Beast Academy
A rigorous, puzzle-rich math curriculum for ages 6–13 from Art of Problem Solving, taught through comic-style Guide books, Practice books and an online platform with videos. Online access to all five levels is about $100 a year.
What is Beast Academy?
Beast Academy is a full elementary math curriculum from Art of Problem Solving (AoPS), the company known for rigorous middle and high school math. It covers ages 6 to 13 in five levels. Kids learn from comic-style Guide books starring little monsters, then work through Practice problems that range from easy warm-ups to very hard puzzles.
The big idea is problem solving. Instead of memorizing steps, kids reason through new kinds of problems. Beast Academy describes itself as loosely based on Common Core, covering grade 1–5 topics in more depth.
How it works
You can use printed books, BA Online or both:
- Books: Read a chapter in the Guide, then solve problems in the Practice book. Level 1 combines both in one book per unit.
- BA Online: Lessons, videos, auto-graded practice and chapter tests, with access to all levels.
- Live classes: Small, video-based classes with instructors for Levels 2–5.
Beast Academy suggests 12 to 15 days per chapter, which finishes a level in about 180 days. Assign work by time, not pages; kids aren't expected to finish every problem. Some kids work alone, while others need a parent to coach on the hardest problems.
What it covers
| Level | Ages | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6–8 | Counting, addition, subtraction, place value to 999, shapes, time |
| 2 | 7–9 | Place value, strategies, expressions, measurement, big numbers |
| 3 | 8–10 | Area and perimeter, multiplication, division, variables |
| 4 | 9–12 | Exponents, counting, logic, factors, fractions, integers |
| 5 | 10–13 | Equations, statistics, ratios and rates, decimals |
After Level 5, students move to AoPS Prealgebra. Beast Academy also sells science books for Levels 3 and 4.
Who it's best for
Beast Academy fits kids who love puzzles and want a challenge, including gifted math students. It also suits families aiming for math contests later. It's not for kids with weak basics or a low tolerance for frustration. Those kids often do better with Math Mammoth or Singapore Math.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, BA Online is about $100 a year ($8.34 a month billed annually) for all levels. Extra students are $64.99 a year. A bundle with a full level of books is about $160, and printed units are $30 each. Subscriptions are refundable within 14 days.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Curriculum books and online math programs are common eligible categories. Florida's PEP handbook lists curriculum and instructional materials, for example, but each program decides. Start at our scholarships hub, then check your state, such as Arizona or Florida. Save Beast Academy to your wishlist and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
- Singapore Math is gentler but similarly conceptual. See Beast Academy vs Singapore Math.
- Math Mammoth is affordable, clear and less puzzle-heavy. See Beast Academy vs Math Mammoth.
- Khan Academy is free and grade-level.
- Math Academy is adaptive and fast-paced for grade 4 and up. See Beast Academy vs Math Academy.
See our best homeschool math curriculum picks or browse all math programs.
Who Beast Academy is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Strong or gifted math kids ages 6–13
- Kids who love comics, puzzles and logic
- Families planning a path into AoPS Prealgebra or math contests
- Homeschoolers who want a full, rigorous elementary math program
Look elsewhere if
- Kids who struggle with foundational skills
- Children who shut down when problems get hard
- Families wanting an incremental, spiral review approach
Beast Academy pros and cons
Pros
- Deep conceptual teaching and genuine problem solving
- Engaging comic-book Guides kids actually read
- Flexible: books, online or both
- Affordable online access to all five levels
- Clear path into AoPS middle and high school courses
Cons
- Very challenging; many kids start a level below grade
- Parents may need to coach through hard problems
- Less repetitive practice than traditional programs
- Only Levels 2–5 have live classes
What’s included
- Five levels for ages 6–13, each split into four units (A–D)
- Comic-style Guide books starring monster characters
- Practice books with hundreds of problems per unit, from basic to very hard
- BA Online with lessons, videos, auto-graded practice and chapter tests
- Free placement tests for every unit
- Live online classes for Levels 2–5
Beast Academy levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Grade 1 | Ages 6–8. One combined book per unit with 400+ problems. Counting, addition, subtraction, place value to 999, shapes, comparing, measurement and time, categories, and patterns. |
| Level 2 | Grade 2 | Ages 7–9. Place value, comparing, addition and subtraction strategies, expressions, measurement, big numbers, stacked algorithms, odds and evens, and problem-solving strategies. |
| Level 3 | Grade 3 | Ages 8–10. Shape classification, skip-counting, perimeter and area, multiplication, perfect squares, the distributive property, variables, division, and units of measure. |
| Level 4 | Grade 4 | Ages 9–12. Shapes, multiplication, exponents, counting, division, logic, factors, fractions and integers. Covers many middle-grades standards. |
| Level 5 | 5–6 | Ages 10–13. 3D solids, integers, expressions and equations, statistics, factors and multiples, fractions, sequences, ratios and rates, and decimals. Leads into AoPS Prealgebra. |
Free placement tests for each unit help you choose a starting book. Beast Academy suggests most kids start about a level behind their school grade; for example, an 8- or 9-year-old would likely start in Level 2.
