Free practice sheets
Soroban practice sheets,
free to download
Practice sheets for each level from 10 kyu to 4 kyu, free for anyone to download. Three sets per level, with answers. They follow the same format as Kodomo School’s grade exams (15 questions per section, 7 minutes), so they are perfect for practicing before an exam. The PDFs are in Japanese, but the sheets are numbers only, so anyone can use them.
3 sets per level, with answers
Each set has one sheet each of addition and subtraction (mitorizan), multiplication and division. The answers are on the last page.
Same format as the grade exams
Every section has 15 questions in 7 minutes. Getting 10 out of 15 (100 points) is the guide for passing.
A4, as many times as you like
Print at home or at a convenience store. Feel free to use them at school or in class too.
Choose a level
Download the practice sheets
Choose the level your child is practicing now, or the next one they will take.
How to use
Before an exam, use them like this
- Print on A4
Open the PDF and print it on A4. One set is one sheet per section plus one answer sheet (from 8 kyu there are three sections: addition and subtraction, multiplication and division; 10 kyu has addition and subtraction only, and 9 kyu has addition and subtraction and multiplication).
- Time it, and sometimes do it like the real exam
Every section is 7 minutes. At first, don’t worry about the time. Once your child is used to it, try timing it.
- Check the answers together
Each question is worth 10 points, so 15 questions make 150 points. Getting 10 right (100 points) is the guide for passing.
- Try the ones you got wrong again
Working them out again on the soroban lets children see for themselves where they went wrong.
Level guide
Question format for each level
These use the same level standards and question formats as Kodomo School’s grade exams (certified by the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Education in Local Communities, a general incorporated association).
| Level | Addition and subtraction | Multiplication | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kyu | 1-digit numbers, 6 rows · 1–2-digit numbers, 4 rows | — | — |
| 9 kyu | 1–2-digit numbers, 5 rows | 2 digits × 1 digit | — |
| 8 kyu | 2-digit numbers, 8 rows | 3 digits × 1 digit | 2 digits ÷ 1 digit · 3 digits ÷ 1 digit |
| 7 kyu | 2–3-digit numbers, 5 rows | 2 digits × 2 digits | 3 digits ÷ 1 digit · 4 digits ÷ 1 digit |
| 6 kyu | 3-digit numbers, 7 rows | 3 digits × 2 digits · 2 digits × 3 digits | 3 digits ÷ 2 digits · 4 digits ÷ 2 digits |
| 5 kyu | 4-digit numbers, 7 rows | 2 digits × 4 digits · 3 digits × 3 digits · 4 digits × 2 digits | 5 digits ÷ 3 digits · 4 digits ÷ 2 digits |
| 4 kyu | 5-digit numbers, 7 rows | 7 digits in total (4 digits × 3 digits, etc.) | 6 digits ÷ 4 digits · 6 digits ÷ 3 digits |
These questions were made for practice. The way questions are set in the actual exam may differ. For the exam levels and how to take them, see Soroban grade exams: levels and how to take them.
Want more practice?
Videos, play and the training room
Soroban demo videos15 videos: carrying, borrowing, multiplication and more
Soroban practice at homeWhen to use videos, apps and sheets, and how long to practice
Play with the sorobanPractice setting numbers on an on-screen soroban (free for everyone)
For elementary school teachers: Soroban lesson guide12 free worksheets for Grade 3 and 4 lessons, and how to teach with them
Students who attend our classrooms can use the members-only Soroban Training Room to make practice sheets with different questions every time and do exam practice on screen (ask your classroom teacher or the head office for details).
FAQ
About the practice sheets
Are they really free?
Yes, they are free, and no registration is needed. Feel free to print them for learning at home or at school. Please do not sell the sheets or post them on other websites.
Can we use them at school or in class?
Please do. You are welcome to print enough copies for everyone, for lessons or homework.
Which level should we start with?
For a child taking a grade exam for the first time, we recommend starting at 10 kyu. Many children start from 8 kyu, where all three sections (addition and subtraction, multiplication, division) come together. Starting at a level a little easier than the one your child is practicing now builds confidence.
Where are the answers?
On the last page of each set. You can also print the question pages and the answer pages separately.
Start with a free trial lesson
Soroban and calligraphy trial lessons are free (about 20 minutes; just bring something to write with). The art trial lesson is 40 minutes and costs ¥1,000 (nothing to bring). Come with your child and see the feel of the classroom and how well the teacher suits your child.