IXL vs Khan Academy vs Tutoring: Choosing Math Support

Choose math support by identifying the missing step. A student who understands a method but needs practice has a different need from a student who cannot explain why it works. IXL, Khan Academy and individual tutoring can each help, depending on the task and the support available.

IXL: practice with instructional support

IXL offers skill practice, feedback and diagnostic or recommendation features. It also provides instructional resources, including video tutorials; it is inaccurate to say IXL only tests skills and cannot explain concepts. Features and access depend on the edition and subscription. Check the Canadian site and the student’s actual account before purchasing.

Khan Academy: lessons and independent practice

Khan Academy provides free educational videos, articles and practice exercises. A student can revisit an explanation and try related questions at their own pace. Its topic labels and sequence may differ from an Ontario classroom course, so choose the specific skill the teacher is assessing rather than assuming an entire course is an exact match.

Tutoring: a conversation about the student’s reasoning

A tutor can ask the student to explain a solution, locate a misunderstanding and adjust the next example. The value depends on the tutor’s subject knowledge, the quality of the explanation and what the student practises between sessions. Ask how the tutor will use recent classwork and demonstrate progress; a guaranteed grade increase is not a useful substitute for that plan.

Three situations and a sensible starting point

• Understands the example but works slowly: try a short set of independent practice questions and review the errors. A platform may be sufficient.
• Gets answers wrong without understanding the feedback: ask the teacher or a tutor to observe the working and explain the missed concept.
• Can follow a video but cannot start a fresh problem: pause worked solutions and attempt a similar question independently. If the difficulty persists, seek interactive help.

Check Ontario course alignment

• Write down the actual course code, such as MTH1W, MPM2D or MHF4U.
• Choose one classroom expectation or current unit.
• Check whether the online example uses the same notation, assumptions and expected depth.
• Ask the student to solve a new classroom-style problem without prompts.
• Use teacher feedback to decide whether to continue, change the resource or add support.

A two-week trial before adding more resources

Choose one measurable goal, such as solving two-step equations independently. In week one, record a starting example and practise in short sessions. In week two, use fresh questions and ask for an explanation. Compare the work, not just time logged or points earned. If the student remains stuck, bring the examples to a teacher or tutor rather than buying another overlapping resource.

Compare costs at the point of purchase

Khan Academy’s core learning content is free. For IXL, check the current Canadian membership terms and whether the school already supplies access. For tutoring, ask about session length, subject coverage, scheduling and cancellation terms. Compare the actual help included rather than treating every subscription or session as equivalent.