--- title: "Beast Academy Tutor: Live Help With Levels 1 to 5" description: "A Beast Academy tutor for families using the books or BA Online: the levels and units, pacing, getting unstuck on starred problems, and live help." canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/beast-academy-tutor source: src/pages/beast-academy-tutor.html --- > A Beast Academy tutor for families using the books or BA Online: the levels and units, pacing, getting unstuck on starred problems, and live help. In short Beast Academy is an elementary math program from Art of Problem Solving for ages 6 to 13, in five levels of four units each, taught through comic-style Guide books, Practice books and BA Online. A Beast Academy tutor helps a child work through its challenging problems with hints instead of answers. Modern Age Coders teaches live online for US families, in a batch or 1-on-1, through its Elementary Math course, and the first class is free. Live courses for Beast Academy families ## Three courses that work beside Beast Academy Each keeps the Beast Academy book or online level in front of the child and adds a teacher who knows when to hint and when to wait. [![Elementary Maths for Grades 1-5 course thumbnail](/images/elementary-maths.webp) BA / 01 Elementary math, grades 1 to 5 Our main course for Levels 1 to 4: number sense, multiplication, fractions, taught for depth. Open the syllabus →](/courses/elementary-mathematics-complete-masterclass)[![Middle School Math Competitions course thumbnail](/images/middle-school-math-competitions.webp) BA / 02 Math competitions For Level 4 and 5 students who love the puzzles and want MATHCOUNTS or AMC 8 problems. Open the syllabus →](/courses/middle-school-math-competitions-course)[![Middle School Mathematics Mastery course thumbnail](/images/middle-school-maths.webp) BA / 03 Middle school math For the step after Level 5: prealgebra, ratios and equations. Open the syllabus →](/courses/comprehensive-middle-school-mathematics-mastery) What it is ## What is Beast Academy, and who is it for? Beast Academy is the elementary math program of Art of Problem Solving. Its FAQ calls it a full math program for ages 6 to 13 that covers grade-level standards in more depth than most elementary curricula. | Question | What Beast Academy says | | --- | --- | | Who makes it? | "the elementary school math program created by Art of Problem Solving (AoPS)" | | Ages | A full math program "for kids ages 6-13" | | Standards | "loosely based on the Common Core standards" | | Formats | Physical books, BA Online, or a mix of both | | Size | "20,000+ problems, puzzles, and skill games" across books and online lessons | | Live classes | Video-based classes for Levels 2 to 5, learning "alongside 10-16 curious peers" | | Full or supplement? | Either: "a stand-alone curriculum or as a supplement to another program" | | What comes next | Level 5 of BA Online gives the background for AoPS prealgebra | ### Guide and Practice The books page explains the pairing. Guide books teach in an illustrated, comic-style format. Practice books "contain exercises, problems, and puzzles that reinforce the lessons taught in the Guides", with step-by-step solutions, and "Many solutions feature more than one approach." Books and BA Online "cover the same concepts in the same order of units and chapters", but the Practice books contain completely different problems from the online ones, so a child can use both without repeating work. ### Not only for advanced children The FAQ says the program was created with accelerated learners in mind but is flexible, and that children with a wide range of abilities have used it. It also says honestly that some children use it independently while others "might need greater support as they encounter new topics and work through challenging problems." That second group is who this page is for. Sources: [Beast Academy](https://beastacademy.com/), its [FAQ](https://beastacademy.com/faq) and [books page](https://beastacademy.com/books), checked 31 October 2026. Beast Academy and Art of Problem Solving are trademarks of their owner. Modern Age Coders is not affiliated with or endorsed by Art of Problem Solving. Levels and units ## What do Beast Academy Levels 1 to 5 cover? Each of the five levels is split into four units, A to D. Once a child finishes unit D of a level, the books page says they are ready for unit A of the next. | Level | Ages | Unit A | Unit B | Unit C | Unit D | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 6 to 8 | Counting, shapes, comparing | Addition, subtraction, categories | Addition and subtraction, comparing, patterns | Big numbers, measurement, problem solving | | 2 | 7 to 9 | Place value, comparing, addition | Subtraction, expressions, problem solving | Measurement, strategies, odds and evens | Big numbers, algorithms, problem solving | | 3 | 8 to 10 | Shapes, skip-counting, perimeter and area | Multiplication, perfect squares, the distributive property | Variables, division, measurement | Fractions, estimation, area | | 4 | 9 to 12 | Shapes, multiplication, exponents | Counting, division, logic | Factors, fractions, integers | Fractions, decimals, probability | | 5 | 10 to 13 | 3D solids, integers, expressions and equations | Statistics, factors and multiples, fractions | Sequences, ratios and rates, decimals | Percents, square roots, exponents | ### Starting a level behind The FAQ recommends that students start "about a level ‘behind’ their current grade level", because the problems are demanding. Its example: a child who is 8 or 9 should likely start with Level 2. Beast Academy also offers a placement test, which we suggest before any tutoring starts, so the teacher and the book agree on where the child is. ### Level 1 is different Level 1 does not have separate Guide and Practice books; all of its material is combined into a single book per unit. Levels 2 to 5 each have four Guide books and four Practice books. The FAQ adds that Levels 4 and 5 "also cover many middle-grades standards", which is why some older children use them in grades 6 and 7. Pacing ## How fast should a child move through Beast Academy? Slower than parents expect. The FAQ suggests 12 to 15 days per chapter, so that one level fills a 180-day school year, and it says children are not meant to do every problem. | What the FAQ says | What it means at home | | --- | --- | | "Aim to spend 12-15 days teaching a chapter" | Two to three school weeks per chapter is normal, not slow | | Finish one level in 180 days | One level is roughly one school year | | Assign Practice "by time and not by pages" | Set 30 or 40 minutes, not "do pages 12 to 18" | | "some pages in the Practice books may take more than an hour" | A long page is not a sign of failure | | "we don't expect students to complete every single problem" | Skipping some problems is part of the design | In our experience the families who struggle most with Beast Academy are not the ones whose children find it hard. They are the ones trying to finish a set number of pages a day. Switching to a timed session, with the hardest starred problems saved for a class with the teacher, usually changes the mood within a couple of weeks. When stuck ## What should a child do when stuck on a Beast Academy problem? Beast Academy publishes its own advice, and it is good. A tutor adds a second layer: a hint ladder that gives the least help that still moves the child forward. ### Beast Academy’s advice The FAQ says children should know that hard problems take time, and that taking a long time "does not mean that they’re bad at math." It suggests re-reading the lesson in the Guide and the examples at the top of the Practice pages, trying something new, and using "the guiding questions at the back of the Practice book" for starred problems. And: "it’s always okay to take a break and come back later with fresh eyes." ### What a tutor adds A book’s hint is the same for every child. A teacher watching the child work can see whether they misread the question, chose a poor first step or simply ran out of patience, and hint at exactly that. The aim is the same as the book’s: the child solves it. The tutor just makes the gap between stuck and solved smaller. 1. **Rung 1, restate.** "Tell me what the problem is asking, in your own words." Many stalls end here. 2. **Rung 2, smaller case.** "Try it with smaller numbers first." A pattern in small cases often reveals the method. 3. **Rung 3, a picture.** "Can you draw it?" Dots, a number line or a grid. 4. **Rung 4, a first step.** The teacher suggests one move, not the whole route. 5. **Rung 5, a parked problem.** If it is still stuck, it goes in a notebook and comes back next class. Nobody gives the answer. This ladder is ours; it is how our teachers work with any challenging curriculum. It sits comfortably beside Beast Academy’s own suggestions. Worked puzzles ## Worked puzzles in Beast Academy’s topics, written by us Three original problems on topics the books page lists for Levels 3 to 5, worked the way we would in class. They are ours, not copied from any Beast Academy book. | Step | What the child does | What they notice | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Work out 13 x 13 = 169 and 12 x 14 = 168 | They differ by exactly 1 | | 2 | Try 9 x 9 = 81 and 8 x 10 = 80 | Again 1 apart | | 3 | Draw a 13 by 13 square