Beast Academy 5 vs AoPS Prealgebra: Which Should Your Child Start With?
- Vasudha Uddavan
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
This is one of the most common questions parents ask me.
The short answer is:
If your child has strong problem-solving skills, competition math experience, or prior exposure to prealgebra, they may be ready to start directly with AoPS Prealgebra. However, that doesn't always mean it's the best place to start.
If they are newer to problem solving or mathematical enrichment, Beast Academy 5 often provides a smoother and more enjoyable path.
Over the years, I've worked with students who have succeeded through both routes. Here are a few guidelines that can help you decide which path is right for your child.
Step-by-Step Decision Roadmap
Step 1: Take the AoPS Pre-Algebra Readiness Test
Start with AoPS's "Are You Ready?" diagnostic:
This diagnostic is relatively straightforward. Students who are ready for AoPS Prealgebra should be able to complete it comfortably.
If your child struggles significantly with this test, I would recommend starting with Beast Academy 5 before attempting AoPS Prealgebra.
However, passing this test alone does not necessarily mean a student is ready for the rigor of AoPS. The actual course is considerably more challenging.
Step 2: Have They Done Math Competitions?
Has your child participated in competitions such as MOEMS or Math Kangaroo?
Students who have experience with competition math are often better prepared for the problem-solving style and mathematical thinking required in AoPS Prealgebra.
Step 3: Have They Already Studied Prealgebra?
If your child has already completed a prealgebra course in school, they will often be comfortable starting directly with AoPS Prealgebra. Sometimes, even then, they are surprised by the depth of the AoPS curriculum. One of the most often heard quotes by students new to AoPS is "but we've never done anything like this in school"
Step 4: Consider Their Grade Level and Experience
If your child is in Grade 5 or 6, has not studied pre-algebra, and has little or no competition math experience, there is usually no rush.
In these situations, Beast Academy 5 can provide a thorough foundation before moving on to AoPS.
Additional Checkpoints
Even students who pass the readiness test can sometimes find the opening chapters of AoPS surprisingly challenging.
Chapter 2: Exponents — This chapter gives many students trouble. If it feels overwhelming, I often recommend completing Chapter 12 of Beast Academy 5 before returning to AoPS.
Chapter 3: Number Theory — Most students have encountered factors, multiples, GCF, and LCM before, but AoPS approaches these ideas much more deeply. Students who have completed Chapter 5 of Beast Academy 5 usually find this transition significantly easier.
Chapter 5: Equations — For some students, solving equations is completely new. Chapter 3 of Beast Academy 5 provides excellent preparation for this topic.
If your child can work through Chapters 2 and 3 of AoPS Prealgebra with only a little difficulty, they are likely ready for the full course.
Two Students, Two Different Paths
A Student Who Started Directly with AoPS
Before Beast Academy Online existed, AoPS Prealgebra was often the natural starting point for strong problem solvers.
About ten years ago, I worked with a Grade 6 student who wanted to prepare for AMC 8. She had already participated in Math Kangaroo and had developed solid problem-solving skills.
We started directly with AoPS Prealgebra, and she handled it very well. Her AMC 8 score improved from 6 in Grade 6 to 16 in Grade 7.
For students who already have a strong problem-solving background, starting directly with AoPS can work extremely well.
A Student Who Started with Beast Academy 5
Another student came to me before entering Grade 5. His father wanted him to begin preparing for math competitions.
I gave him an old MOEMS paper, and he solved almost everything correctly. He clearly had strong mathematical ability.
Even so, his father was not in a hurry and wanted him to build the strongest possible foundation. We decided to begin with Beast Academy 5.
He completed the entire level in less than eight months with one class per week and a small amount of homework between classes. During that time, we also worked through several past MOEMS (Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools) papers.
When he transitioned to AoPS Prealgebra, the course felt very comfortable. Soon, he was working through AoPS Introduction to Algebra and Volume 1 while solving MathCounts and AMC 8 problems. He eventually progressed far enough that he was able to continue learning increasingly advanced mathematics on his own.
Could he have started directly with AoPS? Probably.
But the strong foundation built through Beast Academy made the transition easier and allowed him to become increasingly independent as he progressed.
One More Thing to Watch For: Exhaustion
A friend once called me asking whether her son should continue with Beast Academy 5 or move directly into AoPS Prealgebra.
He had completed Beast Academy Levels 2 and 3 a few years earlier but had taken a break because his mother wanted to minimize screen time. Now that he had finished Grade 4, she was ready for him to continue.
