How Helmley works

The loop at every step

1. 1Learn

   Watch and read the step's resources, then do its exercises.

2. 2Practise

   Practice quizzes: as many as you like, never posted, with explanations.

3. 3Test

   8 questions, 12 minutes. 70% passes the step.

4. 4Move on

   The step is passed and you move on along the course's Journey.

5. 5Check in

   Tell your professor what you did and what confused you.

6. 6Re-plan

   Your professor sends a plan for what's next. One tap applies it.

Who does what

The tests

• Practice is unlimited, never posted, and shows the right answer and why. Use it before the test.
• The test is 8 random questions, 90 seconds each. The clock starts when the first question appears. You can go back and change answers until you submit. If you need more time because of a disability or a condition, an admin can give you 1.5 or 2 times as long; ask from the test's rules card.
• 70% (6 of 8) passes the step. Every test posts its score with the attempt number beside it, and a pass closes that step's test.
• Not passed? A retake opens 24 hours later. After two attempts without a pass, the third waits 72 hours, time to go over what you missed with practice, the step's recall cards or your professor.
• Already know a step? Test out. The first test on a step ahead of where you are is an early try. Pass it and the step counts as passed, marked Tested out; it stays on your route and its recall cards start the next day, so anything you half-know shows up quickly. Not passed, and it doesn't count against you: study the step, and its test reopens 24 hours later. A capstone's test opens when you reach it. Your professor sees every early try.
• Missed something? Your result lists the topics you missed and, where the course has one, the resource that teaches each. A topic you miss in two or more tests goes on Topics to firm up in the Guide until you pass a test of its step without missing it, or get a recall card on it right.
• Closing the test doesn't stop its clock: it keeps running on the server.

Recall cards

• Each step you pass gives you recall cards: a question to answer from memory, then its answer, why it's so, and an example.
• They come to Today about a week after you pass (the next day if you tested out), up to 5 a day. Answer in your head, say how sure you are, then check and say whether you got it.
• Not passed a test? That step's cards open at once, so you can practise before the retake: from your result, in Review, and on Today, where they come first, starting with any on the topics you missed, until you pass. An early try that doesn't pass doesn't open them.
• Cards you miss, or only guessed, come back in 2 days; "Think so" in a week; ones you were sure of and got come back in 3 weeks, then 2 months, then 6. A card you were sure of but missed also goes on Topics to firm up in the Guide until you get it right.
• Review has every card from the steps you've passed or are retaking, by step or stage, at any time. Marking a card there counts the same.

Your plan, on the map

Everyone shares one course. Your professor's changes sit on top of it, just for you, and show on your Journey. The course's Guide lists them under Changed for me.

Getting set up

1. Sign inHelmley is by invitation: use the email your invitation went to, or ask on Request access. Tap Sign in at the top of any page and type in the code we email you.
2. Set up the courseIt opens the first time you're on a course, about ten minutes, every step skippable: your name, start date and goal; your week (hours, days, a time, and a plan like "When I've had my morning coffee, I'll study", with reminders if you like); how you like to learn (asked once, for your professor); and ten quick questions, one a step, that suggest steps you could test out of. Nothing in it is posted. Open it again from Today or My profile.
3. Connect your AI as your professorAbout two minutes: the AI you already use (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Le Chat or another), free plans included. One connection covers all your courses, and its plans wait on Today for one tap. How to connect. If your AI can't connect, you can study without a professor.
4. Have your first chatPress Talk to my professor. It reads what you told the set-up, asks what's missing, then sends your first personal plan.
5. StartStart the study clock and open the course's first step.