My IXL learning review is based on a personal evaluation from the user’s standpoint and consideration of actual features that help youngsters learn when Math becomes challenging and not fun. Keeping the wealth of different age categories offered by the system, I have tried my best to examine the golden medium to determine how useful this learning platform can be.
The criteria I use to evaluate the learning services include analysis of the features and the target audience, quality of learning materials, prices, the general value, and reviews available on Quora, Reddit, Sitejabber, and TrustPilot (if present) review platforms.
IXL Features I Find Important
Coming across IXL for a detailed review, I can safely recommend this among other eLearning platforms from the beginning because it uses what they call a “diagnostic in a real-time environment” to provide personalized guidance for each person accessing the system.
Is IXL good for students? Regardless of whether you are dealing with a primary school child or a high school learner diving into an algebra or calculus program, one can use personalized action plans that help address the strengths and weaknesses of a student.
As I checked the system from the parents’ and educators’ points of view, I have learned that IXL is the best for filling the gaps in understanding certain concepts, as IXL is all about repetition.
The target audience of the IXL (also for social studies science) ranges from Pre-K (165 Math skills) to Twelfth grade (303 skills in Precalculus and 68 skills in Calculus) program. What I found especially useful is the Tenth Grade program. It includes 195 skills in Geometry, like congruent triangles, geometric constructions, building word patterns, and training one’s logic with problems and questions.
The Math teachers, parents, and kids (homeschooled or not) will find this platform extremely useful as many homeschooled children seem to be mentioned in various user testimonials.
The system works by using a comprehensive curriculum program system, which helps to match the state standards, which I have found especially useful. Actionable diagnostics and real-time expert support help train the child’s weaknesses and receive helpful suggestions. This feature alone makes the system worth checking.
Yet, I recommend doing it together with your youngster to avoid confusion with deduction points that can easily make children sad or disappointed. Like other IXL ratings and reviews, it seems to be the only negative I can mention.
IXL Learning Platform: Quality Matters
One of the first things that instantly stood out to me when I started with my IXL review was the wealth of Math subjects and concepts broken down into what they define as “skills”. Offering a wide range of topics, IXL provides much deeper coverage than most students can get in the classroom with a limited time. The personalized approach starts with the range of practice materials that can be chosen based on topic and complexity.
Composing this mostly as an IXL online homeschool review, I have tried both easy and complex concepts to test the adaptive learning system. It helps to progress at the chosen pace and see how well you master a chosen topic. It is achieved with the practice exercises you can use, although no video materials have been provided during testing. I have also found graphics to be old-fashioned and believe adding more multimedia elements would not hurt.
Speaking of negatives to make my IXL homeschool review, I have found the punitive system to be a bit harsh, especially when dealing with the system without parental guidance. An incorrect answer is not a reason to implement punishments, which can become a serious demotivational factor for younger students. The lack of video materials is another issue among the reviews that downvote the platform.
The major IXL learning difference I find worth mentioning is their breakdown of subjects and a focus on repetition until the subject is mastered. Compared to Thinkster Math or WonderMath, the latter focuses on understanding why some rules are this way.
Personally, I find Thinkster’s approach more complex for younger students who may find it confusing. As for ABCMouse, it is only aimed at kids between 2 and 8 years old, which is a bit limited in terms of available subjects. Now, let’s narrow things down to see is IXL good for you compared to others:
| Platform | IXL Learning | Thinkster Math | ABCMouse |
| Price | $9.95 per subject, combo and core packages with other subjects come at $15.95 and $19.95 monthly. | $100-200 per month, depending on the chosen plan. A $60 per month plan is available too. | $59.99 annual plan per child. $12.99 per month or $29.99 per 6 months. |
| Subscription Length | From 15-minute sessions to one month. | One month is recommended. | From one month to 12 months. |
| Videos | No | Yes | Yes |
| Live Online Hours | No | One-on-one sessions | No |
| Practice Questions | Over 3,000 questions | Yes | Yes |
| Practice Tests | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Books Included | No | Digital content based on US and Singapore Math curriculum | No |
| Study Plan | Personalized learning program | Personalized | Lessons are aimed at students between two and eight years old. |
| Guarantees | Trusted by millions of teachers | Many positive reviews from parents and teachers. | Following the state educational laws and standards makes it a safe choice. |
IXL Platform Prices
One can choose the Pre-K to Grade 12 annual plan at $299, including 25 students. It makes things quite affordable for online schools and teachers who provide tutoring services. Besides, the system provides a family membership program at only $9.95 per month, which I have tested.
It is also possible to pay $79 per year for one child. Now, if you have more children, each child will cost you $4 more per month or $40 per year. It is also possible to pursue the family membership, which is negotiated and tested individually. You can discuss the best method that fits your child or see if your school already has the IXL plan purchased.