of dots, then move one column to make 12 by 14 | One dot is left over | | 4 | Use the distributive property: 12 x 14 = 12 x 12 + 12 x 2 = 144 + 24 = 168 | The algebra agrees with the drawing | | 5 | Predict 19 x 21 from 20 x 20 = 400 | 399, before multiplying | ***neighbor_squares.py (our example)**Python 3* ``` for n in range(11, 16): print(n, n * n, (n - 1) * (n + 1)) ``` Output: 11 121 120, then 12 144 143, 13 169 168, 14 196 195, 15 225 224. A parent can use this to check the pattern quickly; the child should find it with dots and the distributive property first. ### Factor rectangles (a Level 4 topic) How many different rectangles with whole-number sides have an area of 36 square units? Our worked answer: list factor pairs in order, 1 x 36, 2 x 18, 3 x 12, 4 x 9, 6 x 6, and stop when the pairs start repeating. Five rectangles, if a 4 by 9 and a 9 by 4 count as the same shape. The thinking move is the stopping rule: once the first factor passes the square root, every pair has already appeared. ### A growing sequence (a Level 5 topic) What is the 50th term of 4, 7, 10, 13, and so on? Our worked answer: each step adds 3, and the 50th term is 49 steps after the first, so 4 + 49 x 3 = 151. The common slip is 50 x 3 + 4 = 154: counting terms instead of steps. Asking "how many jumps from the 1st to the 3rd term?" fixes it. | Problem | Hint if stuck | | --- | --- | | 21 x 19 without a calculator | Start from 20 x 20 (399) | | Which is bigger, 30 x 30 or 29 x 31? By how much? | Neighbor squares (30 x 30, by 1) | | How many rectangles with whole-number sides have area 24? | List factor pairs (4) | | The 50th term of 2, 7, 12, 17, and so on | Count the jumps (247) | | 99 x 101 | Neighbor squares around 100 (9,999) | Where your child is ## Four stages of working with a challenging curriculum Our description of how children grow into Beast Academy-style problems. | Stage | What it looks like | | --- | --- | | 1. Answer-seeking | Wants the method before trying; upset by a long problem | | 2. Trying | Makes an attempt, gives up after a few minutes | | 3. Exploring | Tries small cases and drawings without being asked | | 4. Enjoying | Chooses the starred problems first | ### For parents Stage 2 is where most families ask for a tutor. The goal is time on the problem, not speed. Praise the attempt and the drawing, not only the answer. ### For children Being stuck is part of the problem. It means you are at the interesting bit. Try the problem with smaller numbers. It works surprisingly often. The catalogue ## Nine courses for curious young mathematicians From early number sense to competitions, taught live with plenty of thinking time. I ### Early years Ages 6 to 8 BA / E / 01 #### Early math foundations Hands-on number sense. [Open the syllabus](/courses/early-math-foundations) BA / E / 02 #### Mental math Patterns, not tricks. [Open the syllabus](/courses/mental-maths-mastery-kids) BA / E / 03 #### Elementary math Grades 1 to 5 in depth. [Open the syllabus](/courses/elementary-mathematics-complete-masterclass)II ### Problem solvers Ages 9 to 12 BA / P / 01 #### Math competitions MATHCOUNTS and AMC 8. [Open the syllabus](/courses/middle-school-math-competitions-course) BA / P / 02 #### Math through coding Test patterns in Python. [Open the syllabus](/courses/maths-through-coding) BA / P / 03 #### Middle school math Prealgebra and beyond. [Open the syllabus](/courses/comprehensive-middle-school-mathematics-mastery)III ### Further on Ages 12 and up BA / F / 01 #### Olympiad mathematics AMC 10 and higher. [Open the syllabus](/courses/olympiad-competition-mathematics-mastery) BA / F / 02 #### Algebra foundations Algebra 1 properly. [Open the syllabus](/courses/algebra-foundations-masterclass) BA / F / 03 #### High school math Through to calculus. [Open the syllabus](/courses/complete-high-school-mathematics-mastery) How lessons run ## Live classes with room to think Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. Weekdays After school, with the week’s parked problems. Weekends Longer sessions for the starred pages. 