Help centre

Frequently asked questions

Everything students ask about BrightStudy, in one place: 204 answers on features, exams, plans, privacy and your account.

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About

About BrightStudy

What BrightStudy is, who it is for and how it works.

10 questions

What is BrightStudy?
BrightStudy is an AI study platform. You bring the material your course gives you, such as lecture slides, PDFs, handwritten notes, recordings or YouTube lectures, and it turns them into editable Study Docs, flashcards and exam-style questions. It then schedules your revision with spaced repetition and shows your progress, so everything you need to revise lives in one place.
Who is BrightStudy for?
Students at every stage: primary (Key Stages 1 and 2), GCSE, A level, further education and vocational courses, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, professional exams and adult learning. Questions and notes are written for your level, course and exam, so a GCSE student and a doctor sitting a specialist exam get very different material from the same topic. See the UK study guides.
How is BrightStudy different from a normal flashcard app?
Most flashcard apps start from a blank card. BrightStudy starts from your own material: one upload can give you a Study Doc, flashcards, multiple-choice questions and an infographic. Questions are written in your exam’s style, change as you master them, and every card and question is scheduled with spaced repetition. You also get an AI tutor, a calendar, progress analytics and a Vault for all your files.
Can BrightStudy replace my lecture notes?
It works from them. BrightStudy can make a faithful digital copy of your notes (Digitise), condense them (Summarise) or improve them into fuller revision notes (Enhance). Your originals are always kept, and you can compare any Study Doc side by side with the file it came from. See document uploads.
Which subjects does BrightStudy support?
Any subject you can upload material for. We have also researched 277 UK courses across seven stages of study, from exam board specifications, the QAA and professional regulators, so the platform understands how your subject is taught and assessed.
Which exams and exam boards does BrightStudy support?
You can choose your exam board for each school subject (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, CCEA, SQA, Cambridge and IB in the UK) and a specialist exam such as MRCP, PLAB, UKMLA, SQE, GPhC, NMC, ACCA or CFA. More than 30 exams have their own question-style rules. See MCQs.
Is BrightStudy only for UK students?
No. BrightStudy supports students in the UK, the US and Australia, with the right spelling, terminology, qualifications and exam options for each country. The UK has the most detailed curriculum research so far.
Does BrightStudy work on my phone?
BrightStudy runs in any modern web browser on a laptop, tablet or phone, so you can study anywhere. Dedicated iPhone and Android apps are coming soon.
Does BrightStudy use AI?
Yes. AI writes Study Docs, flashcards, questions and explanations from your material, transcribes recordings, reads handwriting and powers the AI tutor. We check what it makes: every question set gets an automatic giveaway check and an independent AI review, and you can fact-check any Study Doc.
Are BrightStudy questions real past-paper questions?
No. Questions are written from your own notes and uploads in the style of your exam. BrightStudy never presents them as official, past-paper or exam-board-approved questions.
Getting started

Getting started

Your first upload, your study profile and how to begin.

6 questions

How do I get started with BrightStudy?
Create a free account, tell us what and where you study in a short set-up, then upload your first document. Most documents are ready a couple of minutes after you upload, with notes, flashcards and questions if you tick them.
What is the study profile?
A few details you give when you sign up: your country, level, qualification, course, subjects and exam boards, and any specialist exam. BrightStudy uses them to set the terminology, depth and question style for everything it writes. You can change them in Settings at any time.
What can I upload?
PDF, Word, PowerPoint, JPG and PNG images and plain text, up to 50 MB each; audio and video such as MP3, WAV, M4A and MP4; photos or scans of handwritten notes; YouTube links; and Anki decks. See document uploads.
Can I use BrightStudy without uploading anything?
Yes. You can write your own Study Docs, flashcards and MCQs from scratch, and browse reviewed resources in the Community Library. See manual creation.
How long does it take to make my notes?
Most documents take a couple of minutes. A progress screen shows each part being made, and you can carry on using BrightStudy or cancel at any time.
Can I bring my Anki decks?
Yes. Import .apkg, .colpkg and Anki text exports. Each card keeps its current progress and due date, images come too, and you can undo an import. See spaced repetition.
Create

Create your study materials

Bring your sources together and turn them into resources you can use. Answers from each create feature page.

