Yes. I specialize in tutoring students using Beast Academy and Art of Problem Solving (AoPS). My goal isn't simply to help students complete the curriculum—it's to help them become independent mathematical thinkers.

Rather than showing students how to solve every problem, I guide them with carefully chosen questions that help them discover ideas for themselves. I give them space to explore, make mistakes, and struggle productively, stepping in when needed to keep them moving forward without becoming frustrated.

Many students can solve a problem after watching someone else explain it. My goal is to help them develop the confidence and problem-solving skills to tackle unfamiliar problems independently. That's what leads to deeper understanding and lasting mathematical growth.

This approach helps students develop deeper understanding, confidence, and strong problem-solving skills. To know more here's a blog post https://www.vsonlinemathtutoring.com/post/from-teaching-to-coaching-rethinking-how-we-tutor-aops-and-beast-academy

Here's also a testimonial "Vasudha has been an incredible find for our son. She guided him through AoPS Prealgebra and is now teaching him AoPS Algebra with a perfect balance of rigour and encouragement. What makes her stand out is her Socratic approach; she doesn't just provide answers but pushes him to think harder and reach conclusions on his own. It is rare to find a tutor who can navigate such a rigorous curriculum while keeping the sessions engaging and something to look forward to.

-Kalpana, CA, USA

To read the entire testimonial and others please click here

I specialize in helping students become independent mathematical thinkers rather than simply teaching them how to complete Beast Academy or AoPS problems.

Instead of demonstrating every solution, I use guided questioning to help students discover ideas, explain their reasoning, and develop confidence tackling unfamiliar problems. This approach takes more effort initially, but it builds the kind of deep understanding these curricula are designed to develop.

My students also benefit from over 10 years of experience teaching AoPS, several years with Beast Academy, and extensive experience preparing students for competitions such as AMC 8, Math Kangaroo, MOEMS, APSMO, UKMT, and MathCounts.

If you're looking for someone to explain every step, I may not be the right fit. If you're looking for your child to become a confident, independent problem solver, I'd love to help.

Read more about my teaching philosophy here

No. Participation in math competitions is not required.

While many students enjoy the challenge and excitement of competitions, they’re not the right fit for every child. Some students may feel anxious or pressured, and that can take away from their learning experience.

At the core, I emphasize that math should be an enjoyable journey. Students should feel curious and even excited when they see a problem—wanting to engage with it, not avoid it. Building that mindset takes time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

That said, I do strongly encourage students to work through past competition papers.

Why?

Because these questions:

• Expose students to a wide variety of problem types

• Develop flexible thinking and problem-solving strategies

• Train students to identify the right approach quickly

• Require them to switch between topics—something that doesn’t happen when learning concepts in isolation
  

This kind of practice builds strong, adaptable thinkers—whether or not a student chooses to compete.

Over the years, my students have achieved success in a variety of ways, including:

• Passing challenge exams to skip math courses such as Algebra 1 and Geometry

• Earning placements in Honors and accelerated math programs

• Improving from remedial math to advanced math pathways

• Achieving strong results in competitions such as MOEMS, AMC 8, MathCounts, APSMO, Math Kangaroo, and AMC (Australia)

• Building confidence and developing independent problem-solving skills

• Progressing through Beast Academy and Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) curricula

While awards and scores are exciting, my primary goal is to help students become confident mathematical thinkers who can tackle challenging problems independently.

You can read detailed student success stories here. I started writing these success stories as a log to remind myself of each student's journey. Over time, they grew into a blog.

2020-2026 Student Success Stories

2018-2019 Student Success Stories

2017 Student Success Stories

Both versions have their advantages.

The books reduce screen time and include some of the most challenging problems, while the online version provides immediate feedback, instructional videos, chapter tests, and access to all levels with a single subscription.

The best choice depends on your child's learning style, your budget, and how you plan to use the curriculum. In many cases, families benefit from using both.

For a detailed comparison of the books and online platform, including the pros and cons of each, read my complete Beast Academy Review.

Beast Academy Review: The Best Elementary Math Curriculum for Gifted Students?

It depends on the child. Some students benefit from starting Beast Academy at a lower level, while others do better building a stronger foundation first using curricula such as Math Mammoth, or Khan Academy.

For students who are struggling in school math, I often recommend strengthening core skills first and then introducing Beast Academy as an enrichment or supplement rather than as the primary curriculum.

For a more detailed discussion, including sample learning pathways for different types of students, read my complete Beast Academy Review.

The best way to start Beast Academy is by taking the official placement test and choosing a level based on your child's mathematical readiness rather than age alone.

While the recommended starting levels work well for many students, I've seen some younger students successfully begin at higher levels and older students benefit from starting at a lower level to build confidence and fill gaps.

If you're unsure whether to choose the books or online version, where your child should start, or whether Beast Academy is the right fit, read my detailed Beast Academy Review.

Not necessarily. The AoPS readiness test measures prerequisite knowledge, but it does not fully capture the level of problem solving required in the course. I've seen students who passed the test but still benefited from completing Beast Academy 5 first.

Read my detailed comparison here:

Beast Academy 5 vs AoPS Prealgebra: Which Should Your Child Take First?

In this blog post, I walk through the key factors I consider when deciding whether a student should begin with Beast Academy 5 or AoPS Prealgebra.

Long before I started using Beast Academy, I was creating my own problem-solving materials for students. Over the years, I wrote more than 1,000 elementary-level math questions and regularly used math competition problems to help students develop reasoning and problem-solving skills.

I wanted students to think deeply about mathematics rather than simply memorize procedures and follow steps. When I discovered Beast Academy, I was excited because its philosophy closely aligned with how I already believed math should be taught. I liked that Beast curriculum encourages students to reason, explore different approaches, and persevere through challenging problems.

Over the years, I've used Beast Academy extensively with my students and have seen how it helps them build confidence, independence, and a genuine enjoyment of mathematics.

If you'd like to learn more about the curriculum, read my complete Beast Academy Review.

Yes. I regularly work with students in AoPS Prealgebra, AoPS Algebra, and AoPS Geometry, helping them develop deep conceptual understanding and strong problem-solving skills.