1-on-1 Paced to your level and unit. ### Hint ladder The smallest hint that still helps. ### Book stays central Guide and Practice on the desk. ### Original puzzles Extra problems written by our teachers. ### No answer sheets The child solves it. ### All US time zones Times around school and homeschool. ### Batch or private A class of fifteen to twenty, or one child. Student work ## Work from our students Some puzzle lovers go on to code. See a few of their projects on [student labs](/student-labs). ![NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot](/images/projects/nutrilife.webp) AI and ML #### NutriLife An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target. by Bhavya · [Open it](https://nutrilife-bhavya.lovable.app) ![Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot](/images/projects/misti.webp) AI and ML #### Misti A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student. by Harshit · [Open it](https://misti.modernagecoders.com) ![GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot](/images/projects/guardianx.webp) AI and ML #### GuardianX An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online. by Vivaan · [Open it](https://guardianx-cybersaver.lovable.app) ![SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot](/images/projects/skycast.webp) Web app #### SkyCast A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location. by Krish Fees ## Fees Live classes alongside Beast Academy are billed monthly in US dollars, with no annual commitment, so families can add help for a demanding level and pause afterwards. Free first class USD 0 no card required - A free first class - Bring a starred problem - No card needed Book it Group batch USD 100 a month, billed in US dollars - Fifteen to twenty children - A steady teacher - Choose your batch - Billed monthly Start here One to one USD 150 a month, billed in US dollars - Your child and one teacher - Matched to their unit - Flexible times Enquire What families say ## Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews Google reviews from parents, as they wrote them. ★★★★★ "The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content." Ria Mukherjee Parent ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease." Samriddha Mondal Student ★★★★★ "One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development." Vansh Agarwal Student ★★★★★ "My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative." Sonam Oswal Parent of Dhairya ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation." Sonu Goyal Parent ★★★★★ "I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding." Ritu Kedia Parent Questions from families ## Beast Academy tutoring: common questions ### Do you offer a Beast Academy tutor online? Yes. Our teachers work live by video with your child's Beast Academy Guide and Practice books or BA Online, using hints rather than answers. Classes run as a batch of 15 to 20 or one to one. ### Who makes Beast Academy? Beast Academy is the elementary math program created by Art of Problem Solving (AoPS). Its FAQ describes it as a full math program for ages 6 to 13. We are independent and not affiliated with AoPS. ### What level of Beast Academy should my child start? The Beast Academy FAQ suggests starting about a level behind the child's current grade, so a child of 8 or 9 would usually begin at Level 2. It also offers a placement test, which we recommend. ### How long should a Beast Academy chapter take? The FAQ suggests 12 to 15 days per chapter, so that one level fills a 180-day school year. It recommends assigning Practice by time rather than by pages. ### Does my child need to do every Beast Academy problem? No. The FAQ says the curriculum has a lot of material and children are not expected to complete every problem. Some Practice pages can take more than an hour. ### My child gets upset on hard problems. What helps? Beast Academy advises re-reading the Guide, using the guiding questions at the back of the Practice book and taking breaks. A tutor adds hints tailored to the exact point where your child is stuck. ### Is Beast Academy aligned to Common Core? Its FAQ says Beast Academy is loosely based on the Common Core standards and covers the key topics for grades 1 to 5 in greater depth, with Levels 4 and 5 also covering many middle-grade standards. ### What comes after Beast Academy Level 5? Beast Academy says a child who completes Level 5 of BA Online has the background for AoPS prealgebra. Our middle school and competitions courses are also a natural next step. ### When are classes held? Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. ### Will the tutor give my child the answers? No. Our teachers use a hint ladder that gives the least help needed. A problem that is still unsolved is parked for next time rather than answered. Elsewhere on this site ## Related pages More for families of children who love a hard problem. ### [Math competitions for middle school](/math-competitions-for-middle-school-students) Contests to try after Level 5. ### [MATHCOUNTS preparation](/mathcounts-preparation) Team and individual problem solving. ### [Third grade math tutoring](/online-math-tutor-3rd-grade) Multiplication and early fractions. ### [Fourth grade math tutoring](/online-math-tutor-4th-grade) Factors, fractions