Work through the steps and earn the answer

TutorCat teaches you step by step. Most replies come as a Steps card. You work through it one step at a time. The full answer comes after you have had a go.

When TutorCat answers on a whiteboard, a homework problem works the same way: the board shows the method as steps, with the same Got it ✓ and Explain more buttons, and you still earn the answer.

#How the Steps card works

• One step is open at a time. It has a number, a title and an explanation.
• Later steps are locked. They show a small lock. They open after the step before.
• The counter at the top of the card says where you are, like "1 of 3 open".

#When a step makes sense: Got it ✓

1. Read the step. Try it on paper if it asks you to.
2. Tap Got it ✓.

The step folds up with a tick, and the next step opens. Want to look at a finished step again? Tap it.

#When a step doesn't make sense: Explain more

Tap Explain more. TutorCat sends a message for you, asking to explain that step in a different way, with a smaller example. The tutor then explains it again.

You can also type your own question in the box at any time, like "Why do we subtract 7?"

#Earning the full answer

At the bottom of the Steps card, you can see where the answer stands:

• "Answer unlocks after the steps" with a Locked button means you haven't earned it yet.
• "Nice work. You have earned the answer whenever you want it." with Unlock the answer means it's ready.

To earn the answer, you need to do two things:

1. Open at least one step and read it.
2. Then either tap Got it ✓ on a step, or tap Explain more to ask a follow-up.

When it's ready, tap Unlock the answer. A bright card says Answer unlocked and shows the answer. If you worked through every step, it says so too.

#What if I tap Locked?

You can! TutorCat won't show the answer yet. Instead, the tutor tells you what to do next to unlock it. It's a hint, not a telling-off.

When a reply isn't a Steps card, a box called The full answer shows the same two things as a checklist. Each one gets a tick when you've done it.

#Listen to a reply

On many devices, tutor messages have a small speaker button, Read this aloud. Tap it to hear the message. Tap again to stop. The answer card has one too.

#Maths that looks like maths

The tutor writes fractions, powers and equations the way your textbook does, like x² or ½. You don't need special symbols when you type. Plain words like "x squared" or "1/2" are fine.

#For younger students (grades 3-5)

Your steps work the same way, with bigger text and buttons. Under the newest reply there is a reading row:

• The tutor reads its replies out loud to you by itself. The button says Read aloud · plays automatically for grades 3–5.
• Tap it to turn this off. It then says Reading aloud: off. Tap again to turn it back on.
• Tap the speaker button to hear a reply again.