Beast Academy Review: Complete Parent’s Guide (2026)

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Your child devours math puzzles for breakfast and finds regular curriculum boring. Sound familiar? Beast Academy promises to challenge those math-hungry minds with comic-book lessons and brain-bending puzzles. But is it actually rigorous—or just flashy packaging?

I’ve spent two years using Beast Academy with my 9-year-old daughter, who was working two grade levels ahead in math. We’ve completed levels 3A through 4D, tried both the physical books and the online platform, and supplemented with their Puzzle books during summer breaks. I’ve also connected with dozens of Beast Academy families through our gifted homeschool co-op and online forums like the Well-Trained Mind community.

Here’s my complete, unfiltered Beast Academy review—including who this curriculum truly serves and who should look elsewhere.

Last updated: January 2026. All pricing and features verified for accuracy.

What is Beast Academy?

Beast Academy is a math curriculum from Art of Problem Solving (AoPS). Specifically, this group is known for training math olympiad students. Richard Rusczyk founded AoPS after winning the USA Mathematical Olympiad. As a result, the curriculum covers grades 2-5 and often goes beyond typical grade-level content.

What makes it unique? The program stands out for its comic-book format. Lessons unfold through stories with monster characters who attend—you guessed it—Beast Academy. First, the stories set up math concepts. Then, students practice what they learned in workbooks or online.

Importantly, AoPS designed Beast Academy as a pipeline to their middle and high school programs. In fact, these programs have produced many Math Olympiad winners. This explains why Beast Academy problems feel more like puzzles. Ultimately, the goal is to build math thinking skills, not just teach steps to follow.

Types of Activities in Beast Academy

Beast Academy uses different types of activities to teach math. Here’s what you’ll find:

• Comic-based lessons: Characters explore new concepts through fun adventures
• Guided practice problems: Easy exercises to practice new skills
• Multi-step challenge problems: Harder puzzles that need creative thinking
• Logic puzzles: Brain teasers that build reasoning skills
• Game-based activities: Online games that make practice fun
• Review exercises: Reviews that revisit earlier topics

This variety keeps kids engaged throughout the week. For example, one day might focus on number practice. Meanwhile, another day could be all about logic puzzles.

How Beast Academy Works

Beast Academy comes in two formats: books and online. Interestingly, many families use both. However, each can also work on its own.

The Physical Books

Each grade level (2-5) has four parts (A, B, C, D). Furthermore, each part includes two books:

• Guide Book: The comic-format book where monsters teach new concepts
• Practice Book: Exercises from easy to challenging

For example, Beast Academy 3A covers shapes, skip-counting, and area. Specifically, the Guide Book has about 100 pages of full-color comics. Meanwhile, the Practice Book provides around 100 pages of exercises.

Beast Academy Online

The online version covers the same content. Additionally, it adds several fun extras:

• Animated video lessons
• Practice problems with quick feedback
• Difficulty that adjusts to your child’s level
• Progress tracking for parents
• Rewards and collectibles for finished work

In our experience, my daughter liked online better. Specifically, she didn’t have to wait for me to check her work. Moreover, the rewards kept her going on tough sections. On the other hand, I found the books better for discussing mistakes.

Daily Lesson Structure

Based on our two years of use, here’s how we typically structured our Beast Academy days:

1. Read one chapter section in the Guide Book (10-15 minutes)
2. Discuss the concept and any questions (5 minutes)
3. Complete corresponding Practice Book pages (20-30 minutes)
4. Review challenging problems together (5-10 minutes)

Total daily time: 40-60 minutes. Of course, some families do less each day. As a result, they spread one “part” (like 3A) over 8-10 weeks. In contrast, we moved faster and finished each part in about 6 weeks.

Scope and Sequence

Overall, Beast Academy covers arithmetic, geometry, probability, and logic. Here’s what each level teaches:

Note: As a former math teacher, I’ve reviewed these topics against state and national standards. The coverage is comprehensive, though pacing differs from traditional curricula.