Official Beast Academy placement test ↗How much does Beast Academy cost?
As of October 2026, BA Online's yearly plan works out to $8.34 a month billed annually (about $100 a year) and includes all of Levels 1–5. A monthly plan is also available. The bundle pairs one year online with a full level of printed books; an additional bundle costs $160. Printed Guide-and-Practice sets for each unit cost $30 on the AoPS store, so a four-unit level is about $120 in print alone.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA Online, yearly | $99.99/yr | Yearly | $8.33/mo |
| BA Online, additional student, yearly | $64.99/yr | Yearly | $5.42/mo |
| BA Online, additional student, monthly | $10.99/mo | Monthly | $10.99/mo |
| Bundle: 1-year online + full level of books | $160 | One-time | — |
| Printed unit (Guide + Practice) | $30 | One-time | — |
Free trial: There's no traditional free trial. Beast Academy offers an online demo and book samples, and subscriptions can be canceled within 14 days for a full refund.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
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View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Homeschool reviewers summarized by HomeschoolTools consistently describe Beast Academy as rigorous and puzzle-based, ideal for gifted or math-loving kids. Common cautions: it is much harder than it looks, runs roughly a year ahead of typical standards, can frustrate kids with gaps, and often needs an involved parent.
Common praise
- Builds real problem-solving and critical thinking
- Kids enjoy the comic-book Guides
- Excellent preparation for advanced math and contests
Common complaints
- Too hard for kids with weak foundations
- Practice problems can cause frustration
- Requires more parent coaching than expected
Sources: homeschooltools.net · beast academy
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Beast Academy FAQs
How much does Beast Academy cost?
As of October 2026, BA Online's yearly plan works out to $8.34 a month billed annually, about $100 a year, for all five levels. Extra students are $64.99 a year. A bundle with a full level of printed books is about $160, and printed units are $30 each.
Are there Beast Academy coupon codes?
Beast Academy's own savings are the yearly plan, discounted additional students and book bundles. We don't list coupon codes because we can't verify them. Subscriptions can be refunded within 14 days, which works like a short trial.
Which Beast Academy level should my child start?
Take the free unit placement tests. Beast Academy suggests starting about a level behind school grade, so many second and third graders begin in Level 2. Start at the beginning of a unit, not the middle.
Is Beast Academy a complete curriculum?
Yes. Beast Academy calls itself a full math program for ages 6–13, loosely based on Common Core. Many families also use it as a supplement for strong students alongside school math.
Should I buy the books or BA Online?
BA Online adds videos, auto-graded practice and chapter tests and covers all levels. Books suit kids who do better off-screen. Many families use both through the bundle.
Is Beast Academy good for homeschool?
It's a popular homeschool choice for math-loving kids. Plan 12 to 15 days per chapter to finish a level in about 180 days, and be ready to coach through the hardest problems.
What comes after Beast Academy Level 5?
Art of Problem Solving's Prealgebra, through books or AoPS Online classes. Levels 4 and 5 already cover many middle-grades standards.
Can I use ESA or scholarship funds for Beast Academy?
Often, since curriculum and instructional materials are common eligible categories. Each program decides, so check your program's rules and save Beast Academy to your Edulist wishlist.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: