Beast Academy Homeschool Math Curriculum Review

Beast Academy is an elementary math curriculum from Art of Problem Solving (AoPS), the company known for advanced math courses for older students. It covers roughly ages 6 to 13 in five levels. Lessons are told as a comic book about young monsters at a math school. Behind the cartoons is one of the most demanding elementary math programs available, built around puzzles and real problem solving rather than drill.

How It Works

Each level has four units, labeled A through D. In print, every unit has a full-color Guide that teaches the ideas and a black-and-white Practice book full of word problems, puzzles, and games. Level 1 combines the two in one book. Harder problems are marked with stars, and hints and worked solutions sit at the back of each Practice book.

The online version follows the same order of units. It adds video lessons, interactive problems, chapter tests, star rewards, and a parent dashboard with progress reports. Many families combine print and online. Free placement tests help you choose a starting point. Because the work is hard, the publisher suggests starting about a level below your child’s grade. After Level 5, students are ready for AoPS Prealgebra.

What Homeschoolers Say

Strengths. Families most often say their children finally enjoy math, and some kids even ask to read the Guides. Parents like that it builds reasoning, flexible thinking, and perseverance instead of rote steps. Lessons need no planning, and the Guides can be reused for younger siblings. The online reports make it easy to see where a child needs help.

Cautions. This is not an independent program, especially in the early levels. Expect to sit nearby, read along with weaker readers, and talk through tough problems. Some children find the challenge frustrating, so many parents assign math by time, not by pages. There is little built-in review or fact drill, so you may need a separate math facts tool. Children who struggle with math or need lots of repetition often do better elsewhere. Some families use it as a supplement instead. A few earlier printings have errors, so check the publisher’s errata page.

Getting Started

Take the free placement test, then try the online demo or a single unit before buying a full level. Plan short daily sessions and give your child time to wrestle with the starred problems.

Where to Purchase

Buy books, online plans, or bundles directly from the publisher at Beast Academy (see current online plans).

Sources

• Beast Academy (Art of Problem Solving) (publisher) and its online enrollment page
• Cathy Duffy Reviews: Beast Academy (math)
• HomeschoolPicks: Beast Academy Review
• Kate’s Homeschool Math: Beast Academy Review
• Classically Homeschooled: Beast Academy Math Review
• I Can Teach My Child: Why We Switched from Singapore Math to Beast Academy
• Nature Homeschool: Beast Academy Curriculum Review

Last reviewed: November 7, 2026