Can My Child Use Beast Academy Without a Tutor? When Tutoring Makes a Difference
- Vasudha Uddavan
- Jul 21
- 9 min read
The short answer is yes. In fact, I tell every family this before they begin lessons with me.
Beast Academy is one of the few math programs that many students can successfully complete on their own. The online version is especially helpful because it includes instructional videos, interactive practice, and immediate feedback after every answer. For many families, that makes it much easier to support their child without having to teach the material themselves.
If you're trying to decide between the books and the online version, I've written a detailed comparison in my Beast Academy Review.
I use the online version with my Beast Academy students because it also allows me to monitor their progress between lessons. I can see which lessons they've completed, which questions they're getting wrong, and which concepts may need more discussion during our next class. That helps me tailor each lesson to what the student actually needs, rather than simply moving to the next chapter.
Some students complete the entire curriculum independently and do very well.
So why do some families choose tutoring?
The answer isn't that Beast Academy is lacking—quite the opposite. It's one of the strongest elementary math curricula available. My role isn't to replace it—it's to help students get the full benefit of it.
Table of Contents
Can My Child Use Beast Academy Without a Tutor? - Introduction
What Does an Experienced Beast Academy Tutor Add?
After working with many students through Beast Academy and AoPS, I've learned that the greatest value of tutoring isn't explaining difficult questions.
It's helping students develop mathematical thinking, recognizing when to slow down, when to move ahead, and how the ideas in one chapter prepare students for concepts they'll encounter months—or even years—later.
Here are some of the ways I support students.
Knowing Where Students Struggle
Some Beast Academy chapters are straightforward for most students. Others become turning points in the curriculum.
For example, Chapters 5 and 6 of Beast Academy Level 3 are where many students begin to need more guidance.
Chapter 5 introduces several clever computation strategies that make calculations much more efficient. These aren't just shortcuts—they become valuable tools that students continue to use in AoPS Algebra and beyond. (Example is given below in the developing mathematical thinking section)
At this point, I decide whether a student should spend more time mastering the ideas immediately or move on and revisit the chapter later. That decision depends entirely on the individual student. Some students need a little discussion before the concepts click, while others benefit from returning to the chapter after they've had more experience solving problems.
Chapter 6 introduces the distributive property, one of the most important ideas in elementary mathematics. Since it forms the foundation for the next chapter—and later algebra—I usually spend extra time here, making sure students understand not just how to use it, but why it works.
These are the kinds of decisions that are difficult to make when you're seeing the curriculum for the first time. Having taught many students through Beast Academy, I know which ideas are worth slowing down for and which students are ready to move ahead independently.
Revisiting Important Ideas
Progress through Beast Academy isn't always a straight line.
Sometimes the best way to help a student move forward is to revisit an earlier chapter. Other times, it makes sense to postpone a chapter until the student is ready for it.
For example, before starting Probability (Chapter 12 of Beast Academy 4), I often ask students to review Counting (Chapter 4).
Counting is one of the chapters that many students find challenging. They usually understand enough to finish the chapter, but not always well enough to apply those ideas confidently later.
Probability depends heavily on counting techniques. Revisiting Counting first often deepens their understanding of both topics.
The student's goals also matter.
If a student is preparing for math competitions, I make sure they develop a strong understanding of both Counting and Probability. These topics appear frequently in competition mathematics and are worth investing extra time in.
However, not every student is aiming for competitions. If these chapters become a major obstacle, it may be better to postpone them rather than let them become a source of frustration. We can revisit them during Beast Academy 5, when the student's mathematical maturity has grown, and the ideas often make much more sense.
There isn't a single "correct" path through Beast Academy. One of the advantages of working with an experienced tutor is knowing when to slow down, when to move ahead, and when revisiting a topic will lead to a much deeper understanding.
Developing Mathematical Thinking
As a Beast Academy Tutor, one of the things I love about Beast Academy is that it encourages students to look for mathematical structure rather than relying on lengthy calculations. Many problems are designed to help students discover elegant ideas rather than simply practise arithmetic.
For example, a student might be asked to calculate:
1163² − 1162²
A student who calculates both squares and subtracts them will eventually arrive at the correct answer. But although the answer is correct, they've missed the mathematical idea the problem was designed to teach.
Rather than moving on, I see that as an opportunity for discussion.
I don't immediately show the shortcut or explain the pattern. Instead, I ask questions such as:
Is there a shorter way? Why do you think that method works?
Have you seen a similar idea before? Do you remember the chapter on neighbouring squares?
That final question is usually my last hint.
If the student remembers the earlier idea, they're often able to discover the elegant solution on their own. If they don't, I ask them to revisit the chapter on neighbouring squares before we continue. Once they've refreshed that idea, they're usually able to make the connection themselves.
I also don't expect students to discover these ideas immediately. Beast Academy is designed to encourage exploration, and I want students to feel comfortable trying approaches that don't work. Those moments are often the most valuable because they reveal how a student is thinking. Once I understand their reasoning, I can ask questions that help them make the next connection for themselves.
To me, that's one of the biggest strengths of Beast Academy. Mathematics isn't a collection of isolated chapters. The ideas students learn today become the tools they use to solve tomorrow's problems. Revisiting earlier ideas, making connections between topics, and discovering patterns for themselves helps students develop a deeper and more connected understanding of mathematics.
This questioning style is part of my broader teaching philosophy. If you're interested in why I use a coaching approach rather than simply explaining solutions, you can read more in From Teaching to Coaching: Rethinking How I Tutor AoPS and Beast Academy.
Building the Foundation for AoPS
Many of my students eventually continue into AoPS Prealgebra, Algebra, and beyond.
