anything. But if you decide to continue, you will also be charged tuition of the trial class. 

• We just found out your program and the classes have already started, should my child join now or wait till the next session?

Our classes are continuous and year round, so the earlier to join the better. We arrange the classes by sessions (10 weeks each) for the convenience of tuition payment only.

• Is tuition prorated if we join after a session has started?

Prorated tuition is only applied to new students who joins in the middle of a session.

• Do we get refund for missed class?

No. We understand many children are overcommitted in many other activities nowadays and it is inevitable to miss the class occasionally. However the seat is already reserved for your child. We will be happy to record the lesson (for online classes). Please let the teacher know ahead of time.

• Are there textbooks?

Yes. After you registered we will send you the book list. You can purchased online like on Amazon. Some classes require one book, others two books. A book may be used for one or two years. The cost of a book ranges ~$25-45. Occasionally, old students may sell their used books at a cheaper price, feel free to let us know if you are interested and we can ask around for you.

• Do you provide class materials?

Yes. On top of textbooks we also provide other online materials, worksheets and contest practices. Students in online classes are recommended to print out at home.

• Will the students participate in math contests?

Yes. All students 2-8th grades will take the Noetic contests twice a year (Nov and Apr) and 4-8th grades will take Math Olympiads 5 times a year (Nov-Mar). You will pay the one time test fee when you first register. Check here for the details. We also host other competitions like AMC (Jan in person), Math Kangaroo(Mar in person) and Purple Comet(group test, Apr), these are optional and we will send invitation to all when it is near. Students will take Noetic and MO in class so no need to schedule a separate time. For the other optional contests, a separate date/time will be scheduled.

• Will there be homework?

Yes. We are big believers of homework. Homework will help students reprocess, apply and extend what they learned in class. The amount of homework is about 1-1.5 hours per week. It is always due before the next class unless otherwise stated. Hw will be uploaded to a shared drive so the teacher can review it. We ask the parents to keep track of your child's hw submission. The first 20-30 minutes of each class is dedicated to hw discussion, so if a student didn't do the hw the discussion time will become meaningless to them.

• How can I find out what was taught in each class and what hw was assigned?

All students and parents will be given a link to a spreadsheet (called the rainbow file) which lists the week to week lesson plan and hw assignment. The file also has links to other needed materials and shared drive to access class notes and submit hw. This file is our major mean of communication.

• I still have other questions not listed here.

We enjoy speaking with parents to help your child succeed in the program. Many parents communicated with us by text, email or calls. Please do not hesitate to reach out!