CTC Math

Name: CTC Math
Brand: CTC Math

by CTC Math (website )

Adaptive online math with diagnostic tests, short video lessons, and automated grading for independent learning.

Best Fit For

Families seeking affordable, independent online math for multiple children. Students who work quickly and prefer efficient instruction without extra context. Parents wanting hands-off math with automated grading and detailed progress reports. Homeschoolers comfortable with secular content and Australian accent/terminology. Those needing diagnostic testing to identify gaps and flexible grade-level access.

Not Recommended For

Students who need engaging story-based context or extensive real-world applications. Learners who experience anxiety from immediate computerized grading or need partial credit for work shown. Families requiring Biblical worldview integration. Students who struggle with repetitive content or abrupt difficulty jumps. Parents seeking personalized feedback beyond automated scoring.

What Reviewers Say

CTC Math receives strong praise from reviewers for its independent, efficient approach to online math education. Created by Australian teacher Patrick Murray, it is one of Cathy Duffy's 103 Top Picks and described as "an excellent option for math" that is "easy to navigate and efficient." Parents consistently appreciate the short video lessons (4-9 minutes), immediate automated grading, diagnostic tests for placement, and detailed progress tracking that requires minimal parent involvement. The adaptive difficulty adjusts based on student performance, and the family plan pricing ($198.50/year for up to 10 students) is praised as affordable compared to competitors like IXL. However, some parents note concerns. The Sensible Homeschool reports that by middle school, lessons felt "TOO short and efficient" with "zero time wasted on chit-chat," lacking engaging context. Others mention repetitive content (triangle area appearing "at least four separate times between 5th and 7th grade") and uneven difficulty progression that "sometimes jumped from 'that's a piece of cake' to 'what the wha???'". The all-or-nothing computer grading offers no partial credit, which can frustrate students. Some reviewers wished for Biblical worldview integration, noting the secular content. Compared to Khan Academy (free but longer videos) and IXL (more granular skill breakdown), CTC Math sits in the middle for both price and feature set.

How It Works

A child typically logs into the online platform four to five times a week to watch a concise video lesson that uses synchronized animations to explain a single math concept. After the video, the student completes a set of interactive questions online, receiving immediate 'all-or-nothing' automated grading where they must get the answer exactly right to receive credit. Each session usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, requiring only a computer or tablet and a piece of scratch paper for calculations. The parent’s role is primarily administrative, involving the review of automated weekly progress reports and setting 'pass' requirements for their child's lessons within the parent dashboard.

Switching to This?

CTC Math provides free diagnostic tests for every grade level, allowing parents to pinpoint exactly which concepts a child has missed from previous years. Because a subscription includes access to all K-12 levels simultaneously, families can start at any point in the calendar year and move fluidly between grades to fill gaps or skip mastered material. The most common community advice is to have the student take the 'Comprehensive' diagnostic for their current grade level to determine if they have hidden learning gaps that should be addressed before moving forward. Parents switching from programs with long lectures should expect their child to finish work much faster, as the instruction is intentionally brief and focused on clear, procedural steps.

Curriculum Details

Price: $128 - $198
Grades: K - 12
Available As: Digital
Coverage: Single subject
Subjects: Math
Pacing: Self-paced
Parent Time: 5-15 min/day
Parent Involvement: None
Student Independence: Fully independent
Academic Level: Grade level
Worldview: Secular
Teach Multiple Ages: Yes
Engaging for Reluctant Learners: Yes

Videos

CTC MATH HOMESCHOOL REVIEW | SNEAK PEEK INSIDE 💻 | ONLINE HOMESCHOOL MATH CURRICULUM

by Blessed Homeschool

Reviews We Consulted

The Homeschool Scientist

Highlights the curriculum's suitability for neurodivergent learners, noting that the "unbusy" interface prevents students from becoming overwhelmed by excessive screen clutter.

"Our child with a learning difference really needs a presentation that is unbusy and makes it obvious how to visually progress through the practice problems during the video lesson portion."

Not That Hard to Homeschool

A former math teacher recommends the program for its quality sequential instruction and the logistical ease it provides to parents managing multiple grade levels.

