How UpGrades' Adaptive Learning Works
Not a black box. Here's exactly how we identify what you don't know, adapt to how you learn, and schedule your revision for maximum retention.
The problem with traditional revision
Most students revise by rereading notes, highlighting textbooks, and watching videos. It feels productive, but research consistently shows these are among the least effective study techniques. A landmark review by Dunlosky et al. (2013) evaluated ten common study strategies and rated rereading and highlighting as "low utility", while practice testing and spaced practice were rated "high utility". Roediger & Karpicke (2006) demonstrated that retrieval practice — actively recalling information — produces significantly stronger long-term retention than passive review. And Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve research shows that without spaced review, students forget up to 80% of new material within a week. The core problem is simple: students don't know what they don't know. Without a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses, they spend hours on topics they've already mastered while neglecting the ones that would actually improve their grade.
Even motivated students fall into this trap. They revise the subjects they enjoy (because it feels good) and avoid the ones they find difficult (because it doesn't). The result is unfocused study time that doesn't translate into better exam performance. UpGrades solves this by replacing guesswork with data: we diagnose exactly where each student stands, adapt every practice session to their needs, and schedule revision at scientifically-proven intervals.
Our approach
Three interconnected systems work together to make every minute of revision count.
Baseline Diagnostic
A combined 5-question-per-subject diagnostic that establishes your starting mastery across all your chosen subjects.
The diagnostic takes 15–20 minutes total — not per subject. You answer 5 questions for each subject you’re studying.
The system tracks both accuracy and response time. This distinction matters: a student who gets a question right but takes three minutes is in a different position to one who answers correctly in 20 seconds. Slow-but-correct topics need fluency practice, not re-teaching.
Once complete, your subjects are ranked by mastery level, showing you exactly where to start. No guesswork, no wasted time on topics you already know.
Adaptive Practice
Questions adapt in real time based on your performance, targeting the specific gaps identified by the diagnostic.
Each practice session focuses on closing the gaps the diagnostic revealed. As you answer questions, the system adjusts difficulty up or down depending on how you perform.
Error patterns are analysed across your answers. Instead of just marking something wrong, the system identifies recurring mistakes — sign errors in algebra, misreading graph axes in science, confusing similar terms in English. You get targeted practice on the specific type of mistake, not just the topic.
The result is practice that’s always at the right level: challenging enough to push you forward, but not so difficult that you’re guessing.
Spaced Repetition Scheduling
Study schedules use scientifically-backed spaced repetition intervals, adapted to your exam dates and mastery progress.
Topics you’ve mastered are revisited at increasing intervals — after 1 day, then 3 days, then a week, then longer. Topics you’re struggling with come back sooner. This moves knowledge from short-term to long-term memory.
Four intensity modes let you control the pace: Cruise for steady, sustainable revision; Turbo for ramping up before mocks; Beast for intensive exam preparation; and Legend for students who want to push for the highest grades.
The schedule adapts based on your exam dates. If your maths exam is in three weeks but your English exam is in six, the system prioritises accordingly. You can set exact exam dates from official timetables, choose exam season for flexible planning, or use mastery mode for long-term learning without deadline pressure.
Four intensity modes
Choose the pace that matches where you are in your revision journey.
Cruise
Steady, sustainable revision. Ideal for building a consistent habit months before exams.
Turbo
Ramped-up intensity for the weeks before mocks. More sessions, tighter intervals.
Beast
Intensive exam preparation. For students entering the final stretch before their exams.
Legend
Maximum intensity for students pushing for the highest grades. Every available gap is filled.
For schools
UpGrades gives schools real-time visibility into independent revision. From the classroom to the boardroom, everyone gets the data they need.
Bulk Student Import
CSV upload for student accounts, classes, subjects, and Pupil Premium status. Set up an entire year group in minutes.
Teacher Dashboards
Real-time visibility into what students are revising, how often, and how well they’re performing. See engagement and progress by class.
Department Heatmaps
See which topics your whole cohort is struggling with, broken down by class. Target resources and intervention where they’re needed most.
Pupil Premium Tracking
Silent Pro access for PP students with no student-facing distinction. Exportable Ofsted-ready reports showing PP engagement, progress, and outcomes.
Governor Reporting
High-level views of school-wide progress for governors and trustees. Strategic outcome dashboards and multi-academy trust analytics.
Intervention Alerts
Automated flags when students disengage or fall behind — weeks before it would show up in a mock exam.
Data & privacy
Student safety and data protection are non-negotiable. UpGrades is built with privacy by design, not as an afterthought.
Full compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Student data is processed and stored on UK infrastructure.
Student data is never sold, shared with advertisers, or used for marketing.
Role-based access controls. Students see only their own data. Teachers see only their classes.
Exam board alignment
UpGrades content is not generic. Every question maps to a specific specification point from an official exam board syllabus. Students practise exactly what they'll be tested on.
AQA
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
Edexcel
Pearson Edexcel
OCR
Oxford, Cambridge and RSA
WJEC
Welsh Joint Education Committee
Cambridge International
Cambridge Assessment International Education
Edexcel International
Pearson Edexcel International
Content covers GCSE, A-Level, iGCSE, and International A-Level specifications. See all exam boards →
Start your diagnostic
Find out exactly where you stand across all your subjects. The baseline diagnostic takes 15–20 minutes and gives you a personalised revision plan from day one.
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