48 questions

What is a Study Doc?
The formatted, editable document BrightStudy makes from anything you upload — PDFs, slides, handwritten pages, recordings or a YouTube lecture — or one you start blank yourself. See upload.
More on Study Docs →
What is the difference between Pages and Continuous view?
Pages lays the document out exactly as it will export or print, as separate A4 pages. Continuous lets it scroll as one long document, with no page breaks.
More on Study Docs →
Can I see my original file next to the generated notes?
Yes. The Original Doc panel opens your source file side by side with the Study Doc, so you can check any detail against it.
More on Study Docs →
What AI writing tools are there?
Select any text for Explain (simply, in depth, step by step or with an example), Improve (polish, add explanation, shorten or rephrase), Remember (a mnemonic, memory aid, analogy or story), or Ask your tutor to open a conversation about that passage.
More on Study Docs →
How does reading mode work?
Turn it on from the document menu to see a progress bar as you scroll. Mark As Read unlocks once you have read about 85% of the document and records how long you spent reading.
More on Study Docs →
What is Deep Recall?
Open the Test tab and choose Deep Recall to explain the document back out loud, or Explain in writing to type it instead. BrightStudy grades your explanation and shows what you missed.
More on Study Docs →
What can I insert, and can I download my Study Doc?
Images, screenshots, video, audio and attachments; tables and charts; shapes and emoji; equations and symbols; text boxes, callouts and dividers. Download any Study Doc as an editable Word document (.docx).
More on Study Docs →
Is the Study Doc editor free?
Making and editing Study Docs is free. Some AI tools draw on your monthly AI allowance. Compare plans.
More on Study Docs →
Can BrightStudy convert handwritten notes to text?
Yes. Choose Digitise and upload a photo, scan or PDF of your handwritten notes. BrightStudy reads the handwriting and rebuilds it as clean, editable text, including formulas and, if you turn on image extraction, diagrams. Clear, well-lit photos give the best results, and you can check the result against the original side by side.
More on Document Uploads →
What is the difference between Digitise, Summarise and Enhance?
Digitise makes a faithful digital copy and changes nothing. Summarise condenses the material into Snapshot, Focus or Deep Dive notes. Enhance keeps your content and improves it, from tidying typos (Polish) to full study notes (Transform).
More on Document Uploads →
What file types can I upload?
PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.ppt and .pptx), JPG and PNG images and plain text, up to 50 MB each. For audio and video you can upload MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4, WEBM, OGG or AAC, or record in the browser. You can also paste a YouTube link or import Anki decks.
More on Document Uploads →
Can I turn a YouTube lecture into notes?
Yes. Choose YouTube, paste the link, and BrightStudy creates notes from the video’s transcript, with the same options as any other upload.
More on Document Uploads →
Can I record a lecture and get notes from it?
Yes. Choose Record audio to record in your browser or upload a recording. It is transcribed first, then turned into notes. Always check your university’s rules and get permission before recording a lecture.
More on Document Uploads →
Can I upload several documents at once?
Yes. Add several files to the upload window and set up each one separately, for example Digitise for your handwritten pages and Summarise for the lecture slides.
More on Document Uploads →
Can I edit the notes afterwards?
Yes. Every result opens as an editable Study Doc. You can also generate flashcards, MCQs or an infographic later from any document.
More on Document Uploads →
Is uploading free?
The Free plan includes a monthly AI allowance, so you can try Digitise, Summarise and Enhance. Paid plans give a larger allowance, and some options depend on your plan. Compare plans.
More on Document Uploads →
How do I turn a YouTube video into notes?
On the upload page, choose YouTube instead of a file and paste a public video link. BrightStudy fetches a preview, then you choose Summarise or Enhance.
More on YouTube Learning →
Does the video need captions?
Yes. BrightStudy reads the video’s own captions as its transcript. If a video has no usable captions, you will be told clearly rather than getting a guessed result.
More on YouTube Learning →
Can I use a private video?
No, the video must be public. A private, restricted or removed link cannot be read.
More on YouTube Learning →
Can I Digitise a YouTube video like a file?
No. Digitise and Store only are for files, scans and recordings. A video transcript goes through Summarise or Enhance instead.
More on YouTube Learning →
Where do my YouTube videos go afterwards?
Into a YouTube storage centre in your Vault, alongside your documents, images and recordings, showing what each one is linked to.
More on YouTube Learning →
Can I watch the video inside BrightStudy?
Embedded YouTube players only load once you allow embedded media in BrightStudy’s cookie settings; until then you will see a placeholder in its place.
More on YouTube Learning →
Can I get flashcards and MCQs from a video, not just notes?