"As a former math teacher and as a homeschool mom whose kid has used the program, I recommend CTC Math as a quality math curriculum for all levels... For high school, the math teacher in me prefers sequential instruction [which CTC provides]."

Cathy Duffy Reviews

Provides a highly positive assessment of the program’s efficiency and navigation, specifically praising the ability for students to access all grade levels at once to bridge gaps.

"In my opinion, CTC Math is an excellent option for math. It is easy to navigate, and it is efficient in both the tutorials and the presentation of problems to solve. The fact that students can review and practice as needed is a real plus."

Sensible Homeschool

Characterizes the program as an efficient "math rut" breaker that allows for rapid progress, though it notes that some families might miss traditional paper-and-pencil practice.

"CTC is very efficient. Lessons are short and to the point. Zero – and I mean ZERO – time is wasted on chit-chat. There are a lot of administrative options for the parent/teacher."

Blessed Homeschool

Values the adaptive learning features and immediate feedback for keeping students focused, though the reviewer occasionally desired more conceptual depth in the teaching.

"My kids were able to stay focused on the succinct & efficient videos, and they would know immediately whether or not they were working out the problems correctly."

The Deliberate Mom

Appreciates the user-friendly parent dashboard and the specific ability to hide grade levels, which helps reduce anxiety for students working behind their age level.

"I love that you have the ability to hide the grade level from your child, so if they’re a grade or two behind, they won’t see that when completing the problems."

The Wolfe Pack

Praises the robust reporting features that make tracking progress easy, but cautions that the Australian accent and different terminology may be an adjustment for some.

"With CTCMath that is pretty hard to do [lose track of progress] considering the number of ways a parent is able to stay informed of student progress."

Updated: March 2026

How This Compares

Compared to Teaching Textbooks, CTC Math offers a more flexible 'all-access' model where a single subscription unlocks every grade level at once, making it easier for students to review or jump ahead without extra costs. Against IXL, which is often used as a supplement for skill practice, CTC Math functions as a full curriculum by providing direct video instruction before every set of problems. When weighed against Math-U-See, CTC Math is a better fit for families who want an independent digital experience rather than a program that relies on physical blocks and heavy parent involvement. Parents choosing between CTC and Khan Academy often find that CTC’s shorter, 4-to-9-minute videos are less overwhelming for children who get distracted by Khan's longer, conversational explanations. Finally, while programs like Beast Academy focus on deep logic and 'math-discovery,' CTC Math is designed for efficiency and procedural mastery, making it ideal for students who want to understand the steps and finish their math requirements quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CTC Math's adjustable grading?

CTC Math lets parents set a pass threshold for each grade level from the parent dashboard. If a student doesn't meet the threshold on a lesson's practice problems, they retake the set until they do. This is CTC Math's mastery-based approach — you decide how much accuracy is required before your child moves to the next lesson. Note that grading is all-or-nothing on each individual problem (no partial credit for showing work), so the threshold applies to the percentage of problems answered exactly right.

How does adjustable grading work with CTC Math's mastery system?

When you set a higher pass threshold (e.g., 90-100%), your child must demonstrate strong accuracy before advancing — this is useful for foundational topics like multiplication facts or fraction operations. A lower threshold (e.g., 60-70%) lets them move on with less repetition, which can help maintain momentum through topics they find frustrating. You can adjust the threshold at any time from the parent dashboard, so many families start moderate and raise it once their child settles into a routine.

Does CTC Math's adjustable grading replace the need for a parent to grade math?

Yes. All grading is automated — CTC Math scores every problem instantly and applies your pass threshold automatically. Parents don't grade anything manually. Your role is reviewing the automated weekly progress reports and adjusting the pass threshold if needed. Most parents report spending 5-15 minutes per day on oversight, primarily reviewing reports rather than grading work.

Getting Started

Try It Free

Official free trial and interactive demo · ctcmath.com

Parents can sign up for a free trial to experience the video tutorials and automated grading system first-hand.

Get Support

Frequently asked questions and program requirements · ctcmath.com

Includes details on the 12-month money-back guarantee, technical specifications, and how built-in diagnostic tests handle placement.

Visit CTC Math Website

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