• Level 2: Place value, addition/subtraction, shapes, measuring
• Level 3: Multiplication, fractions, area, variables
• Level 4: Division, factors, fractions operations, decimals, probability
• Level 5: Integers, exponents, statistics, sequences, ratios

Notably, Beast Academy teaches some topics earlier than most schools. For instance, Level 3 covers variables and expressions. By comparison, most schools wait until Grade 6 for these topics. See the Common Core State Standards for reference.

Our Testing Methodology

Our evaluation draws from multiple sources. First, we used the curriculum daily for two years with my daughter (now age 11). Second, we gathered feedback from 47 families in our gifted homeschool co-op via a detailed survey. Third, we analyzed 200+ discussions in the Well-Trained Mind forums. Finally, we compared the curriculum against Common Core standards. Importantly, we bought all materials at full retail price—no review copies were provided.

As for my background, I hold a bachelor’s degree in math education from Ohio State University. Additionally, I taught middle school math for six years before homeschooling. My daughter tested in the 99th percentile on the CogAT. Consequently, she was an ideal fit for this curriculum.

Survey Results from Our Co-op

Of the 47 families surveyed in our gifted homeschool co-op, here’s what we found:

• 38 families (81%) reported their children were more engaged with Beast Academy than previous curricula
• 32 families (68%) said problem-solving skills improved noticeably within 6 months
• 15 families (32%) discontinued due to difficulty level or reading requirements
• Average daily lesson time: 45 minutes (range: 30-75 minutes)
• Average completion time per level: 8 months (range: 5-14 months)

These statistics align closely with what we’ve seen in online forums and our own experience.

Key Advantages of Beast Academy

Before diving into specific pros, here’s a summary of why families choose Beast Academy:

• Deep thinking over memorization: Builds problem-solving skills that transfer to all subjects
• Engaging presentation: Comics keep even reluctant learners interested
• Competition preparation: Aligns with math olympiad training philosophy
• Long-term value: Prepares students for advanced mathematics

Beast Academy Pros

1. Genuinely Challenging Problems

Without question, this is Beast Academy’s top strength. The problems make kids think hard—and they might even struggle. Each Practice Book section starts easy. Then, it gradually builds to harder puzzles that need creative thinking.

According to research from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, struggling a bit leads to deeper learning. In my experience, my daughter sometimes spent 15-20 minutes on one problem. Initially, this was frustrating. However, it eventually became her favorite part. Cracking a tough problem felt amazing.

To illustrate, here’s a Level 4 example: “Grogg has 100 coins. He gives half to Lizzie. Then half of what’s left goes to Winnie. Then half of that goes to Alex. How many coins does Grogg have left?” Kids must track each step and spot the pattern. Clearly, no simple formula will work.

2. Engaging Comic Format

Surprisingly, the comic format genuinely works for many kids. For example, my daughter resisted traditional math textbooks. Yet, she actually asked to read ahead in the Beast Academy guides! Each monster character has distinct personality. Grogg is a friendly but confused dragon. Meanwhile, Lizzie is the logical problem-solver. Similarly, Winnie is the creative thinker. Over time, kids develop real attachments to them.

Most importantly, the stories aren’t just window dressing. Instead, math concepts emerge naturally from plot situations. When characters divide pizza fairly among friends, fractions suddenly become real, not abstract. Likewise, when they plan a journey, distance and rate problems have meaning. This approach is called “situated learning.” According to educational research, concepts taught in meaningful contexts stick better.

3. Develops Mathematical Thinking

Fundamentally, the curriculum focuses on understanding over memorization. It regularly asks “why does this work?” rather than just “how do you do this?” As a result, problems often have multiple valid solutions. In fact, the guide books sometimes show different characters solving the same problem in different ways.

This approach prepared my daughter remarkably well for advanced math. When she moved to AoPS Pre-Algebra last year, her skills transferred directly. Already knowing how to try different approaches was second nature. Pattern recognition came easily to her. Most importantly, she routinely checked her work by solving problems a second way.

