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AP
MathGrades 5–12SecularBooks ~$30–$60; online courses ~$200–$600

Art of Problem Solving (AoPS)

Day-to-day
Mostly independent
Structure
Structured
Lesson prep
Low prep
Writing load
Writing-heavy
If you fall behind
Flexible pace

Best for

  • highly gifted math students
  • kids interested in math competitions
  • families wanting college-level math preparation
  • motivated independent learners

Not ideal for

  • average math learners
  • kids who struggle with math
  • students needing a gentler approach
  • younger students

Strengths

  • elite-level math preparation
  • develops deep problem-solving ability
  • prepares for AMC, AIME, and competitive math
  • strong online community
  • used by top math students worldwide

Watch-outs

  • !extremely challenging — not suitable for most students
  • !text-heavy and demanding
  • !can be frustrating for kids not naturally strong in math
  • !expensive for online courses

At a glance

Grade levelGrades 5–12
SubjectsMath
PriceBooks ~$30–$60; online courses ~$200–$600
Teaching stylereading-heavy, writing-intensive
ApproachSecular
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