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Understanding 3D Shapes: Volume and Surface Area

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Clara ๐Ÿ’—

10/12/2025

Maths

Maths, volume and surface area of 3 d shapes.

518

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10 Dec 2025

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9 pages

Understanding 3D Shapes: Volume and Surface Area

user profile picture

Clara ๐Ÿ’—

@clarapop

Ready to master 3D shapes? This guide breaks down everything... Show more

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0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

Volume of a Cuboid

Volume tells you how much space a 3D shape takes up inside - think of it as how much water you could pour into a box. For cuboids (rectangular boxes), the formula is dead simple: height ร— width ร— length.

Let's say you've got a box that's 10cm long, 6cm wide, and 4cm high. Just multiply: 10 ร— 6 ร— 4 = 240cmยณ. The little ยณ symbol means "cubic" - you're measuring in cubic centimetres.

Sometimes you'll get tricky questions where one measurement is missing. Don't panic! If you know the volume is 84cmยณ and two sides are 7cm and 3cm, just work backwards: 84 รท (7 ร— 3) = 84 รท 21 = 4cm.

Top Tip: Always check your units match - if some measurements are in metres and others in centimetres, convert them first!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

Surface Area of a Cuboid

Surface area is the total area of all the faces wrapped around your 3D shape - imagine painting it and working out how much paint you'd need. Every cuboid has 6 faces, and opposite faces are always identical.

Here's the clever bit: calculate the area of each different face, then double it. For a cuboid with sides 5cm, 10cm, and 4cm, you'd get: (5 ร— 10) ร— 2 = 100cmยฒ, (4 ร— 5) ร— 2 = 40cmยฒ, and (10 ร— 4) ร— 2 = 80cmยฒ.

Add them all up: 100 + 40 + 80 = 220cmยฒ. Remember, surface area is always measured in square units (cmยฒ), not cubic ones.

Quick Check: Count your faces - you should always have exactly 6 for a cuboid!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

More Surface Area Practice

Let's tackle some real examples to nail this concept. For a cuboid measuring 6cm ร— 15cm ร— 3cm, work through each pair of faces systematically.

First pair: 6 ร— 15 = 90cmยฒ, doubled gives 180cmยฒ. Second pair: 6 ร— 3 = 18cmยฒ, doubled gives 36cmยฒ. Third pair: 15 ร— 3 = 45cmยฒ, doubled gives 90cmยฒ.

Total surface area: 180 + 36 + 90 = 306cmยฒ. The key is staying organised - work through each pair methodically and you won't miss any faces.

Memory Trick: Think "opposite twins" - every face has an identical twin on the opposite side!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

Volume of Prisms

A prism is any 3D shape with identical ends and the same cross-section all the way through - like a tube of Pringles! The volume formula is brilliant: cross-sectional area ร— length.

For triangular prisms, first find the area of the triangular end using ยฝ ร— base ร— height. If your triangle has a base of 5cm and height of 4cm, that's ยฝ ร— 5 ร— 4 = 10cmยฒ. Then multiply by the length - if it's 12cm long, volume = 10 ร— 12 = 120cmยณ.

Trapezoid prisms use the formula ยฝ ร— top+bottomtop + bottom ร— height for the end area. With parallel sides of 8cm and 6cm, height 5cm, and length 12cm: area = ยฝ ร— (8 + 6) ร— 5 = 35cmยฒ, so volume = 35 ร— 12 = 420cmยณ.

Golden Rule: Always find the end area first, then multiply by how long the prism stretches!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

Volume of Cylinders

Cylinders aren't technically prisms because they're rounded, but the volume formula follows the same logic: ฯ€ ร— rยฒ ร— height. The ฯ€ (pi) button on your calculator makes this much easier!

For a cylinder with radius 2.5cm and height 6cm: ฯ€ ร— (2.5)ยฒ ร— 6 = ฯ€ ร— 6.25 ร— 6 = 117.8cmยณ. Remember to square the radius first - it's a common mistake to forget this step.