Yes. Tick Flashcards or MCQs when you choose Summarise or Enhance, and they are generated from the same transcript.
More on YouTube Learning →
Is turning a YouTube video into notes free?
Turning a video into a Study Doc uses the same AI tools as any upload, within your monthly AI allowance. Compare plans.
More on YouTube Learning →
What audio and video formats can I upload?
MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4, WEBM, OGG and AAC, up to 200 MB.
More on Recordings →
Can I record a lecture live in BrightStudy?
Yes. Open the in-page recorder, press Record, and use Pause and Resume as needed before you Finish recording.
More on Recordings →
What happens if I lose my connection while recording?
BrightStudy treats what follows as another part of the same recording, up to 20 parts. The parts play back as one continuous track, and their text is joined into a single transcript.
More on Recordings →
How accurate is the transcript?
The transcript used to generate your notes comes from AI speech recognition, a dedicated speech-to-text model. Any live preview shown while you are recording is only a rough preview, not the final version.
More on Recordings →
Can I edit the transcript before generating notes?
Yes. A review screen lets you edit or delete any part of the transcript before you generate a Study Doc, flashcards or MCQs from it.
More on Recordings →
Where are my recordings kept afterwards?
In the Recordings storage centre in your Vault, where you can play the audio, edit the transcript, download it, rename it and see which Study Doc it made.
More on Recordings →
Can I get flashcards and MCQs from a recording, not just notes?
Yes. Tick Flashcards or MCQs when you generate from a recording, and they are made from the same transcript.
More on Recordings →
Is recording and transcription free?
Recording and uploading are free; transcribing and generating notes use your monthly AI allowance. Compare plans.
More on Recordings →
What does "Extract images from document" do?
Pulls every diagram and figure out of your upload and places it inline in the Study Doc, as well as in its own extracted-images panel. It is off by default.
More on Image Extraction →
How does BrightStudy know where a figure is?
For a PDF, it reads the file’s own image placement, so the crop is exact. For a photo or scan, it detects each figure’s position automatically.
More on Image Extraction →
What does Enhance images do, and can I turn it off?
It redraws a figure as a clean, high-contrast illustration, keeping every label, arrangement and proportion the same. It is a separate toggle, off by default — leave it off to keep the original crop.
More on Image Extraction →
Can I drag figures into my Study Doc myself?
Yes. Open Extracted images in the Study Doc toolbar and drag any figure into the document, or drag one already placed to reposition it.
More on Image Extraction →
Where do extracted figures end up afterwards?
In your Vault image library, where each one can be enhanced or described, alongside the originals.
More on Image Extraction →
What does AI Describe produce?
A short title and a one-to-two-sentence description for a figure, which you can regenerate if you want a different one.
More on Image Extraction →
Can I reuse a figure from an earlier upload in a new Study Doc?
Yes. The Insert tab’s BrightStudy Database searches your own image library — not a shared collection — so any figure you have extracted before is one search away.
More on Image Extraction →
Is image extraction free?
Extracting and enhancing figures uses your monthly AI allowance. Compare plans.
More on Image Extraction →
Can I create a flashcard or MCQ without uploading anything?
Yes. Create a new deck or MCQ set and use Add Card or Add Question to write your own, with no document behind them.
More on Manual Creation →
How do I start a blank Study Doc?
Choose New document from your Study Docs home, or New Study Doc from inside any document. It opens blank and ready to type.
More on Manual Creation →
What can I set on a flashcard besides the front and back?
An explanation, a hint, "help me remember this", accepted answers or synonyms for typed-answer study, tags, and a colour for the front, back or both sides.
More on Manual Creation →
What does the MCQ editor let me write?
A question with up to five options and a correct answer. The quick Add Question form takes one combined explanation; the full editor lets you write "Why this is correct" or "Why this is incorrect" for each option separately.
More on Manual Creation →
Can I tag or recolour many cards at once?
Yes. Turn on Bulk Edit, select the cards you want, then add tags or set a colour across all of them in one action.
More on Manual Creation →
Can I move cards between decks, or merge two decks?
Yes. Move a card or a selection to another deck from the editor, or merge one deck fully into another from the deck list’s menu.
More on Manual Creation →
What is "New Set from Bank"?
A way to build a flashcard deck or MCQ set from BrightStudy’s own curated question bank, searchable by subject, topic and difficulty — not community-contributed content, and separate from the Community Library.
More on Manual Creation →
Is manual creation free?
Yes — the Free plan includes unlimited manual flashcards, MCQs and Study Doc creation. Compare plans.
More on Manual Creation →
Study