She mentioned that he had already started working through some AoPS Prealgebra problems and was able to solve them successfully.
My response surprised her.
I wasn't particularly interested in whether he could solve the problems. Instead, I asked her to pay attention to two things:
How frustrated was he while working?
How exhausted was he afterwards?
Given his age and the fact that he had plenty of time before AMC 8, I suggested that Beast Academy 5 might still be the better choice, even if he was capable of handling AoPS.
A few months later, she called me back.
"You were so right," she said. "He could do the AoPS problems, but he was exhausted after working for even thirty minutes. We switched to Beast Academy 5 Online, and now he loves it. He's racing through the material and keeps asking for more."
That conversation reinforced something I've observed many times over the years: Readiness is not just about whether a student can solve the problems. It's also about how much energy, confidence, and enjoyment it takes to get there.
Still Not Sure?
In most cases, I recommend completing Beast Academy 5 first.
The reason is simple: when students struggle too much with AoPS Prealgebra, progress becomes slow and frustrating. Some students even decide they dislike the curriculum altogether.
Students who complete Beast Academy 5 first often approach AoPS with much greater confidence. In fact, I've found that many students finish Beast Academy 5 and AoPS Prealgebra in less time than students who spend months struggling through AoPS before they're truly ready.
Another advantage is that Beast Academy's interface is generally easier for students to navigate independently, allowing them to make faster progress on their own.
What About Grade 7 or 8 Students?
This is where the decision becomes more difficult.
Many parents worry that starting Beast Academy 5 in Grade 7 or 8 will put their child behind. Some students are also reluctant to work through a Level 5 curriculum because they feel it is "below their grade level." The comic-book format can reinforce this perception.
However, don't let the format fool you. Beast Academy 5 is significantly more challenging than a typical Grade 5 curriculum and often goes much deeper than standard middle-school mathematics in terms of reasoning and problem solving.
I've worked with a handful of older students who needed additional work on foundational problem-solving skills. Although they were initially hesitant, every family that chose this path later told me they were glad they did. Students gained confidence, improved their problem-solving abilities, and often saw improvements in their school mathematics as well.
For students who are unsure whether BA5 is necessary, I usually recommend trying Chapters 2 and 3 of AoPS Prealgebra first. If they can work through those chapters comfortably, continue with AoPS.
If not, completing Chapters 3, 5, and 12 of Beast Academy 5 can make the transition significantly smoother and reduce a lot of the initial frustration.
The goal is not to choose the curriculum with the highest grade number attached to it. The goal is to build the mathematical foundation that will help the student succeed in the long run.
Beast Academy 5 or AoPS Prealgebra? A Quick Summary
Here's a table simplifying the key ideas
Beast Academy 5 vs. AoPS Prealgebra: A Quick Summary
Choose AoPS Prealgebra If... | Choose Beast Academy 5 First If... |
• The student passed the readiness test easily. | • The readiness test was challenging |
• They have competition math experience (MOEMS, Math Kangaroo). | • They have little to no prior problem-solving experience. |
• They have already studied standard school prealgebra. | • They are completely new to mathematical enrichment. |
• They can handle AoPS Chapters 2 and 3 comfortably. | • They are struggling or experience extreme exhaustion in AoPS Chapters 2 or 3. |
• They are older (Grade 7/8) and match the criteria above. | • They have sufficient time and want to build a highly confident, independent foundation. |
Final Thoughts
There isn't a single "correct" answer for every child.
I've had students thrive by jumping directly into AoPS Prealgebra, and I've had others benefit enormously from spending time in Beast Academy 5 first. The best choice depends on the student's mathematical maturity, problem-solving experience, confidence level, and long-term goals.
When in doubt, I generally lean toward building a stronger foundation. In my experience, well-prepared students often progress faster in the long run than those who rush ahead before they're ready.
Remember, the goal isn't to finish a curriculum as quickly as possible. The goal is to develop deep mathematical understanding, strong problem-solving skills, and a genuine enjoyment of mathematics.
If you're still unsure which path is best for your child, feel free to reach out. I'd be happy to help you evaluate their current level and recommend a starting point.
About the Author
Vasudha has been teaching mathematics, problem solving, and math competition preparation for over a decade. She has helped students build strong foundations through Beast Academy and AoPS while preparing for competitions such as MOEMS, APSMO, AMC (Australian Mathematics Competition), Math Kangaroo, AMC 8, and MathCounts. She is passionate about helping students develop confidence, independence, and a genuine love of mathematics.
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