Working backwards is trickier but totally doable. If volume = 6000cmยณ and radius = 10cm, then 6000 = ฯ€ ร— 100 ร— h. Rearranging: h = 6000 รท (ฯ€ ร— 100) = 19.1cm.

Calculator Tip: Use the ฯ€ button rather than 3.14 for more accurate answers!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

Surface Area of Cylinders

Cylinder surface area has two parts: the curved side (like a label wrapped around) and the two circular ends (top and bottom). The formula combines both: 2ฯ€rยฒ + ฯ€dh.

The 2ฯ€rยฒ covers both circular ends - each circle has area ฯ€rยฒ, and there are two of them. The ฯ€dh is the rectangular label wrapped around the curved side.

For a cylinder with radius 2cm and height 6cm: circular ends = 2 ร— ฯ€ ร— 2ยฒ = 8ฯ€ cmยฒ, curved side = ฯ€ ร— 4 ร— 6 = 24ฯ€ cmยฒ. Total = 8ฯ€ + 24ฯ€ = 32ฯ€ โ‰ˆ 100.8cmยฒ.

Visual Trick: Imagine peeling the label off a tin can - that's your curved surface area!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

Unknown Lengths in Cylinders

Sometimes you'll need to work backwards from the surface area to find missing measurements. This is where your algebra skills shine! Start with the surface area formula and substitute what you know.

If surface area = 137cmยฒ, radius = 4cm, find the height: 137 = 2ฯ€(4ยฒ) + ฯ€(8)h. This simplifies to 137 = 32ฯ€ + 8ฯ€h. Subtract 32ฯ€ from both sides: 137 - 32ฯ€ = 8ฯ€h.

Divide by 8ฯ€: h = (137 - 32ฯ€) รท 8ฯ€ โ‰ˆ 1.9cm. The key is taking it step by step and not rushing the algebra.

Success Strategy: Write down the formula first, then substitute known values before rearranging!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

Volume of Cones

Cone volume uses the formula V = โ…“ฯ€rยฒh - it's exactly one-third of a cylinder with the same base and height. This makes sense because a cone tapers to a point!

For a cone with radius 5cm and height 12cm: V = โ…“ ร— ฯ€ ร— 5ยฒ ร— 12 = โ…“ ร— ฯ€ ร— 25 ร— 12 = 100ฯ€ โ‰ˆ 314.2cmยณ. Always multiply everything together before dividing by 3.

Reverse calculations work brilliantly too. If volume = 12ฯ€cmยณ and height = 4cm, find the radius: 12ฯ€ = โ…“ ร— ฯ€ ร— rยฒ ร— 4. Cancel ฯ€ from both sides: 12 = โ…“ ร— rยฒ ร— 4. This gives rยฒ = 9, so r = 3cm.

Memory Hook: Cone volume = cylinder volume รท 3!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

Surface Area of Cones

Cone surface area combines the circular base (ฯ€rยฒ) with the curved side (ฯ€rl), where l is the slant height from the tip to the edge of the base. Total formula: ฯ€rยฒ + ฯ€rl.

The tricky bit is finding the slant height when you only know the radius and vertical height. Use Pythagoras' theorem: lยฒ = rยฒ + hยฒ. For radius 2cm and height 7cm: lยฒ = 4 + 49 = 53, so l = โˆš53 โ‰ˆ 7.3cm.

Then calculate: base area = ฯ€ ร— 2ยฒ = 4ฯ€, curved area = ฯ€ ร— 2 ร— 7.3 = 14.6ฯ€. Total โ‰ˆ 18.6ฯ€ โ‰ˆ 58.4cmยฒ.

Pro Tip: Draw a right triangle with the radius and height to visualise the slant height calculation!