Practise and understand

Build recall, test your knowledge and work through difficult ideas. Answers from each study feature page.

47 questions

How does BrightStudy write my flashcards?
From your own uploads and Study Docs, using BrightStudy’s flashcard writer. It never invents information, picks the clearest question format for each fact, and tags every card by topic, knowledge type, concept and an optional micro-tag.
More on Flashcards →
Can I study by typing instead of revealing the answer?
Yes. Switch Answer Mode to Type Answer and AI marks what you wrote by meaning, not exact wording, then you still choose the grade button yourself.
More on Flashcards →
What do Incorrect, Almost and Correct do?
They grade how well you recalled the card and schedule its next review. See spaced repetition for how the schedule works.
More on Flashcards →
Can I get help when a card will not stick?
Yes: a one-sentence hint before you answer, a memory cue you can edit and save on the card, and a deeper explanation once you have answered.
More on Flashcards →
Can I organise my decks?
Yes. Rename, move or merge decks, pin the ones you use most, and delete a deck without losing its cards — they move to Unfiled.
More on Flashcards →
Can I edit cards after they are made?
Yes, in the deck editor: rewrite the question, answer or explanation, bulk-edit tags or colour, or ask AI to complete a card, improve its wording or suggest a hint.
More on Flashcards →
Can I import my Anki decks?
Yes: .apkg, .colpkg and Anki text exports, with your due dates, progress and images carried over, and a full undo if you change your mind.
More on Flashcards →
Is making and studying flashcards free?
Yes. Writing, studying and editing flashcards is included on every plan, within your monthly AI allowance. The daily due queue that schedules your reviews uses spaced repetition, which is on paid plans. Compare plans.
More on Flashcards →
Are these real past-paper questions?
No. Questions are written from your own notes and uploads, in the style of your exam. BrightStudy never presents them as official, past-paper or exam-board-approved questions.
More on MCQs →
How does BrightStudy know my exam?
From your study profile: your country, level, course, year, target exam and the exam board for each subject. You set it when you sign up and can change it in Settings at any time.
More on MCQs →
Which exams does it support?
Any level from primary to postgraduate. More than 30 named exams have specific style notes, including MRCP, USMLE, PLAB, SQE, GPhC and NCLEX, and GCSE and A-level questions use your exam board’s terminology.
More on MCQs →
What format are the questions?
Single best answer with five options (A to E) and one correct answer. Every option has its own explanation, and each question is tagged by topic, knowledge type, concept and micro tag.
More on MCQs →
How are questions quality-checked?
An automatic check looks for answer giveaways, such as the right option being much longer than the others, and a separate AI reviewer checks each question against 14 criteria before it is saved.
More on MCQs →
Can I edit or write my own questions?
Yes. The MCQ editor lets you write and edit questions, have AI create a new question or refine the wrong options, and see the earlier versions of each question.
More on MCQs →
Is there a timer?
Each session shows the time you have spent, and it pauses automatically if you step away. There is no countdown, so you can practise at your own pace.
More on MCQs →
Can I flag questions to come back to?
Yes. Flag any question during a session (press F) and use the question navigator to jump back to it before you finish.
More on MCQs →
What happens when I keep getting a question right?
Answer a question correctly twice in a row and BrightStudy writes a fresh version that tests the same idea a different way. See adaptive MCQs.
More on MCQs →
Is exam practice free?
The Free plan includes AI-written questions and explanations within a monthly AI allowance. Daily review of what is due uses spaced repetition, which is on paid plans. Compare plans.
More on MCQs →
How are the questions generated?
From the Study Doc itself: up to 10 teaching prompts, each with its own mark scheme, built once and reused until the doc changes.
More on Deep Learning →
Can I speak my answer?
Yes, in Chrome, Edge and Safari. If voice is not supported or the microphone is blocked, Deep Recall switches you to typing instead.
More on Deep Learning →
How is my answer marked?
AI reads your explanation and finds the evidence — checking exact quotes from what you said — and BrightStudy’s own code turns that evidence into a score with a fixed formula, so the same answer always earns the same mark.
More on Deep Learning →
Can I see the mark scheme before I answer?
No. It is locked until you submit. You can ask for a coarse hint or see the key areas your answer should cover, but never the mark scheme itself.
More on Deep Learning →
Can I pause or skip a question?
Yes. Pause at any point and resume later, skip a question you have not learned yet, or end the session — everything you have answered so far is saved.