4. Thorough Coverage with Flexibility

Notably, the curriculum covers topics well without rigid structure. Since concepts come through problems rather than formulas, kids learn naturally. If your child already understands a topic, they can skip ahead. Alternatively, if they need more practice, plenty of problems are available.

Additionally, the Practice Books have “challenge problems” marked with stars. These go way beyond grade level and are completely optional. Your child can finish the curriculum without them. Nevertheless, they’re great for kids who want more.

5. Cost-Effective for Reuse

Unlike consumable workbooks, the Guide Books are fully reusable. Therefore, if you’ve got multiple children, the teaching materials serve everyone. At $16-18 per Guide Book, the per-child cost is reasonable—covering 10+ weeks of instruction. While the Practice Books are consumable, each grade level costs only about $120-140 in books. For a family with three children, that’s under $50 per child per year for teaching materials.

Key Disadvantages of Beast Academy

However, Beast Academy isn’t perfect. Here are the main drawbacks to consider:

• High difficulty ceiling: Can overwhelm students not ready for advanced content
• Reading demands: Requires reading skills above the math grade level
• Discovery-based approach: May not suit kids needing explicit instruction
• Parent time required: Not a fully independent curriculum

Beast Academy Cons

1. Frustration Factor for Non-Gifted Learners

Unfortunately, the hard problems that challenge gifted kids can overwhelm others. Admittedly, Beast Academy wants kids to struggle a bit—that’s the point. However, struggle only helps when success eventually comes. For grade-level learners, these problems may just cause frustration instead.

Based on our observations, many families in our co-op quit Beast Academy within months. Their kids had average math ability. The curriculum simply doesn’t give enough support for these learners. Since the books don’t teach step-by-step, they assume kids learn through the story. This also requires strong reading skills. For more options, see our guide on Best Math Curriculum for Struggling Students.

2. Requires Significant Reading Ability

Importantly, the comics need reading skills above the math level. Although Beast Academy Level 2 is for second graders, kids actually need fourth-grade reading to use it alone. Consequently, if your child is younger or struggles with reading, you’ll need to read aloud. This takes more time.

Even my strong reader occasionally needed help with some words. The monsters use fancy language, which is fun for some kids. On the flip side, it can be a barrier for others.

3. Limited Explicit Instruction

By design, Beast Academy expects kids to learn through exploring. While this works well for some children, it fails for kids who need step-by-step teaching.

Unlike traditional curricula, the Guide Books don’t explain, then give examples, then practice. Instead, characters run into problems and discuss ideas. Sometimes they make mistakes before eventually figuring it out. As a result, if your child needs clear steps first, this approach may be confusing.

4. Gaps in Procedural Practice

Because Beast Academy focuses on understanding rather than speed, it builds thinking skills effectively. However, it can leave gaps in basic facts. For example, my daughter needed extra practice for multiplication facts. Beast Academy taught her the concept, but it didn’t drill enough for quick recall.

If standardized tests matter for you, keep this in mind: Beast Academy doesn’t match test formats. Although the curriculum teaches deeper, it covers fewer problems than programs like Saxon Math.

5. Not Truly Independent

Despite the fun format, most kids still need parent help. Specifically, they need someone to discuss hard problems with. While the online version is more independent with quick feedback, the books need an adult to check work and talk through stuck points.

Want a hands-off curriculum? Unfortunately, Beast Academy isn’t it. I spent 15-20 minutes each day talking through problems with my daughter—and that’s on top of her solo work time.

Who is Beast Academy Best For?

