Beast Academy is a full math program from Art of Problem Solving for kids ages 6‑13. We teach problem solving and logical thinking by covering grade-level standards in greater depth than other elementary math curricula. Beast Academy is also loosely based on the Common Core standards.
See our Standards and Sequence documents for the math topics covered in each level of our program.
Because our program includes challenging problems, we generally recommend that students start about a level "behind" their current grade level. A student who is 8 or 9 years old, for example, should likely start with Beast Academy Level 2.
Our Placement tests can also help you determine the right level for your student.
Aim to spend 12–15 days teaching a chapter of Beast Academy in order to finish one level in 180 days (a regular school year). We recommend assigning work in the Practice books by time and not by pages—some pages in the Practice books may take more than an hour to solve, while other problems are much faster. In fact, since our curriculum includes quite a lot of material, we don't expect students to complete every single problem.
Use the Sequence documents to coordinate the reading and practice for each topic, whether your student is using the paper Guide and Practice books, Beast Academy Online, or both.
Beast Academy is loosely based on the Common Core standards. It covers the key topics for grades 1 through 5 in greater depth and with more opportunities for problem solving and logical thinking than other programs. Beast Academy levels 4 and 5 also cover many middle-grades standards and can be a good fit for early middle school students.
See our Standards charts for the topics covered by Beast Academy.
It depends. While many students can successfully use Beast Academy without much help, others might need greater support as they encounter new topics and work through challenging problems.
You can view samples of the books on each book page, or try out the BA Online DemoBA Online Demo (Tablet & Desktop only) to see the types of problems found in the Beast Academy Curriculum.
We created Beast Academy to help kids ages 6‑13 build their problem-solving skills while learning elementary math. Students learn new topics from the graphic-novel-style Guides, and then master math topics by solving engaging problems and challenging puzzles.
Beast Academy can be used either as a set of physical books, as an Online program (which also offers access to videos and chapter tests), or as a mix of both.
Learn what math looks like in Beast Academy by checking out the Beast Academy books, or playing through a lesson in the BA Online DemoBA Online Demo (Tablet & Desktop only).
Although Beast Academy was created with accelerated learners in mind, the program is flexible. Students ages 6‑13 with a wide range of abilities have had success with it.
Struggling learners who are still building number sense will get to explore how and why math works.
Students who have little interest in math might discover a new enthusiasm while working on Beast Academy's engaging puzzles and problems.
And of course, young math lovers will find plenty of material to sustain their interest.
Take a look at our recommendations for where to start your student in Beast Academy.
Beast Academy is flexible and can be used either as a stand-alone curriculum or as a supplement to another program. Our materials offer rich resources for developing number sense, building problem-solving skills, and practicing critical thinking.
Visit our resources page to see all the topics covered in each level of Beast Academy.
Are you looking for free printable number lines, times tables, graph paper, printable protractors or rulers, math game boards, worksheets or extra copies of puzzles mentioned in the Guide, Practice, or Science books?
Download and print the PDFs from our resources page.
We include challenging problems in the Beast Academy Practice books to help students develop a deeper and richer understanding of mathematics. The Guide books also offer several strategies for building problem-solving skills and struggling in a productive way.
Here's our advice for what to do when your student gets stuck:
- Make sure your student knows that challenging math problems take time to solve. Just because it's taking them a long time to solve a hard problem does not mean that they're bad at math.
- Remind your student to re-read the lesson in the Guide and the examples at the top of the Practice pages.
- Is your student unsure where to start? Encourage them to try something new—don't be afraid to experiment!
- If your student's ready for a hint on one of the starred problems, feel free to use the guiding questions at the back of the Practice book.
- Remember that it's always okay to take a break and come back later with fresh eyes.
Take a look at our Chapter Overviews for more recommendations on teaching with Beast Academy.
Students who finished Beast Academy will be ready to start learning more abstract math, starting with Art of Problem Solving Online's Prealgebra 1.
Read on for more about transitioning your students from BA Online to Prealgebra.
We've spent a lot of time creating the math curriculum we all wish we had when we were kids, and there are lots of big improvements on their way for Beast Academy Online. We're developing materials that allow parents and teachers to deliver Beast Academy to students, monitor their progress, and find the right tools to help them succeed.
We've also started developing Beast Academy science books. Students will soon be able to explore how the world works and what it's made of with the four little monsters of Beast Academy and a whole new group of professors.
