Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a list of frequently asked questions.
Question:
I wish to join the academy but I don't know which class to attend. What do I do?
Answer:
Contact the head coach and give him the student's chess background. He will then suggest coming to the academy for one of the classes where he will have a closer look at the student's chess skills. The head coach has decades of experience in evaluating chess players and will quickly identify what level they are at and make a recommendation as to which class will most benefit the student.
Question:
What if I registered for the wrong class?
Answer:
The instructor tries to ensure that students are in the class which will most benefit them. Therefore, if part-way through the term, the instructor believes a student is registered for a class of inappropriate level, he will collaborate with the student and parent to suggest a more appropriate level which they can immediately switch to.
The biggest mistake students make is moving to a higher class too soon. Chess is like mathematics in that lessons build on previous lessons. If a student misses key early concepts, they will struggle to develop the skills and knowledge required to progress further.
Question:
Are the lessons exactly the same each term?
Answer:
For the Beginners Class, yes. For the later classes, no.
The lessons in the Beginner class are fundamental building blocks that must be mastered in order to learn the skills and concepts taught in higher classes. Students often need to attend the beginner Class twice before they are ready to move up.
With the later classes, the material repeats every year. It is ideal for each student to attend those classes for at least a year to ensure they cover all the material. Students often attend the later classes for two years before moving to a higher class.
Question:
Why do I need special permission to register for the Master Class?
Answer:
Many of WA's top junior chess players participate in the Master Class. Allowing much less knowledgeable and experienced students participate in the Master Class will lower the quality of the experience for the strong players. WA's best young chess players do not enrol in the class so they can win games in 10 moves. They want to be challenged so that they can develop their skills with the goal of eventually competing at a national level.