More on Deep Learning →
Is Deep Recall the same thing as Deep Learning?
Yes — Deep Learning is the name on the features menu; inside BrightStudy the product itself is called Deep Recall.
More on Deep Learning →
Is Deep Recall free to use?
Yes. It is available wherever you study, within your monthly AI allowance like other AI tools. Compare plans.
More on Deep Learning →
How many tutors are there?
Six: Oracle, Oracle Fox, Nova Bot, Lumi Sprite, Atlas Owl and Echo Capsule. Pick one in Settings, or switch any time — the teaching and knowledge stay the same, only the voice and personality change.
More on AI Tutors →
Can I type and hear Oracle speak?
Yes. Type your question and, if you switch voice on, Oracle reads its reply back in that character’s own voice. On mobile you can also record your question instead of typing.
More on AI Tutors →
Can Oracle see my own notes?
Only if you choose. Attach a document in the main Oracle panel and it bases its answers, quizzes and examples on that material. The quick Explain and Ask shortcuts from a Study Doc share just the text you highlighted.
More on AI Tutors →
Can I save and come back to a conversation?
Yes. Signed-in chats are saved automatically. Start a new one any time, reopen an old one, rename it, download it as a text file, or delete it.
More on AI Tutors →
Does Oracle know about BrightStudy itself?
Yes. Ask how to do something in the app and Oracle answers from a maintained guide to BrightStudy’s own pages and features, so it does not guess at a button that is not there.
More on AI Tutors →
Can Oracle recommend study resources?
Yes. It can point you to a real, published resource from the Community Library, with a working link, refreshed regularly so recommendations stay current.
More on AI Tutors →
Is there a tutor on mobile?
Yes. The BrightStudy mobile app has its own Tutor screen with the same six characters, quick prompts, and the option to attach one of your documents or ask by voice.
More on AI Tutors →
Is Oracle free to use?
Yes. Chatting with Oracle is included on every plan, within your monthly AI allowance. Compare plans.
More on AI Tutors →
What help can I get on an MCQ?
A hint before you answer, an explanation of your mistake if you got it wrong, a deeper explanation of the idea, and a memory trick — all from the same question.
More on AI Explanations →
What help can I get on a flashcard?
A hint before you reveal the answer, a memory cue you can edit and save on the card, and a deeper explanation once you have answered.
More on AI Explanations →
Can I type my flashcard answers?
Yes. Switch on Type Answer and AI marks what you wrote by meaning, not exact wording, then you still choose the grade button yourself.
More on AI Explanations →
What can Assist do in a Study Doc?
Select any text and choose Explain (simply, in depth, step by step or with an example), Improve (polish, add an explanation, shorten or rephrase), or Remember (a mnemonic, memory aid, analogy or story).
More on AI Explanations →
Does Explain give a straight answer or open a chat?
It opens a conversation with your AI tutor, with your chosen mode already asked, so you can keep asking questions. See AI tutors.
More on AI Explanations →
Can BrightStudy fact-check my notes?
Yes. It flags statements that may be inaccurate, over-broad or need a source, each with a reason and a suggested fix — though it can make mistakes, so check anything it flags.
More on AI Explanations →
Is the memory cue on a flashcard permanent?
It is saved on the card once you keep it, and you can edit, regenerate or remove it at any time.
More on AI Explanations →
Is AI help free to use?
Yes. These tools are included on every plan, within your monthly AI allowance. Compare plans.
More on AI Explanations →
What is spaced repetition?
A way of reviewing that spaces each review further apart as you remember something better. Reviewing just before you would forget makes memories last much longer than cramming.
More on Spaced Repetition →
Which algorithm does BrightStudy use?
FSRS, a modern spaced-repetition scheduler that models how stable and how difficult each card is for you, and plans the next review from that.
More on Spaced Repetition →
Can I type my answers instead?
Yes. Switch on Type answer and AI marks your answer by meaning rather than exact spelling. You can always override the verdict with the grade buttons.
More on Spaced Repetition →
How does it work with my exam date?
Add the exam in the calendar or set an exam date on a Vault document. In the last 30 days target recall ramps up to 95%, no review is scheduled after the exam, and flashcards already scheduled too late are pulled forward.
More on Spaced Repetition →
Do MCQs use spaced repetition too?
Yes. Practice questions use the same scheduler and exam dates, so cards and questions arrive on the same rhythm. See exam practice.
More on Spaced Repetition →
Is spaced repetition free?
Making and studying flashcards is free. The daily due queue, which uses spaced repetition, is on paid plans. Compare plans.
More on Spaced Repetition →
Organise

