I Was Skeptical About Soroban – Here's What 18 Months of Data Showed Me
Everyone said soroban would transform my son's math. I didn't believe the hype. So I tracked everything for 18 months. Here's the unfiltered truth about what soroban can and can't do.
'Soroban will transform your child's math abilities!' 'It rewires the brain!' 'It's the secret behind Asian math success!' When I first heard these claims about the Japanese abacus, my BS detector went off hard. I'm a data analyst by profession—show me the evidence, not the hype. But my son Ethan was struggling with math, and after trying everything else, I figured I'd give soroban a shot. What I decided to do was unusual: I tracked everything. Every practice session, every timed test, every school grade, every sign of engagement or resistance. For 18 months. Because I wanted to know: is soroban actually as good as people say? Here's what the data showed me.
Why I Was Skeptical
The soroban community can sound cult-like. 'My child went from failing math to top of the class!' 'He can add 10 numbers in 3 seconds!' The viral videos of kids doing flash anzan seem almost too impressive to believe. And I've seen enough overhyped educational products to know that anecdotes aren't evidence.
What made me willing to try was the research. Unlike most 'brain training' fads, soroban actually has peer-reviewed studies behind it. fMRI scans show different brain activation patterns. Controlled studies show improved working memory. The evidence wasn't overwhelming, but it was there.
My Tracking System
I created a spreadsheet tracking:
- •Daily practice duration (target: 15 minutes)
- •Monthly timed tests: 20 single-digit additions, 20 double-digit additions, 20 single-digit multiplications
- •School math grades and test scores
- •Ethan's self-reported enjoyment (1-5 scale)
- •Observable behaviors: finger counting, hesitation, confidence
I wasn't trying to prove soroban works—I was trying to find out if it worked for my kid.
The Data: What Actually Happened
Months 1-3: Slow Start
Honestly? The first three months were underwhelming. Ethan was learning the basics—bead positions, simple additions—but his timed test scores barely moved. His school grades stayed the same. If I'd quit at month 3, I would have concluded soroban doesn't work.
What I did notice: he stopped complaining about practice. The app made it feel like a game, not homework. Small win.
Months 4-6: First Real Improvements
Around month 4, something clicked. His single-digit addition speed improved by 40% from baseline. More importantly, I noticed he'd stopped counting on his fingers. He'd just... know the answer. His confidence crept up too—enjoyment scores went from 2.5 to 3.5 average.
School grades: still B's. No dramatic change yet.
Months 7-12: Compound Effects
This is where things got interesting. Double-digit addition speed improved 60% from baseline. Multiplication (which we'd started working on) showed similar gains. School grades moved from B's to B+'s, then to A-'s.
The bigger change was qualitative. Ethan started volunteering answers in math class. His teacher emailed me asking what we were doing at home. He'd become one of the faster mental calculators in his class—not through memorization, but through visualization.
Months 13-18: Consolidation
Improvements continued but slowed—which made sense. There's only so fast you can do basic arithmetic. What I noticed in this phase was transfer: Ethan found fractions easier because he could visualize quantities. Word problems improved because calculation wasn't consuming all his mental energy.
Final numbers after 18 months: single-digit addition 70% faster than baseline, double-digit 65% faster, multiplication 55% faster. School math grades: consistent A's.
The most surprising finding: the benefits compound over time. Months 1-3 showed almost nothing. Months 4-12 showed steady gains. If you quit early, you miss the payoff.
What the Research Actually Says
Curious whether my results matched the science, I dug into the research:
Claims Supported by Research
- •Improves arithmetic speed: Confirmed in multiple controlled studies
- •Enhances working memory: fMRI studies show increased working memory capacity
- •Develops number sense: Children understand number relationships better, not just memorize facts
- •Activates different brain areas: Soroban experts use visuospatial processing where non-experts use verbal processing
- •Some transfer to untrained tasks: Modest improvement in non-practiced math skills
Claims That Are Overstated
- •'Makes kids geniuses': It improves specific skills, not general intelligence
- •'All Asian math success is from soroban': Many factors contribute; soroban is one
- •'Works equally for everyone': Individual results vary significantly
- •'Quick results guaranteed': My data shows minimal improvement in first 3 months
- •'Fixes all math problems': Helps arithmetic; doesn't directly teach word problems or geometry
What Soroban Actually Does (And Doesn't Do)
Based on 18 months of tracking and extensive research reading, here's my honest assessment:
What Soroban DOES Do
- •Dramatically improves calculation speed (with consistent practice)
- •Builds genuine number sense—understanding, not just memorization
- •Creates visual/spatial math processing that's more robust than verbal memorization
- •Builds confidence through competence
- •Provides structured daily practice in an engaging format
What Soroban DOESN'T Do
- •Magically fix math anxiety (though confidence helps)
- •Teach word problems or reading comprehension
- •Replace a complete math curriculum
- •Work without consistent daily practice
- •Guarantee every child will love math
Realistic Expectations by Practice Level
Based on my data and the research:
- •Inconsistent practice (few times per week): Minimal benefit. Don't bother.
- •15 minutes daily for 3 months: Foundation built, but visible improvement may be limited
- •15 minutes daily for 6 months: Noticeable arithmetic improvement, some mental math ability
- •15 minutes daily for 12+ months: Strong calculation skills, confident mental math, grades likely improved
The biggest predictor of success isn't the child's starting ability—it's practice consistency. My data showed near-perfect correlation between practice streaks and improvement rates.
My Honest Verdict
After 18 months of tracking, here's what I'd tell my skeptical past self:
Soroban is genuinely effective—but not magic. It's a structured, engaging way to build calculation skills through consistent practice. The results are real, but they require real commitment. If you're looking for a quick fix, this isn't it. If you're willing to commit to 15 minutes daily for at least 6 months, the benefits are substantial and well-documented.
Was it worth it for Ethan? Absolutely. He went from struggling with basic math to being confident and competent. His grades improved. His anxiety around math disappeared. He actually enjoys practicing—which I never expected.
But I'm glad I went in with realistic expectations rather than believing the hype. The improvement was gradual, not miraculous. The work was real, not effortless. And the results came from consistent practice, not from soroban being some magical brain hack.
For Fellow Skeptics
If you're skeptical like I was, here's what I'd suggest:
- •Read the actual research, not just testimonials
- •Start with a free trial—low risk way to see if your child engages
- •Commit to 3 months minimum before judging (my data showed minimal improvement before month 4)
- •Track your own data if you're analytically inclined
- •Set realistic expectations: improvement, not transformation
The soroban hype is real... but so is the substance underneath it. You just need to separate one from the other.
Curious but skeptical like I was? Try Sorokid free for 7 days. See if your child engages with soroban learning before committing—no credit card required.
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