Shmoop

Website review by Erin Brereton, Common Sense Media
Shmoop Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Clever study materials for teens merge humor and learning.

https://www.shmoop.com
Rate website

Parents say

age 14+

Based on 6 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 6 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this website.

Stands out for .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that some sections of this teen-centric educational site cost money to access. (SAT prep materials are $23; AP exam guides are $17.) However, there's plenty of free content to help kids learn about literature, algebra, and other school subjects. Teens don't have to register to use the site, but they'll be able to save sample essays they're working on if they do.

Community Reviews

AshleyNicole
AshleyNicole Adult
November 22, 2022
age 15+

Don't bother using customer service is nonexistent

This was utilized to prepare a ACT-PREP course in high school for ACT and after months of issues not being able to access drills and materials due to some error that was unresolved on the company's end due to poor customer service. This left my child unprepared for ACT and lacking in completing material that is for a grade.
Chicken coop
Chicken coop Adult
May 18, 2020
age 18+

Not thoughts but witnessed facts

When I was in high school my counselor was told this was a great website and that it would be a great, quick and easy was for the students especially me to pass. Let me tell you this website sucked. First off over half of the articles they give you aren't about the questions they're about to throw at you. They other half they'll give you a minor description and an example. In most cases I was forced to look it up on google. It claims it is a online school course but it fails to mention over half of the lectures are on another website. Sometimes the website is a 404 error, the website was closed, the website worked but the article they send you to has nothing to do with what you're supposed to be teacher, or very rarely the website actually worked and gave you the information that you needed. They had jokes that were fun to read but if you didn't get the reference you didn't get the joke. That's alright every one has their own preference to what they watch, see, or what they grew up with but it feels like they worked more on the joke than the actual lecture. Google and you tube taught me more about the subjects than the actual online "classroom". You're better off giving your student a packet with google and you tube because more than likely that's what they will use any ways. Also In one of my classes of either health or personal finance one of the questions on the quiz wasn't even fully written. I thought it was a fill in the blank but the answers said other wise. This website is a waste of money and a waste of time but, it has some great references and jokes.

This title has:

Too much consumerism
See all 6 parent reviews

What’s It About?

SHMOOP's mostly-free materials, written by Ph.D. and Masters students from prestigious U.S. colleges, offer instruction on topics ranging from Shakespeare to pre-algebra. The content features a creative twist: Instead of using stuffy academic phrasing, the materials are written in a conversational tone. Information is also presented in a unique, quirky format. Pretend character profiles, for example, help kids learn about Greek and Roman mythology; teen drivers can cruise through a section that uses humor to stress responsible driving.

Is It Any Good?

Shmoop features educational materials to help teens understand a variety of topics, including biology, U.S. history, algebra, and calculus. The site's literature section covers classics; users can also access in-depth allegory, character, and theme info on modern reads like "The Hunger Games." The site's real strength, though, is in its presentation. Instead of just offering endless pages of content, Shmoop breaks subjects down in fun ways. Mythological character profiles list zany faux relationship statuses (Agamemnon laments that he "was married to Clytemnestra, but then she killed me... so yeah"). Virtual flashcards help teens memorize AP Spanish terms, and a lengthy DMV section weaves humor into its state-by-state rules of the road. And the site's learning resources are legit: Ph.D. and Masters students from schools like Stanford and Harvard write much of the conversational content, which is peppered with pop culture references. A separate section for educators includes resources for teaching civics, literature, and other topics, for a fee.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about ways to learn using digital tools. How do you use the Internet to learn new things or review what you've learned? For suggestions on using technology to improve kids' academic success, check out our School Performance Tips guide.

  • How is spending time using a site like Shmoop different from spending time online connecting with friends? What kind of time limits should you set on Facebook/Twitter/IM time?

  • How can you tell if information on a website came from a valid source, is just someone's opinion, or is information that hasn't really been researched?

Website Details

Our Editors Recommend

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