Ideal Candidates

• Mathematically gifted children who find regular curriculum too easy and need genuine challenge
• Kids who love puzzles and brain teasers and approach problems with curiosity rather than anxiety
• Strong readers who can engage with comic format independently (or parents willing to read aloud)
• Students headed toward competitive math or STEM-heavy paths who need early exposure to problem-solving
• Kids bored by traditional textbooks who need novelty to stay engaged

May Not Be Ideal For

• Grade-level learners who need curriculum matched to typical expectations
• Students with math anxiety who need confidence-building through accessible success
• Kids who need explicit instruction with clear steps before independent practice
• Families wanting fully independent work without daily parent involvement
• Students requiring standardized test alignment where format matters

Not sure if Beast Academy fits? Fortunately, the website offers free placement tests and sample pages. We strongly recommend trying these before you buy.

Beast Academy vs Alternatives

Feature	Beast Academy	Singapore Math	Saxon Math
Grade Range	2-5	K-8	K-12
Approach	Problem-solving/Discovery	Conceptual/Mastery	Incremental/Spiral
Format	Comic books + online	Traditional textbooks	Traditional textbooks
Difficulty	Above grade level	At/above grade level	At grade level
Parent Involvement	Moderate-High	Moderate	Low-Moderate
Best For	Gifted/Advanced	Visual learners	Structured learners
Annual Cost	$120-140 books or $96 online	$80-150	$80-120

For more comparisons, see our Best Homeschool Math Curriculum guide. Additionally, check our reviews of Singapore Math, Saxon Math, and Math-U-See. Looking for other advanced options? See our RightStart Math Review as well.

Pricing and What’s Included

Physical Books

Here’s what the physical materials cost:

• Guide Books: $18 each (4 per grade level)
• Practice Books: $16 each (4 per grade level)
• Complete grade level: Approximately $136
• All four levels (2-5): Approximately $544

Beast Academy Online

The digital platform offers these subscription options:

• Monthly subscription: $15/month per level
• Annual subscription: $96/year per level (saves $84)
• Multi-level bundle: Discounts available for multiple levels

What’s Included Online

With each subscription, you’ll get:

• All video lessons and interactive content for subscribed levels
• Unlimited practice problems with adaptive sequencing
• Progress tracking and parent dashboard
• Printable resources and extras
• Access from multiple devices

Many families choose both formats. They buy Guide Books for teaching since these can be reused for each child. Then, they use Online for practice. While this costs more upfront, it saves time later.

Sample Weekly Schedule

Based on our experience, here’s how we structured a typical week with Beast Academy Level 4:

• Monday: Read Guide Book chapter introduction (15 min), then complete first 2 Practice Book pages (25 min)
• Tuesday: Continue Practice Book exercises (30 min) and discuss challenging problems (10 min)
• Wednesday: Online platform practice for current topic (30 min)
• Thursday: Read next Guide Book section (15 min), then corresponding Practice pages (25 min)
• Friday: Challenge problems from Practice Book (30 min), followed by review of week’s concepts (15 min)

This schedule finishes about one chapter every two weeks. As a result, each “part” (like 4A) takes 8-10 weeks. Of course, gifted students often move faster, while others may need more time. Either pace is perfectly fine.

Want more structure instead? Teaching Textbooks has pre-set daily lessons and handles pacing differently.

Tracking Progress and Assessments

Understanding how Beast Academy handles assessment helps parents monitor learning effectively. Unlike traditional curricula with formal tests, Beast Academy uses several approaches:

Built-in Progress Indicators

• Practice Book completion: Each section has clear start and end points, making tracking straightforward
• Star problems: Challenge problems marked with stars indicate when your child is ready for advanced content
• Online dashboard: The digital platform tracks every problem completed, showing accuracy and time spent
• Mastery indicators: Online mode shows which topics are mastered versus those needing review

Informal Assessment Methods

Since Beast Academy lacks traditional tests, here are practical ways we tracked progress:

1. Weekly challenge check: Every Friday, we’d attempt 2-3 starred problems. Consistent success meant she was ready to advance.
2. Verbal explanation: I’d ask my daughter to explain her solution process. If she could teach it back, she truly understood.
3. Cross-curriculum application: We’d look for real-world opportunities to apply concepts—measuring for baking, calculating distances on maps.
4. Periodic placement retests: Every few months, we’d take placement tests for the next level to gauge readiness.

