School’s almost out, but learning doesn’t have to stop!
IXL’s annual Study in the Sun Contest is back to help students refresh their skills and explore new topics. Plus, contestants have the chance to win a $350 gift card.
Contest dates: June 8 – August 2
How to qualify for the random prize drawing:
- PK-4 students: Answer 7,000+ IXL questions
- 5-8 students: Answer 7,000+ IXL questions
- 9-12 students: Answer 5,000+ IXL questions
Three lucky winners will be selected from each grade band (nine students total).
What’s new this year?
We’re updating the contest to better reflect the time and effort high school students put into each question. Setting a lower question threshold for these students recognizes the complexity of upper-level work while keeping the competition meaningful for all students.
How to join
Parents and teachers can register students for the contest starting May 12 at ixl.com/contest/study-in-the-sun-2026. Registration remains open through the end of the contest on August 2, but make sure your student is signed up before the deadline for their progress to count!
The prize
Three students from each grade band (nine total) will be selected at random to receive a $350 gift card.
Winners will be announced on the IXL blog and notified by email on August 11.
Check out a brief summary of the contest rules and FAQs below! If you have any other questions, please email us at contests@ixl.com.
Contest Rules
For more information, please read the full contest rules.
Eligibility: All participating students must register online by August 2 at https://www.ixl.com/contest/study-in-the-sun-2026. Students must be registered by their parent or legal guardian (if on a family membership) or their teacher (if on a school account). Eligible registrations should include an accurate IXL username—IXL is not responsible for incorrect or incomplete registrations. Students must be part of an active IXL site, classroom, or family account. Trial members are not eligible. Students must be registered under the grade range that accurately reflects the grade level they are in for the 2026-27 school year. Only results from one account will be tallied for each student—results from multiple accounts cannot be combined. Each participating student must have their own username.
How to register: For children on a family account, the child’s parent or legal guardian must sign into IXL and go to the registration form to sign up their child. For students on a classroom, school, or district account, the student’s teacher must sign in to IXL and go to the registration form to sign up the student.
Determination of winners: IXL will randomly select three contestants from each grade band (nine total) who have met their grade band’s question goal between June 8, 2026, at 12:01 am Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and August 2, 2026, at 11:59 pm PDT. Winners will be announced on August 11, 2026 on the IXL Blog and will be notified by email.
- Students in grades PK-4 and 5-8 will need to answer at least 7,000 IXL questions to be eligible for the prize drawing. Students in grades 9-12 will need to answer at least 5,000 IXL questions to be eligible for the prize drawing.
- For students in grades PK-4, questions answered in all grade levels will be counted. For students in grades 5-8, only questions from grade 3 and above are eligible. For students in grades 9-12, only questions from grade 7 and above will be counted.
- Questions in all subjects on the student’s subscription will be counted.
- Questions completed on a trial account or in a trial subject will not count for the contest.
- Questions answered in the Diagnostic arena, Screeners, Group Jams, Common Assessments, or Quizzes will not count for the contest.
Prize: Each of the nine winners will receive one $350 gift card. To receive a prize, the entrant must be in compliance with the official rules as solely determined by IXL. In the event a winner is determined not to be in compliance, the prize otherwise due that winner may be awarded to the next eligible entrant.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check the total number of questions I have answered?
Sign in to your IXL account and visit the “Usage Details” or “Student Usage” report, which can be found by clicking on the “Analytics” tab. You can also find it by visiting https://www.ixl.com/analytics/student-details.
Once you reach this report, select “custom date range” and set it for June 8 and the current date. Then, select the subject(s) for which you have an IXL subscription and set the appropriate skill grade levels for your IXLer’s grade band.
- For students in the grade PK-4 range: All grade levels
- For students in the 5-8 range: Grade 3 and above
- For students in the 9-12 range: Grade 7 and above
When does the contest officially start and end?
The contest officially starts on June 8, 2026, at 12:01 am Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). It officially ends on August 2, 2026, at 11:59 pm PDT.
Are questions for all subjects counted?
Yes, practice in all subjects (math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish) on your subscription will be counted. However, we will not count practice in subjects for which you have a trial.
Are questions from the Diagnostic arena, Screeners, Group Jams, Common Assessments, or Quizzes counted?
No, questions answered in the Diagnostic arena, Screeners, Group Jams, Common Assessments, or Quizzes do not count toward the contest. However, students are welcome to visit their Recommendations wall and practice the “From the diagnostic arena” skills found there—those will count!
Is practice counted starting June 8 or starting from when I registered?
Practice will be counted starting June 8, no matter the date you registered—just make sure you register your child or student at https://www.ixl.com/contest by the August 2 deadline!
Why do parents/teachers have to register students?
Data security and student privacy are some of our highest priorities at IXL Learning, and this registration process ensures that IXL is compliant with FERPA and COPPA policies regarding student privacy.
Is there a limit to the number of questions a student can answer per day for the contest?
No, there is no limit to the number of questions a student can answer for the contest each day.
Will IXL count questions answered in skills that students have already mastered?
Yes, questions answered in previously mastered skills will count for the contest.
Will questions practiced outside of the student’s grade level be counted?
Yes, we encourage students to practice above or below grade level, and we want them to know that it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them. For students in grades PK-4, questions in all grade levels will be counted. For students in grades 5-8, questions from grade 3 and above are eligible. For students in grades 9-12, questions from grade 7 and above will be counted.
Will IXL count incorrectly answered questions?
Yes, IXL will count incorrectly answered questions. The Study in the Sun contest is a great opportunity for learners to try new topics and challenge themselves, even if they don’t get every question correct!
I have students/children in different grade ranges. How do I sign them all up for the contest?
You can register students one grade range at a time! Sign in to your teacher or parent account, fill out the registration form for all students in one grade range, and submit. Then, refresh the page and fill out another form for students in the other grade range.
If you have any other questions, please email us at contests@ixl.com.