3rd Grader at Mason Ridge Elementary School Sets New MATH FACT SCHOLARS World Record

On October 19, 2011, Haseeb Malik arrived at Mason Ridge Elementary School in Town & Country at 8:00 a.m. prepared to complete the last six tests, in the 7th and final level, of the MATH FACT SCHOLARS math skills testing program. That morning, Haseeb was also prepared to set a new world record for the MATH FACT SCHOLARS program.

Haseeb had already completed the previous six levels in the MATH FACT SCHOLARS program in record time. As a 1st grader, Haseeb completed 105 timed tests, covering skills with basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts, plus more advanced timed tests, covering multi-digit computation, including mental multiplication of multi-digits, and long division skills. “Haseeb set the first world record in the MATH FACT SCHOLARS program for being the first, 1st grader to earn the Bronze Medal, Silver Medal, Gold Medal and Platinum Level Trophy in just twenty-nine (29), before school, testing sessions at Mason Ridge Elementary School.” reported, Diana L. Dunbar, President & Founder of the MATH FACT SCHOLARS program.

“While in 2nd grade, Haseeb earned the Olympian Series–Fractions Level Trophy and Olympian Series–Decimal Level Trophy, a total of 50 different math skill tests, in just eight (8) testing sessions. In these two levels of the program, students are tested on their skills with adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions and decimals. Typically, these math skills are not introduced to students until they are in 5th and 6th grade.” explained, Dunbar.

When the final level in the program was implemented at Mason Ridge Elementary School, in September 2011, Haseeb spent hours practicing for the tests using the MATH FACT SCHOLARS math practice workbook. “My mom helps me practice one hour every day.” declared Haseeb. While each math practice workbook provides four practice tests for each test in the level, Haseeb asked his parents to create more problems for additional practice. During one Saturday, Haseeb’s mother, Balqees Akhtar Malik, reported that Haseeb pleaded with her to continue to time him while he completed practice test, after practice test, after practice test. This went on for four hours!

“With just minutes remaining before the testing session was to end on October 19th, Haseeb completed the final test in the series and earned the Olympian Series-Percent Level trophy. Haseeb set a world record for completing all seven levels in the MATH FACT SCHOLARS program in just 41.5 testing sessions! “Most interestingly, if the Olympian Series – Percent level had been implemented during the 2010/2011 school year, Haseeb could have set this world record while he was still in 2nd grade!” said, Mason Ridge-Math Fact Scholars chairperson, Erika Rizer.

“We are proud of our son the way he worked so hard to achieve his goal” said Haseeb’s mother, Balqees Akhtar, and father, Ahmed Malik.

Haseeb, who plans to be a doctor some day, shared his motivation for working so hard to accomplish his goals, “I wanted to earn all the MATH FACT SCHOLARS medals and trophies and break a world record.” Haseeb will now become an ambassador to the MATH FACT SCHOLARS program at Mason Ridge, where he will volunteer as a test grader with the program and grade other student’s tests and help them achieve their math goals too.

When we asked Haseeb what he thought about the program, he said, “MATH FACT SCHOLARS is a good math program to test your brain.”
MATH FACT SCHOLARS is a licensed program. The program can be sponsored by parent organizations in elementary schools or by organizations or corporations that are interested in helping kids build a solid foundation for learning more demanding math concepts in middle school and high school.

For more information, contact: Diana Dunbar, President – MATH FACT SCHOLARS