Organise and track progress

Keep your resources in order and see where to focus next. Answers from each organise feature page.

28 questions

What can I keep in the Vault?
Every upload and the Study Docs, flashcards and MCQs made from it, plus images, lecture recordings, YouTube lectures and files you chose to store as they are.
More on Vault →
Can I keep a file without any AI processing?
Yes. Choose Store only when you upload, or upload straight into the Vault. Stored files can be up to 20 MB each and are kept exactly as they are. See upload.
More on Vault →
Can I organise files into folders?
Yes. Create, rename, colour, pin and nest folders, drag them into the order you want, and sort by name, date, size or recent changes.
More on Vault →
What happens when I delete something?
It moves to Deleted, where you can restore it or delete it forever. Anything still there after 30 days is removed automatically.
More on Vault →
How do exam dates work?
Set an exam date on a document and the flashcards in its folder are rescheduled to fit before the exam. Upcoming exams also appear in your notifications.
More on Vault →
Is my Vault private?
Yes. Your Vault is only visible to you. Search covers your own material, and nothing is published unless you choose to share it to the Community Library.
More on Vault →
What does BrightStudy track?
Study time, flashcard and MCQ accuracy, cards and questions due, mastery levels, topic strength, active days and streaks. It all builds up automatically as you study.
More on Progress Analytics →
How is topic health worked out?
From your flashcard and MCQ results in each topic. Topics are banded Strong (90% or more), Going well, Developing, Needs attention or Critical (under 45%).
More on Progress Analytics →
What is first-attempt accuracy?
How you do the first time you meet a new version of a question. It is a better test of understanding than answering a question you have seen before. See adaptive MCQs.
More on Progress Analytics →
How does the AI brief decide what I should study?
It looks at topic readiness, your upcoming events and what is due, then ranks areas by urgency and weakness into 3 to 5 next steps. It refreshes when those change.
More on Progress Analytics →
What counts towards my streak?
Any day with flashcard reviews, MCQ answers, reading or tests.
More on Progress Analytics →
Can I set a weekly goal?
Yes. Your weekly goal counts practice minutes since Monday. It starts at 4 hours and you can change it on your dashboard.
More on Progress Analytics →
Is analytics included in the Free plan?
The dashboard, streak and weekly goal are on every plan. The full analytics page is on paid plans. Compare plans.
More on Progress Analytics →
What counts as a "topic"?
Any tag on a flashcard or MCQ. If you have not studied tagged material yet, BrightStudy falls back to your Vault’s top-level subject folders instead.
More on Topic Analysis →
What are the four tag levels, and do I have to add them myself?
Topic, knowledge type, concept and micro-tag. They are set automatically when a flashcard or MCQ is created — the MCQ editor shows all four as separate fields; on flashcards they sit in one editable tag list.
More on Topic Analysis →
Can I search, filter and sort the topic table?
Yes. Search by name, filter by health band or by method (MCQs or flashcards), sort by most recent, weakest, strongest or name, and choose how many rows to show.
More on Topic Analysis →
What do accuracy, due and trend mean?
Accuracy is your right-answer rate in the period you picked. Due is how many items carrying that tag are due for review now. Trend compares accuracy with the previous period of the same length.
More on Topic Analysis →
Where else do my topics show up?
Every document you study gets its own "Topics from this document" grid, built from that document’s flashcard and MCQ tags and sorted by coverage or A–Z.
More on Topic Analysis →
Does this feed my AI study brief?
Yes. Your dashboard’s AI brief reads a per-topic readiness score alongside your upcoming exams and due reviews, then ranks what to study next. See progress.
More on Topic Analysis →
Is topic analysis on the Free plan?
The dashboard’s AI brief is on every plan. The full analytics page, including the Topics tab, is on paid plans. Compare plans.
More on Topic Analysis →
What event types can I add?
Exam / assessment, deadline, class / teaching, revision session, practical / placement, meeting / group study, personal, and other — each with its own colour.
More on Study Calendar →
Can events repeat?
Yes: daily (up to 90 days), weekly (up to 52 weeks), monthly (up to 12 months) or annually (up to 5 years). Editing lets you change just one occurrence or the whole series.
More on Study Calendar →
How does linking an exam to a subject help my revision?
The exam date writes onto every document in that subject, and BrightStudy recompresses the FSRS flashcard schedule for that subject so every review lands before the exam.
More on Study Calendar →
Can I move an event to a different day?
Yes, drag it onto a new day in month view and it saves straight away.
More on Study Calendar →
What does the notification bell show me?
Exams in the next 14 days, reminders at the lead time you set, flashcards due for review, and MCQs you have not attempted yet — soonest first.
More on Study Calendar →
Does my calendar show up on the dashboard?
Yes, as an "Upcoming" widget: a mini month view with a coloured dot per event and a side panel for the day you select.
More on Study Calendar →
Is there a calendar in the mobile app?
Yes, with its own month and agenda views, reached from the Home screen.
More on Study Calendar →
Is the calendar on the Free plan?
Yes, the calendar is available on every plan, including Free. Compare plans.
More on Study Calendar →
Connect

Connect and share

Discover resources and learn alongside other people. Answers from each connect feature page.

