Art of Problem Solving

Art of Problem Solving Grades 5-12 Updated July 2026

Who it fits

Mathematically strong, self-driven kids who enjoy struggling with a problem and want depth well past grade level. Kids working at grade level, kids who need worked examples first, and kids who get frustrated without direct teaching will have a hard time.

How it scores

Rigor
?

How demanding the material is versus grade level. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1gentle, below grade
  2. 2relaxed
  3. 3on grade
  4. 4demanding
  5. 5advanced
Read the rigor guide
Parent involvement
?

How much the parent is present and teaching. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1hands-off
  2. 2light
  3. 3shared
  4. 4leading
  5. 5parent-taught
Read the parent involvement guide
Prep load
?

How much the parent prepares before a lesson. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1open-and-go
  2. 2minimal
  3. 3moderate
  4. 4involved
  5. 5heavy
Read the prep load guide
Screen time
?

How much daily work is on a device. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1fully offline
  2. 2mostly offline
  3. 3blended
  4. 4mostly digital
  5. 5fully digital
Read the screen time guide
Independence
?

How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1adult-led
  2. 2guided
  3. 3semi-independent
  4. 4mostly independent
  5. 5fully independent
Read the independence guide
Time commitment
?

How long a daily lesson takes the child. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1under 15 min
  2. 215 to 25 min
  3. 325 to 40 min
  4. 440 to 60 min
  5. 560+ min
Read the time commitment guide

At a glance

Faith content None
Approach Mastery
Format Textbook Print textbooks with separate solutions manuals are the backbone, with a print-plus-online split like Beast Academy. AoPS also sells online versions of the books, free adaptive practice (Alcumus), free video lessons, and paid live online classes.
Used as Spine
Philosophy Eclectic Problem-solving/Socratic
Best for Advanced/giftedIndependent workers

What parents consistently praise

  • Builds deep conceptual understanding
  • Teaches real problem solving, not just procedures
  • The videos are engaging and clear
  • Free Alcumus is excellent adaptive practice
  • Strong prep for competitions and top STEM tracks

What parents report as challenges

  • It is hard, and kids get overwhelmed fast
  • Quick pace with little hand-holding
  • Jumps to tough problems before many worked examples
  • Wrong fit for a kid at grade level

How it shifts by grade

Capable 5th and 6th graders often start with Prealgebra. The live online classes move very fast, with Algebra 1 packed into roughly 16 weeks, while the textbooks are self-paced.

Additional notes

Two ways to use it: self-study from the textbook, which is student-driven and cheap, or the paid live online classes for structure and pace. Alcumus and the video lessons are free. There are no built-in tests; end-of-chapter review problems serve as the mastery check. This is the step up from Beast Academy.

Cost

Price$25-85/subject, classes extra
ConsumableNo
Per child / year~$60-85/course, more with live classes
Check price Art of Problem Solving

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Compare head to head

Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources (forums, Facebook groups, Reddit, and long-form reviews) together with the publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time.

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