This is one of the reasons I enjoy working with students from the Beast Academy years.
When students begin Beast Academy early, they don't just learn arithmetic. They learn to solve unfamiliar problems, look for patterns, explain their reasoning, and persevere through challenging questions. Those habits make the transition to AoPS much smoother.
Sometimes a family contacts me after their child has already started AoPS Prealgebra.
When the Foundation Is Strong
In some cases, the student already has an excellent foundation, and we simply continue from where they are.
One student joined me halfway through AoPS Prealgebra after working through Beast Academy with his mother. She had done an outstanding job, so we were able to move through the rest of Prealgebra at a good pace and continue into AoPS Algebra.
She later wrote:
"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."
"Because the sessions move at his specific pace rather than a group's, she focuses on building a rock-solid foundation without pressure."
I especially appreciated something she told me during one of our conversations:
"I can teach the chapters. What I can't do is connect them the way you do."
That captured something I've thought about often. A strong parent can absolutely guide a child through Beast Academy. The added value I try to bring is understanding how the ideas fit together across the curriculum and how they prepare students for what's coming next.
If you're deciding between BA5 and AoPS Prealgebra, I've written a detailed comparison here.
When the Foundation Needs Strengthening
Other times, I discover that the real challenge isn't AoPS at all...
One student came to me after already starting AoPS Prealgebra. His mother told me he was about halfway through the book, so we began from there.
Very quickly, I noticed that he was struggling with solving equations.
As we worked on equations, I realized the difficulty wasn't really equations at all. He wasn't comfortable with concepts like GCF and LCM, so we went back to the Number Theory chapter to strengthen those ideas.
Even after reviewing them, he still found it difficult to work independently on new problems.
After several weeks of moving back and forth between earlier topics and the current chapter,
I realized we were treating the symptoms rather than the cause.
I had a difficult conversation with his mother.
I suggested that instead of continuing to push through AoPS Prealgebra, we step back and work through Beast Academy 5 to build the foundation that was missing.
To her credit, both she and her son were very open to the idea.
We spent about four months working through Beast Academy 5 before returning to AoPS Prealgebra.
The difference was remarkable.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed, he began to enjoy the problems. The ideas made sense because he finally had the foundation they were built on.
His mother later told me,
"He loves your classes. For all of his other classes, I have to remind him to attend. I never have to remind him about yours."
That experience reinforced something I've seen many times over the years.
Sometimes the fastest way forward is to step back and strengthen the foundation.
Going Beyond the Curriculum
An experienced tutor also knows when the curriculum is enough—and when it's helpful to go beyond it. Although Beast Academy is my primary curriculum, I don't limit students to the exercises in the books. Depending on the student's goals, I often supplement the curriculum with carefully chosen problems of my own.
For students who enjoy math competitions, I frequently extend topics beyond what Beast Academy covers.
For example, Beast Academy introduces divisibility rules, but I often take the topic further. We explore additional divisibility tests, such as the rule for 11, investigate why the rules work rather than simply memorizing them, and tackle more challenging questions involving numbers like 18 and 36. These discussions help students discover how different divisibility rules can be combined and applied.
I also regularly use past problems from a variety of math competitions. This isn't limited to students who compete. Competition problems expose students to unfamiliar situations and require them to connect ideas from different areas of mathematics. They provide variety, encourage flexible thinking, and help students develop the habit of looking for patterns rather than relying on routine methods.
The goal isn't to give students more work.
It's to give them richer mathematical experiences at the right time.
Accountability and Motivation
One of the biggest challenges parents mention isn't the mathematics—it's consistency.
Many children are far more likely to complete challenging work when they have a teacher expecting them to do it. As a parent myself, I've experienced this firsthand.
Parents often tell me they initially hired me simply to keep their child on track. They stayed because they saw steady progress, increased confidence, and a growing enjoyment of mathematics.
Signs Your Child May Benefit from a Beast Academy Tutor
Your child may benefit from additional guidance if they:
complete chapters but struggle to explain why their solutions work.
become frustrated after several unsuccessful attempts at a challenging problem.
rush through lessons without reflecting on mistakes or alternative approaches.
need accountability to work each week consistently.
are preparing to transition from Beast Academy to AoPS.
So, Does Your Child Need a Tutor for Beast Academy?
Not always.
Many students complete Beast Academy independently.
If your child enjoys working independently, is progressing steadily, and is developing strong mathematical thinking, then Beast Academy may be all they need.
Tutoring becomes valuable when a student benefits from discussion, guidance, accountability, or a teacher who understands how the curriculum fits together.
My goal isn't simply to help students finish Beast Academy. Completing the curriculum is a milestone. Learning how to think mathematically is the lasting outcome.
My goal is to help them build the kind of mathematical foundation that allows them to thrive in AoPS—and in every stage of mathematics that follows.
About the Author
I'm Vasudha, an online math tutor specializing in Beast Academy and Art of Problem Solving (AoPS). Over the years, I've worked with students from Beast Academy through AoPS Algebra and beyond, helping them develop strong problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of mathematics.
My teaching focuses on mathematical thinking rather than memorizing procedures. I use a Socratic approach, encouraging students to discover patterns, explain their reasoning, and build connections between ideas. Rather than simply completing the curriculum, my goal is to help students develop the confidence and foundation they need to succeed in future mathematics.
If you're considering Beast Academy for your child or wondering whether tutoring would be beneficial, I hope the experiences shared in this article provide a clearer picture of what the curriculum offers and how an experienced tutor can support your child's journey.
If you're unsure whether your child would benefit from additional guidance, I'd be happy to discuss their goals and help you decide whether tutoring is the right fit.
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