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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

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9 pages

Understanding 3D Shapes: Volume and Surface Area

user profile picture

Clara ๐Ÿ’—

@clarapop

Ready to master 3D shapes? This guide breaks down everything you need to know about calculating volume and surface area for cuboids, prisms, cylinders, and cones. These skills are essential for your maths exams and surprisingly useful in real life... Show more

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

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Volume of a Cuboid

Volume tells you how much space a 3D shape takes up inside - think of it as how much water you could pour into a box. For cuboids (rectangular boxes), the formula is dead simple: height ร— width ร— length.

Let's say you've got a box that's 10cm long, 6cm wide, and 4cm high. Just multiply: 10 ร— 6 ร— 4 = 240cmยณ. The little ยณ symbol means "cubic" - you're measuring in cubic centimetres.

Sometimes you'll get tricky questions where one measurement is missing. Don't panic! If you know the volume is 84cmยณ and two sides are 7cm and 3cm, just work backwards: 84 รท (7 ร— 3) = 84 รท 21 = 4cm.

Top Tip: Always check your units match - if some measurements are in metres and others in centimetres, convert them first!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

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Surface Area of a Cuboid

Surface area is the total area of all the faces wrapped around your 3D shape - imagine painting it and working out how much paint you'd need. Every cuboid has 6 faces, and opposite faces are always identical.

Here's the clever bit: calculate the area of each different face, then double it. For a cuboid with sides 5cm, 10cm, and 4cm, you'd get: (5 ร— 10) ร— 2 = 100cmยฒ, (4 ร— 5) ร— 2 = 40cmยฒ, and (10 ร— 4) ร— 2 = 80cmยฒ.

Add them all up: 100 + 40 + 80 = 220cmยฒ. Remember, surface area is always measured in square units (cmยฒ), not cubic ones.

Quick Check: Count your faces - you should always have exactly 6 for a cuboid!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

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More Surface Area Practice

Let's tackle some real examples to nail this concept. For a cuboid measuring 6cm ร— 15cm ร— 3cm, work through each pair of faces systematically.

First pair: 6 ร— 15 = 90cmยฒ, doubled gives 180cmยฒ. Second pair: 6 ร— 3 = 18cmยฒ, doubled gives 36cmยฒ. Third pair: 15 ร— 3 = 45cmยฒ, doubled gives 90cmยฒ.

Total surface area: 180 + 36 + 90 = 306cmยฒ. The key is staying organised - work through each pair methodically and you won't miss any faces.

Memory Trick: Think "opposite twins" - every face has an identical twin on the opposite side!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

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Volume of Prisms

A prism is any 3D shape with identical ends and the same cross-section all the way through - like a tube of Pringles! The volume formula is brilliant: cross-sectional area ร— length.

For triangular prisms, first find the area of the triangular end using ยฝ ร— base ร— height. If your triangle has a base of 5cm and height of 4cm, that's ยฝ ร— 5 ร— 4 = 10cmยฒ. Then multiply by the length - if it's 12cm long, volume = 10 ร— 12 = 120cmยณ.

Trapezoid prisms use the formula ยฝ ร— top+bottomtop + bottom ร— height for the end area. With parallel sides of 8cm and 6cm, height 5cm, and length 12cm: area = ยฝ ร— (8 + 6) ร— 5 = 35cmยฒ, so volume = 35 ร— 12 = 420cmยณ.

Golden Rule: Always find the end area first, then multiply by how long the prism stretches!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

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Volume of Cylinders

Cylinders aren't technically prisms because they're rounded, but the volume formula follows the same logic: ฯ€ ร— rยฒ ร— height. The ฯ€ (pi) button on your calculator makes this much easier!

For a cylinder with radius 2.5cm and height 6cm: ฯ€ ร— (2.5)ยฒ ร— 6 = ฯ€ ร— 6.25 ร— 6 = 117.8cmยณ. Remember to square the radius first - it's a common mistake to forget this step.

Working backwards is trickier but totally doable. If volume = 6000cmยณ and radius = 10cm, then 6000 = ฯ€ ร— 100 ร— h. Rearranging: h = 6000 รท (ฯ€ ร— 100) = 19.1cm.