31 questions

What is in the Community Library?
Study Docs, flashcard decks, MCQ sets and complete Study Sets, organised by subject, course and topic. Some are official BrightStudy resources and some are shared by students.
More on Community Library →
Who checks the resources?
Every student submission passes automatic checks and an AI safety check, then a BrightStudy administrator approves it before it is published.
More on Community Library →
What are official resources?
Study Sets made by BrightStudy from curriculum outlines. Their Study Docs cite sources, every cited link is checked, and the doc, flashcards and MCQs are each reviewed before publishing.
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Can I see resources without an account?
Yes. Anyone can open a resource or Study Set page and see a preview: the first page of a doc, 3 flashcards and 3 MCQs. Sign up to browse and search the whole Library.
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What happens when I download a resource?
A copy is added to your Vault as your own Study Doc, flashcard deck or MCQ set, so you can edit it and study it with everything else.
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Can I share my own notes?
Yes. Choose a Study Doc, flashcard deck or MCQ set from your work and submit it. It is checked and reviewed before it goes live.
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Is my name shown when I share?
Only your username is shown, never your real name, and you can publish anonymously if you prefer.
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What can I share into a chat?
Study Docs, flashcard decks and MCQ sets you own — up to 5 items in one message. Folders and images can’t be sent into a chat.
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Does the other person get my original, or a copy?
A copy. Chat material is copied into a frozen snapshot the moment you send it, so your later edits never change what they received. If they Save to Vault, it becomes their own Study Doc, deck or MCQ set.
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What’s the difference between a chat share and sharing by email?
A chat share always gives the other person their own copy. Sharing a document or folder by email gives them access to your original — nothing is copied, and you can remove access at any time from Shared Items.
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Can I share with someone who isn’t my friend?
In a chat, only people in that chat — friends or group co-members — can receive a share. By email, anyone with a BrightStudy account at that address, friend or not.
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Where do I find what has been shared with me?
Two places: the Shared quick-access list in your Vault sidebar (the last items friends sent you in chat), and Social → Shared, a full ledger of every chat share plus Community Library downloads and uploads.
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Is chat sharing available to everyone?
Sharing into a chat needs the same 18+ check as the rest of chat. Friends, profiles and sharing by email stay open to everyone. See Friends & Messaging.
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Can I share with anyone, not just people I know?
Yes — publish a Study Doc, deck, MCQ set or complete Study Set to the Community Library, where it is reviewed before anyone can find it. See Community Library.
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Is sharing included in the Free plan?
Yes. Sharing into a chat, sharing by email and downloading from the Community Library work on every plan, including Free. The one exception is starting a group chat, which needs Essential or above — see Study groups. Compare plans.
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How do I add a friend?
Search by @handle, or enter their exact email address, from Add friend in Social. There is no directory to browse.
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Can I message someone who hasn’t verified their age?
No. Chat is for members who have passed the 18+ check. Friends, requests and profiles still work for everyone; only direct messages and group chats need it.
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How does BrightStudy know I’m 18 or over?
A one-off check with our provider, AgeVerif — a selfie age estimate or a credit card confirmation, both free. We only store that you passed, never the photo, card details or your date of birth.
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Can I see if someone is online?
Yes, if they let you. Friends can appear Online, Busy or Invisible (which looks offline to everyone), with an optional status message and emoji.
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Does BrightStudy show when someone has read my message?
Yes. Your last message shows Read once they have seen it, or Read by a count in a group.
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Can I send files in chat?
Yes — PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PNG, JPEG or WebP, up to 25 MB. Images are checked automatically before delivery, and ones that are not suitable for BrightStudy chat are refused.
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Can I stop just anyone sending me a friend request?
Yes. Switch your profile to invite-only in Social → Profile → Privacy, and only people you invite can send a request.
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What happens if I block someone?
They can no longer see your profile or send you a friend request. Block from a friend request, or from their profile menu.
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How do I start a study group?
From Social, choose New group, give it a name, icon and colour, and pick the friends to add. You become its owner.
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Can I add anyone to a group?
Only your existing friends. Groups are built from people you already know, and every member needs to have passed the same 18+ check as any other chat.
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How many people can be in one group?
Up to 50 members.
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Who can manage the group?
The owner can promote or demote admins. Admins can rename the group, change its icon or colour, add members and remove ordinary members — but never another admin or the owner.
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What happens if I leave a group?
You leave straight away. If you were the owner, the longest-serving admin — or member, if there is no admin — becomes the new owner. If everyone leaves, the group is gone.
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Can I share flashcards or MCQs with the whole group?
Yes. Share a Study Doc, deck or MCQ set into a group chat exactly as you would with one friend — everyone in the group can Save it to their own Vault. See Resource sharing.
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Do I need to verify my age to use study groups?
Yes. Group chats need the same one-off 18+ check as direct messages. See Friends & Messaging.
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Is creating a study group free?
Creating a group needs Essential or a higher plan; Free keeps direct chats with friends. Compare plans.
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Personalise

Make it your own

Create a study space that feels like yours. Answers from each personalise feature page.

14 questions

How many themes are there?
Twelve: BrightStudy Ripples, Bright Notes, Academic, Clean Glass, Magical Study, Green Woodland, Astronomy Sky, Cherry Blossom, Midnight Aquarium, Bioluminescent Rainforest, Anime Hero Dark and Anime Hero Light.
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Where do I change my theme?
Open the Dashboard and Theme Studio with the gear on your dashboard, or choose Theme from your avatar menu on any page. The page restyles straight away.
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Does the theme change the whole app?
Yes. Pages built on the BrightStudy layout, including your dashboard, analytics and settings, follow your theme.
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Will changing theme affect my work?
No. Themes only change how BrightStudy looks. Your notes, cards, questions and progress are untouched.
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Is there a dark mode?
Several themes are dark, including Midnight Aquarium, Astronomy Sky, Bioluminescent Rainforest and Anime Hero Dark, so you can choose a darker look for late sessions.
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Can I choose my AI tutor?
Yes. Pick from Oracle, Oracle Fox, Nova Bot, Lumi Sprite, Atlas Owl and Echo Capsule in the Theme Studio. Each has its own voice and personality.
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How do I go back to the default?
Use Reset to default in the Theme Studio to restore the default theme, tutor and dashboard.
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Can I use a photo of myself?
Yes. Upload a JPEG, PNG or WebP image and BrightStudy crops it to a square automatically, or pick one of 1,000 illustrated avatars instead.
More on Avatars & Profile →
What are the 1,000 preset avatars?
Illustrated characters across seven categories — animals, birds, sea life, reptiles & bugs, fantasy, robots & space, and nature & things — searchable by name.
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Does BrightStudy show my real name to other users?
No. Friends see the name you choose to show them; everyone else sees your @handle. Your real name is never shown to other users.
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Who can see my photo, online status, course and interests?
You choose, field by field: Everyone, Friends, or No one. Photo, status, course and interests default to Friends; your Community Library contributions default to Everyone.
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Where does my avatar actually show up?
Your public profile, your friends list, chat threads, and your account menu in the top bar. It does not appear next to your name in the Community Library, which shows an initial instead.
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Can I edit my study profile — country, level, subjects and exam boards?
Yes, any time, from Settings. It is what BrightStudy uses to write flashcards, MCQs and summaries at the right level for your course and exam.
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Is a social profile required to use BrightStudy?
No. Studying, uploads, flashcards and MCQs all work without ever touching Social — the profile only matters once you add friends or publish to the Community Library.
More on Avatars & Profile →
Plans & pricing