and multi-digit work. ### [Homeschool math curriculum](/homeschool-math-curriculum-usa) Building a math plan for home learning. ### [Olympiad and AMC tutoring](/math-olympiad-amc-tutoring) For older students who want the hardest problems. ## Related pages in this guide Part of the guide: [Homeschool and school math curricula guide](/homeschool-math-curriculum-guide-usa) ### Curricula we teach alongside - [Saxon Math tutor](/saxon-math-tutor) - [Teaching Textbooks math help](/teaching-textbooks-math-help) - [Math Mammoth tutor](/math-mammoth-tutor) - [Math-U-See tutor](/math-u-see-tutor) - [Eureka Math homework help](/eureka-math-homework-help) - [enVision Math help](/envision-math-help) - [Go Math homework help](/go-math-homework-help) - [Big Ideas Math help](/big-ideas-math-help) ### Comparing options - [Khan Academy math vs live tutor](/khan-academy-math-vs-live-tutor) - [Russian School of Mathematics alternative](/russian-school-of-mathematics-alternative) - [Art of Problem Solving alternative](/art-of-problem-solving-alternative) ### Homeschool testing and credit - [Stanford 10 math practice](/stanford-10-math-practice) - [Homeschool CS high school credit](/homeschool-computer-science-high-school-credit) More guides: [US state math tests by state](/us-state-math-tests-by-state) · [US gifted and selective school tests](/us-gifted-and-selective-school-tests-guide) · [US math placement and college readiness tests](/us-math-placement-and-college-readiness-tests) · [US math and coding competitions guide](/us-math-and-coding-competitions-guide) Start here ## Book a free first class Tell us the Beast Academy level and unit, and send a photo of a problem that beat your child this week. The teacher will start there. See [how our teachers guide a lesson](/how-we-teach), or browse [every course we teach](/courses). [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/919123366161?text=Hello%20Modern%20Age%20Coders%2C%20my%20child%20uses%20Beast%20Academy%20and%20gets%20stuck%20on%20the%20harder%20problems.%20Could%20we%20book%20a%20free%20first%20class%3F) · [+91 91233 66161](tel:+919123366161) · [connect@modernagecoders.com](mailto:connect@modernagecoders.com) Our teachers work from India and teach American children live, at hours that fit school evenings and weekend mornings across the US. WhatsApp reaches us fastest. ### Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo A priority demo is a full class of about 45 to 60 minutes. After the class the mentor sends a written skill report and a personal learning roadmap on WhatsApp. If you enrol, the demo fee is adjusted against your first month's fee. Share your demo Order ID with us on WhatsApp and we take it off. [Book a priority demo](/book-demo) ## Keep exploring Modern Age Coders ### More maths tuition - [Best Online Math Tutoring 2026: Ranked Honestly, With Sources](/best-online-math-tutoring-2026) - [Australian Maths Trust Prep: AMC, AIO and CAT, Live Online](/australian-maths-trust-amc-aio-cat-preparation) - [Best Online Math Tutoring in Canada: 7 Checks Before You Pick](/best-online-math-tutoring-in-canada) - [Maths Competitions for Primary Kids in Australia: A Guide](/australian-maths-competitions-for-primary-kids) - [Best Online Maths Classes for Kids 2026: Ranked Honestly](/best-online-maths-classes-2026) - [Australian Mathematical Olympiad Preparation: AMO Explained](/australian-mathematical-olympiad-preparation) - [Maths Tuition in Glasgow](/maths-tuition-in-glasgow) - [Maths Tuition in Milton Keynes](/maths-tuition-in-milton-keynes) - [Maths Tuition in Liverpool](/maths-tuition-in-liverpool) ### Learn more - [Functional Skills Maths vs GCSE Maths: Which Should You Take?](/functional-skills-maths-vs-gcse-maths) - [AP Precalculus: Units 1 to 3 and Full Exam Prep](/courses/ap-precalculus-exam-prep-course) - [PSLE Maths: Model Method, Problem Sums & MOE Syllabus](/courses/psle-maths-mastery) - [ACT Math Prep: Live Classes for the ACT Mathematics Section](/courses/act-math-prep-course) ### From the blog - [Maths Learning Guides](/blog/topic/maths) - [Estimation in Maths: Rounding, Fermi Problems and Checks](/blog/estimation-in-maths) - [How Data Analytics and Math Help Businesses Make Better Decisions](/blog/data-analytics-math-help-businesses-better-decisions) - [How to Solve Maths Word Problems (Without Keywords)](/blog/how-to-solve-maths-word-problems) ### Start here - [Try a free trial class with a Modern Age Coders mentor](/free-trial) - [About Modern Age Coders, teaching since 2020](/about) Free class[Priority demo](/book-demo)[Call us](tel:+919123366161) --- *Canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/beast-academy-tutor*