Switching from IXL
If your child dreads the SmartScore, this is the other way to do it. U-ScoreMax is free for families, earns medals that only go up, brings mastered skills back on a review schedule so they stay learned, and helps during the problem instead of after it.
Likely starting point
Pre-Algebra (Grade 7)
Unit 4 of 15, with 11 units ahead on the path to SAT. The 2-minute placement quiz confirms this and banks anything already known.
Facts only, checked September 2026. Details change; verify specifics with each provider.
| U-ScoreMax | IXL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price for families | Free | Monthly or yearly subscription |
| Scoring | Bronze, silver, gold medals that only go up | SmartScore 0–100 that drops on a miss |
| Keeping skills learned | Automatic reviews at 1, 3, 7, 16, 35 days | No scheduled review |
| Help during a problem | Socratic tutor asks guiding questions | Explanation shown after a wrong answer |
| Hands-on questions | Drag, plot, shade, measure on any device | Mostly typed and multiple choice |
| Subjects | Math only, Grade 6 to SAT | Math, ELA, science, social studies, Spanish, K–12 |
| Number of skills | 15 units, about 130 named skills | Thousands of skills |
| Standards alignment | Common Core tags on every skill | Every US state standard |
| Parent reports | Weekly email with retention score | Weekly email and analytics |
| Teacher tools | Class codes, assignments, gradebook CSV | Assignments, analytics, rostering |
IXL is a trademark of IXL Learning. U-ScoreMax is not affiliated with IXL.
Is U-ScoreMax really free?
Yes. Students and families pay nothing while the product grows. There is no trial clock and no credit card.
What happens to the progress my child made on IXL?
It does not transfer, but it is not lost either: the placement quiz finds their level in about two minutes and banks every unit they already know, so they start at their frontier, not at the beginning.
How is a medal different from a SmartScore?
A SmartScore rises and falls with every answer. A medal is earned on the last ten answers (7 correct for bronze, 8 silver, 9 gold) and never downgrades. A rough start does not count against the child, and there is always a reason to come back for gold.
Does it cover my child's grade?
Grade 6 through Grade 12, ending in SAT and competition prep. It does not cover elementary math or other subjects.
Can a teacher use it with a whole class?
Yes. A class code puts students in with username logins (no student email needed), assignments have due dates, and the gradebook exports to CSV.
Two minutes to place, then real practice. If your child does not like it more than IXL, nothing was spent.
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