Plans and pricing

What is free, what the paid plans add and how billing works.

7 questions

Is BrightStudy free?
Yes. The Free plan lets you create and study your own Study Docs, flashcards and MCQs, and includes a monthly AI allowance so you can try the AI tools. Paid plans add a larger allowance and more features. Compare plans.
How much does BrightStudy cost?
BrightStudy is free to start. Paid plans are Essential £8.99 a month (£5.99 a month paid yearly), Pro £13.99 a month (£8.99 a month paid yearly), Max £18.99 a month (£14.99 a month paid yearly). Prices are in pounds; the pricing page has the full comparison.
What is the AI allowance?
Each plan includes a monthly allowance for AI work such as writing notes, flashcards and questions, explanations and the AI tutor. It resets every month, and you can see how much you have used in Settings. Higher plans have a larger allowance.
What do paid plans add?
Paid plans add a larger AI allowance and features such as spaced-repetition review queues, the full analytics page and study groups. Higher plans add more, such as MCQ regeneration and faster processing. The pricing page shows exactly what each plan includes.
Can I pay yearly?
Yes. Paying yearly costs less per month than paying monthly. You can see both prices on the pricing page.
How do I upgrade, change or cancel my plan?
Choose a plan on the pricing page. Payments are handled securely by Stripe, and you can manage or cancel your subscription from the billing portal at any time.
Do I need a credit card to start?
No. You can create an account and use the Free plan without a card.
Privacy & data

Privacy and your data

Who can see your work, how it is protected and how to delete it.

8 questions

Who can see my notes and files?
Only you. Your Vault is private. Nothing is shared or published unless you choose to share it with a friend or submit it to the Community Library, where it is reviewed before it goes live.
Do you use my notes to train AI?
No. We do not sell your content, and we do not use it to train our own or anyone else’s general AI models. We may use aggregated, de-identified statistics that cannot identify you to run and improve the service. See our privacy policy.
How is my data protected?
With encrypted HTTPS connections, passwords stored only as one-way hashes, secure HTTP-only sign-in cookies, per-account checks on who can open your workspace, and rate limiting. See section 10 of our privacy policy.
Which companies process my data?
Trusted service providers that act on our instructions under written contracts, including Cloudflare for hosting and storage and AI providers that generate study material, transcribe audio and check spelling. The full list is in our privacy policy.
Is BrightStudy GDPR compliant?
We process personal information under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, the EU GDPR and the other privacy laws described in our privacy policy, which also explains your rights and how to use them.
How do I delete my account and data?
You can permanently delete your account from the Profile screen in the mobile app, or by emailing support@brightstudy.ai from your account’s email address. Deletion removes your account, your study content and your uploaded files.
Does BrightStudy use cookies?
Yes, essential cookies keep you signed in. Embedded media and analytics only load if you allow them, and you can change your choice at any time. See our cookie policy.
Can I download my original files?
Yes. Every upload keeps its original file, which you can download at any time from the document or your Vault.
Account & safety

Account and safety

Age, sign-in, social features and getting help.

5 questions

How old do I need to be to use BrightStudy?
You must be at least 13. In some countries the minimum age to agree to an online service yourself is higher, as explained in our terms.
Why do I need to verify my age to chat?
Messaging, sharing materials in chat and study groups are for verified adults. Friends, profiles and the Community Library stay open without verification. See friends and messaging.
I forgot my password. What do I do?
Use “Forgot password” on the sign-in page. We email you a short-lived code to set a new password.
Can I change my username and profile?
Yes. Change your username in Settings, and your photo or avatar, bio and visibility settings on your Social profile. See avatars and profile.
How do I contact BrightStudy?
Email support@brightstudy.ai and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

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