Reading many IXL reviews from students on Quora, Sitejabber, TrustPilot, and school review platforms, I have learned that IXL is especially popular among homeschooled children who need to boost their Math skills and address certain weaknesses.
Note that the pricing will also depend on what skills you need to master, as I have started with the single-subject payment program for the sake of tests for my IXL review.
It also helps narrow things down and ensure that you do not pay more than you must. This fact alone makes the system stand out in my book as the platform’s creators really care for being specific.
The payment process went smoothly, and they have a 30-day money-back no-questions-asked guarantee in case you are unhappy with the system or the training method does not fit your objectives and expectations. They accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express debit or credit cards. The subscription program makes it simple and accessible.
Also, check the review on Quizlet+ and the comparison of Quizlet and Chegg on our blog.
Does IXL Really Help Your Kids?
Well, it depends on what objectives you are planning to set for your child. I evaluated IXL from the position of a Math teacher first to determine the quality and accessibility.
Will IXL improve the students’ grade review and analysis-wise? The short answer is “yes”. It is safe to say that most parents can follow the chosen curriculum and skills system. The first thing that caught my attention was the live classroom report feature you can see below:
It shows the skills currently in progress, what is being practiced, and the questions answered.
Is IXL good for high school? Quite so! Once you read the content, you can proceed with the practice questions, where you must give right (or wrong) answers. It is where the punitive system enters the stage, which I found disturbing when thinking of the younger learners who may easily break down in tears.
Is IXL good for learning? I can say that it is quite affordable when I think about all the features that it offers and the flexibility of the payment plan. However, the best part is that you can choose what to learn and address your weaknesses by repeating things until you reach perfection.
Online Reviews from Actual IXL Users
This is where you can learn a lot, as the positive and negative reviews of IXL Math are abundant. Most parents in IXL learning reviews who praise the system belong to those who have their children homeschooled, yet many reviews also include reviews from the Math teachers. It helps to see that the quality of the material is up to the national standards and the common requirements.
Looking at Sitejabber, one can see that it is filled with mostly negative reviews related to the presence of the punitive system. Still, I find it hard to believe that most of such feedback has been written by youngsters. In either case, it is something to consider as you try IXL Math for the first time and discuss the tests with your child.
Is IXL good for kids? I would not recommend that the young person approach any system alone. Now, the positive reviews mention the presence of the skills system and the possibility of addressing a particular subject without having to study non-related concepts from the start.
The TrustPilot reviews also have a lot of angry reviews from individuals who I assume to be K-12 students. Once again, we receive complaints about their overly strict grading system and the punishments for a single wrong answer regardless of how many questions you pass. I believe that when you approach the system with a teacher or a parent figure, things are not that bad.
The reviews by CommonSense have more positive feedback, yet most of the feedback comes from the teachers and parents who approach things the same way as I did. Thus, rating the system is safe and helpful.
The support team of the IXL is always responsive and provides immediate assistance, be it related to making a payment or choosing a suitable study plan.
Pros
- An affordable system with a family-friendly subscription plan.
- A personalized learning approach helps you focus on the skills you need.
- Quite popular among homeschooled students and remote education Math teachers.
- The Math portion covers ages from kindergarten to Grade 12.
- A live classroom report page and real-time analytics are helpful for teachers to stay in control.
Cons
- A punitive system implemented during the tests may set some students off and make them sad and depressed.
- The lack of video materials makes certain subjects hard to understand with the text content alone.
- Some students and IXL online Math reviewers mention the system of constant repetition, which appears to be challenging for younger students.
- The website and graphics style used for Math studies could be upgraded to more modern solutions.
- The skills system used by IXL may not provide sufficient explanations that many students need to understand why they have made a mistake.
The Recap or Is IXL Worth It?
IXL is a great company for those who would like to boost their child’s knowledge in math and other subjects. The “skills” system helps bridge the gap between the theory and the practical implementation of each subject. The concepts are cleverly broken down into a complexity hierarchy, which helps avoid chaos and study at one’s own pace.
Completing this IXL learning system review, I can recommend this platform for learning with a single exception ─ do not let your child pursue their punitive test system alone, or it may result in sad faces and teary eyes!
FAQ
- Is IXL good or bad?
In my opinion, the platform is quite good for personalized learning, yet it should always be parent-controlled, as your child will need additional guidance to avoid needless repetition.
- Does IXL help students?
It is safe to say that it is a helpful platform that I found especially useful for repeating math aspects that require more time beyond the classroom.
- Why is IXL good?
The main advantage for kids is that they can work together with educators to practice certain concepts and make repetition less daunting. It has a great breakdown of Math topics.
- How long should students use IXL for?
Using the system for 15 minutes a day is a good measure to start with to stay within the subject and master the concept required.
