UCMAS students start doing calculations by manipulating the beads on the physical Abacus.When a student becomes adaptive performing calculations in the Abacus, they are trained to visualize the Abacus and beads moving in their mind. This emphasis on thinking in pictures is part of the UCMAS project.

From the one sight, it may seem as if arithmetic is the primary focus of this program, and the end goal is to be able to perform outstanding feats of calculation using solely the mind. During the training process, learners will be taught techniques for all mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) in addition to square and cubic roots. However, when a child takes on the UCMAS program, he or she takes on the role as a learner, observer and thinker.