The Mathnasium approach begins with sophisticated techniques to determine - with great accuracy - what a student knows and does not know.  The winner of this certificate will come in the center for an hour to be given a two-part diagnostic test.  The first is a series of oral questions, designed to assess the depth of the students understanding of key math concepts and skills and to gauge his/her attitude about math.  The second is a written test designed to assess the student's strengths and weaknesses with respect to grade-level material.  The end result is a written comprehensive report that will help parents, teachers, instructors, tutors get a 360 degree view of child's number sense and math skills.