Calculator Tip: Use the ฯ€ button rather than 3.14 for more accurate answers!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

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Surface Area of Cylinders

Cylinder surface area has two parts: the curved side (like a label wrapped around) and the two circular ends (top and bottom). The formula combines both: 2ฯ€rยฒ + ฯ€dh.

The 2ฯ€rยฒ covers both circular ends - each circle has area ฯ€rยฒ, and there are two of them. The ฯ€dh is the rectangular label wrapped around the curved side.

For a cylinder with radius 2cm and height 6cm: circular ends = 2 ร— ฯ€ ร— 2ยฒ = 8ฯ€ cmยฒ, curved side = ฯ€ ร— 4 ร— 6 = 24ฯ€ cmยฒ. Total = 8ฯ€ + 24ฯ€ = 32ฯ€ โ‰ˆ 100.8cmยฒ.

Visual Trick: Imagine peeling the label off a tin can - that's your curved surface area!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

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Unknown Lengths in Cylinders

Sometimes you'll need to work backwards from the surface area to find missing measurements. This is where your algebra skills shine! Start with the surface area formula and substitute what you know.

If surface area = 137cmยฒ, radius = 4cm, find the height: 137 = 2ฯ€(4ยฒ) + ฯ€(8)h. This simplifies to 137 = 32ฯ€ + 8ฯ€h. Subtract 32ฯ€ from both sides: 137 - 32ฯ€ = 8ฯ€h.

Divide by 8ฯ€: h = (137 - 32ฯ€) รท 8ฯ€ โ‰ˆ 1.9cm. The key is taking it step by step and not rushing the algebra.

Success Strategy: Write down the formula first, then substitute known values before rearranging!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

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Volume of Cones

Cone volume uses the formula V = โ…“ฯ€rยฒh - it's exactly one-third of a cylinder with the same base and height. This makes sense because a cone tapers to a point!

For a cone with radius 5cm and height 12cm: V = โ…“ ร— ฯ€ ร— 5ยฒ ร— 12 = โ…“ ร— ฯ€ ร— 25 ร— 12 = 100ฯ€ โ‰ˆ 314.2cmยณ. Always multiply everything together before dividing by 3.

Reverse calculations work brilliantly too. If volume = 12ฯ€cmยณ and height = 4cm, find the radius: 12ฯ€ = โ…“ ร— ฯ€ ร— rยฒ ร— 4. Cancel ฯ€ from both sides: 12 = โ…“ ร— rยฒ ร— 4. This gives rยฒ = 9, so r = 3cm.

Memory Hook: Cone volume = cylinder volume รท 3!

0: To car crate the volume of a cuboid
volume is the area of a 3d shapez
5
4
Bau
10
volume of a cubroa
SLIAM
I am
was
q
1
Height x wragth x

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Surface Area of Cones

Cone surface area combines the circular base (ฯ€rยฒ) with the curved side (ฯ€rl), where l is the slant height from the tip to the edge of the base. Total formula: ฯ€rยฒ + ฯ€rl.

The tricky bit is finding the slant height when you only know the radius and vertical height. Use Pythagoras' theorem: lยฒ = rยฒ + hยฒ. For radius 2cm and height 7cm: lยฒ = 4 + 49 = 53, so l = โˆš53 โ‰ˆ 7.3cm.

Then calculate: base area = ฯ€ ร— 2ยฒ = 4ฯ€, curved area = ฯ€ ร— 2 ร— 7.3 = 14.6ฯ€. Total โ‰ˆ 18.6ฯ€ โ‰ˆ 58.4cmยฒ.

Pro Tip: Draw a right triangle with the radius and height to visualise the slant height calculation!

We thought youโ€™d never ask...

What is the Knowunity AI companion?

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

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Thomas R

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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didnโ€™t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโ€™m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿค‘๐Ÿ’—โœจ๐ŸŽ€๐Ÿ˜ฎ

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because itโ€™s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didnโ€™t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโ€™m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿค‘๐Ÿ’—โœจ๐ŸŽ€๐Ÿ˜ฎ

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user