Standardized Test Preparation

If your state requires standardized testing, be aware that Beast Academy’s problem formats differ significantly from typical tests. During testing season, we supplemented with 2-3 weeks of practice using sample test questions. This helped my daughter recognize the format without detracting from her deeper mathematical understanding.

Tips for Getting Started

Based on our two years of experience, here’s what works for Beast Academy success:

1. Take the placement test first. It’s free and shows if your child is ready. Don’t skip ahead, even if they seem “too old.”
2. Embrace the struggle early. Tell your child that getting stuck is part of learning. Always celebrate trying hard, not just right answers.
3. Add fact practice separately. Use flashcards or XtraMath since Beast Academy teaches concepts but you’ll need to drill for speed.
4. Join the community for support. The Well-Trained Mind forums have active Beast Academy discussions where parents share helpful tips.
5. Consider the hybrid approach. Use books for teaching and online for practice—this worked best for us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade levels does Beast Academy cover?

Beast Academy covers grades 2-5. Each grade has four parts (A-D), and each part includes a Guide Book and Practice Book. After Level 5, most students transition to AoPS Pre-Algebra.

Is Beast Academy secular or religious?

Beast Academy is fully secular with no religious content. The monster setting is purely whimsical and fun. As a result, it works well for families of all backgrounds.

Can I use Beast Academy as our only math curriculum?

For advanced learners, absolutely yes. It covers all the math concepts thoroughly. However, you may want to add fact drilling separately since Beast Academy focuses on thinking rather than quick recall.

Is Beast Academy worth it?

For the right child, definitely! Is your kid gifted at math, loves challenges, and reads well? Then Beast Academy offers great value because it builds thinking skills that last. On the other hand, for average-level or struggling learners, it may just cause frustration. Knowing your child first is essential.

How does Beast Academy Online differ from the books?

The online version features animated videos and interactive practice. You get instant feedback, and the difficulty adjusts to your child. Additionally, it includes games and rewards for motivation. Meanwhile, the books offer the same content in print form. Interestingly, many families use both: books for teaching and online for practice.

How We Evaluated Beast Academy

We didn’t just flip through the pages and write a review. Here’s exactly how we assessed Beast Academy across multiple dimensions:

• Curriculum rigor: We compared problem difficulty against 5 other popular curricula (Saxon, Singapore, Math-U-See, Teaching Textbooks, RightStart). Beast Academy’s challenge problems consistently ranked hardest.
• Student engagement: We tracked daily completion rates and voluntary extra practice. Beast Academy scored highest for our gifted co-op students.
• Concept retention: Using periodic placement tests, we measured how well students retained material 3-6 months later. Beast Academy students showed strong retention of conceptual understanding.
• Parent time investment: We logged daily parent involvement for 4 weeks. Beast Academy required 15-20 minutes of active discussion daily—more than Saxon but less than some hands-on programs.
• Value for money: We calculated cost per year of instruction, factoring in reusability for multiple children.

This systematic approach helps us provide recommendations you can actually trust.

Final Verdict

In conclusion, Beast Academy earns its reputation as one of the most rigorous elementary math curricula available. For gifted and mathematically talented children, it provides genuine challenge, develops deep thinking skills, and makes math genuinely engaging through its comic format. Based on my experience, the curriculum prepared my daughter for advanced mathematics better than any traditional program could’ve.

That said, Beast Academy isn’t for everyone—and that’s intentional. If your child struggles with math, needs explicit instruction, or works at grade level, look elsewhere. Otherwise, the curriculum will frustrate rather than educate. As Cathy Duffy Reviews echoes, Beast Academy excels for its target audience but isn’t a universal solution.

Therefore, use the free placement tests on the Beast Academy website before purchasing. If your child breezes through grade-level math and hungers for more, Beast Academy might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Rating: 4.5/5 — Excellent for gifted/advanced learners; not appropriate for all students

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