Make sure students are ready for end-of-unit and high-stakes tests with Checkpoints!
Checkpoints aren’t just your usual IXL skills—they’re rigorous clusters of skills that challenge students to apply their knowledge from multiple concepts at once. Checkpoints cover 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math; Algebra 1; and Geometry. They’re also aligned to the Common Core and state standards, making them the perfect test prep tools.
As students work through Checkpoints, IXL identifies their specific knowledge gaps, and then points them to the exact foundational skills to work on to close them.
To find Checkpoints, look for “Checkpoint” in the skill’s name and the blue flag next to it on the grade level landing pages:
How to use Checkpoints
You can incorporate Checkpoints into your instruction in a variety of ways. Assign them throughout the year at the end of units or in the spring ahead of state assessments.
Have your students answer at least 6-10 questions in a Checkpoint to get started. This gives IXL enough data to provide meaningful insights on a student’s understanding of the concepts and standard/s covered by that skill.
If a student answers a question incorrectly on a Checkpoint, IXL automatically identifies the specific underlying foundational concepts they should work on. IXL also points them to the skills that review those foundational concepts, providing a clear way for them to self-remediate and fill knowledge gaps.
After answering 6-10 questions, students can aim to reach proficiency (a SmartScore of 80) if they feel ready, or pause and work on their recommended foundational skills.
As students practice Checkpoints, you will begin to uncover meaningful insights in the Skill Analysis report within IXL Analytics. There, you’ll see the percentage of your students who are proficient in these skills, helping you determine which learners are ready to move forward and which students may need some additional support.
You’ll also see students organized into groups based on gaps in foundational skills (proficient, not proficient, not enough practice), along with a helpful carousel of problems that you can use during remediation.
Plus, you can get a high-level view of your students’ overall standards readiness in the Checkpoint Performance report.
Checkpoints for high school
For high school students preparing for high-stakes assessments, the Algebra 1 and Geometry Checkpoints are perfect test prep tools.
Checkpoints require students to synthesize and apply knowledge from multiple concepts at once, mirroring the rigorous question types they will commonly encounter on standardized tests. Teachers can assign Checkpoints to assess whether students are ready for end-of-year exams, identify any knowledge gaps, and then have students work on the recommended foundational skills to close gaps ahead of testing season.
Educator inspiration
Learn more about how you can use Checkpoints to assess and address standards readiness in our full implementation guide. Plus, read how IXL Checkpoints helped middle school honors math students successfully prepare for Florida’s end-of-course exams in this case study!