CliffsNotes does not offer writing services, so its use in a study process is very limited.
Check out top servicesBefore using any service of a company that offers academic services, it is always necessary to go find out as much as you can about them. CliffsNotes reviews on the internet are mixed. Some users believe that the services they provide are essential. However, a dominant sentiment is that CliffsNotes.com is not really the best the industry can offer. So, this CliffsNotes review will focus on providing a thorough and unbiased evaluation of the company’s practices.
The reputation of this company is quite high among students. The company provides assistance to students at all levels who are seeking assistance and guidance in different subjects. They also provide materials for interested users.
So, on visiting the website, one would expect that the design should look exquisite. On the contrary, the site’s design looks simplistic – and in a bad way. The color scheme of black and yellow is attractive and appealing. However, the pattern of arrangement of the homepage looks like the work of an amateur. There is no navigation menu at the top of the homepage. The absence of this feature means that new users will have a difficult time navigating the page.
For first-timers, the stress involved in surfing the page will only discourage going deeper into the site. Also, the website layout seems to function better on smaller devices. The mobile design is easy to use, whereas CliffsNotes.com layout on large devices is abysmal. You can see the dark margins on both sides of the landing page to get a clearer picture. Moreover, the background images are distracting to look at.
The most worrying thing is the presence of another tab at the top of the page. This tab redirects to another website, which takes more time to load. Generally, the homepage of CliffsNotes’ website does not provide a sense of privacy and security.
There are lots of academic materials on CliffsNotes. Most of these materials are geared towards providing interested students with improving their performance in exams like SAT, GRE, and ACT. However, there is no means of determining the qualifications of the authors of these academic materials. Also, at CliffsNotes, one cannot determine the accuracy of the information they provide since there is no yardstick for comparison.
Without the presence of accredited writers, it is quite difficult to trust the study guides they provide. And despite their claim that all their guides are works of professors and teachers, one cannot say for certain that these works abide by the standard curriculum.
Cliffs Notes offers a multitude of services to its customers. However, the three main services they offer are literature notes, test prep, and study guides.
At CliffsNotes, the literature notes are quite impressive. They have a massive library of modern literature. These notes often go into an in-depth analysis of a book. In their analysis, the reviews by CliffsNotes focus on surface analysis of the work on a chapter-by-chapter basis. Although this type of surface analysis might be appropriate for a less-demanding academic level, they won’t pass the expert scrutiny.
CliffsNotes provide their users with the opportunity to prepare for standardized tests. The test preparation materials are divided into four categories depending on the academic level.
CliffsNotes provides a wide range of study guides on their page. The scope of these manuals is quite vast since they focus on almost every subject. However, when you go through the contents, you will find out that they only cover the basics of the course. Consequently, one would wonder if CliffsNotes is the best option when preparing for such crucial exams.
These manuals are electronic e-books that provide an intensive plan for individual preparation for one of the standardized tests. These e-books are free of charge, and they provide a detailed schedule for preparation.
CliffNotes.com also provides the students with the opportunity to catch up on relevant literature. They give their clients a plan on the books that are essential in preparing for their examination and entrance tests.
Cliffs Notes will keep you abreast of the latest developments and the most recent information on test dates and registrations. They will also provide you with the opportunity to locate the Test Centers within your locale.
At CliffsNotes.com, there are no provisions to make payments for the services they offer. Instead, the user gets redirected to another website that often displays an ‘Error 503’ page.
The fact that CliffsNotes automatically redirects you to another website without prior warning is cause for worry.
Eventually, when you find a service you can buy on the new page, you will have to register to buy anything. Alternatively, you can use the website as a guest by providing your email. If you have no problems with sharing your information with third-party sites, then CliffsNotes might be a good idea. If not, then you should always worry about your safety first.
Any attempt to make a purchase lands you on a different website. According to the policies indicated on the website along with cliffs notes reviews, you cannot even review the book on which you are spending your money. So, clients are shooting in the dark, hoping to land something of value.
The lowest price of buying a ‘quick review’ of any discipline will cost you at least $10.99. This price range is quite expensive, considering that the cost of shipping is not part of the total cost you are paying.
Moreover, the attempts to buy some hard copies of books on CliffsNotes will further redirect you to other online retailers, like Amazon and Walmart. So, it is a better idea to buy the books directly from those websites instead of spending precious time on CliffsNotes.com.
You cannot determine the delivery time for your order before paying. Clients will have to complete payment before getting precise information about the logistics of the order. Moreover, the estimated price is set at $1.99. This price is bound to increase depending on your location.
There are no special warranties or policies at CliffsNotes. According to our Cliffs Notes review, the company has a general ‘Terms and Conditions’ page where they list all the specifics of their cooperation with clients. Also, they have a disclaimer page that denies responsibility for the results of your exams. The privacy policy page is also present.
It takes a lot of effort even to find the location of this page. Also, it takes some time for the images on the page to load on a metered network.
Generally, CliffsNotes makes use of a return policy that is valid within the first 6 months of purchasing a product from their shop. After this period, the money you spent on the merchandise becomes non-refundable.
CliffsNotes categorically denies responsibility for the outcomes of tests that the clients used. Since they do not have any direct affiliations with any of the examination boards, these standardized test programs do not endorse the use of CliffsNotes products. Consequently, students who are preparing for their exams using the study guides on the CliffsNotes webpage might be setting themselves up for heartbreak.
According to this policy, the company has no right to share the user information of its clients. Also, they cannot share your data with third parties. However, a major red flag is a clause that says that vendors that partner with them can access your data. The privacy policy is then pointless if you are not completely protected from other sites.
For clients who want to stay in touch with CliffNotes on social media, they can follow the official pages on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram. When you have any questions, you can contact them using different emails. Here are the purposes of the five separate emails they have for different issues:
So, if you have issues on these different fronts, you will have to follow and monitor five emails. This practice does not seem very effective and practical from the customers’ point of view. Moreover, there are no other means of communication available besides sending emails.
In general, there are positive and negative aspects of the services they offer. Here are the pros and cons of using CliffsNotes essay writing services:
In a nutshell, the services that CliffsNotes provides are essential to students. They know the vital aspects of enrollment into academic institutions. However, the contents of these guides and training manuals are questionable. We would not recommend CliffNotes to any of the peers.
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My name is Paul Barnes and I am the Founder and Chief Editor of ReviewingWriting. I have spent the past decade researching the ins and outs of the world of professional essay writing. I know exactly what to look for in a good writing service and what are the most common features of bad writing services should be avoided at all costs.
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