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Help center

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Students: Using Our Platform

Learn about our online platform!

Getting Help

How can I request a tutoring session?

You can request a session from your dashboard. Simply select a subject, fill out the pre-session form, and click Start a chat.

How long are the sessions?

Sessions can be as long as you need. Just ask your coach at the beginning if they can stay for the time you need. If not, you can start with them and switch to another coach later.

Is there a limit to how many sessions I can do?

No! We offer unlimited tutoring.

Who will be tutoring me?

All of our Academic Coaches are in 9th grade or higher. They are volunteers from all over the world who want to help students and believe that you shouldn’t have to pay for the support you need to succeed in school. Since our coaches live all across the world, there’s always someone who can help you no matter what day and time. Our volunteers are college students, university professors, stay-at-home parents, and professionals from all industries and walks of life. Needless to say, you’ll find someone that can help you :)

Tools You Can Use On The Platform 🛠

Is there video?

For your safety and comfort, UPchieve does not use video.

Virtual classroom tools

UPchieve makes online tutoring easy! During your session, you’ll meet 1:1 with your tutor in a virtual classroom. You can work together using a whiteboard or document editor and chat through messages or optional voice chat.


Voice chat đŸŽ€đŸ”Š

  • You can use voice chat to talk with your tutor during your session.

  • Voice chat is optional, so you can choose whether or not to use it. You can also use the text chat instead. If voice chat is turned on, your conversation will also appear as text in the chat.

  • On a phone or tablet? You can’t use voice chat on mobile.

  • Watch this video to learn more:

You can read more about voice chat and troubleshooting here.


Whiteboard/doc editor đŸ’»

You and your tutor may use a whiteboard or document editor during your session.

Math and Science sessions

  • You’ll use a whiteboard where you and your tutor can solve problems together. You can:

    • Write notes

    • Draw

    • Add shapes

    • Show your work step by step

English, Social Studies, and other sessions

  • You’ll use a document editor where you and your tutor can:

    • Type and edit text

    • Highlight important information

    • Change the size of words

    • Work on assignments together

  • Anything you add will update right away, so you and your tutor can see changes as you work.

  • You can also upload images in the whiteboard and document editor.


Math keyboard ∑

  • The math keyboard is available for all students in math sessions!

  • You can use it to add:

    • Equations

    • Fractions

    • Exponents

    • Math symbols

  • To use it, click the ∑ button in the chat toolbar.

  • No more typing math problems with words like “x squared” or “fraction over”!


Image Upload đŸ“·

  • You can upload images during your session to share things with your tutor, like homework problems or notes.

  • Supported file types:

    • JPEG

    • PNG

    • GIF (no animation)

    • BMP

    • HEIC

  • To upload an image, click the image upload button in the toolbar.


Screen sharing đŸ’»

  • Screen sharing is becoming available to more students and tutors. If you see the screen sharing icon in your toolbar, you can use it during your session.

  • Screen sharing lets you:

    • Share your screen with your tutor so they can help you

    • Get help with assignments, documents, or online materials

    • Work together in real time

  • Screen sharing is optional. You can choose whether or not to share your screen.

  • Note:

    • Screen sharing may not be available in every session yet.

    • On a phone or tablet? You can’t use screen share on mobile.

Can I use Zoom?

NO. Communicate with your coach directly on UPchieve to keep things secure. No Zoom, email, text, or calls are allowed.

Whiteboard & Documents 📝

How do I erase things on the whiteboard?
  • Clear everything: Click the three dots → trash can

    • Undo a mistake: Click the Undo arrow

  • Hide something: Use the eraser tool

  • Delete one thing: Use the Pick tool → click the item → press delete

How do I upload or share images?

Click the image upload button on the toolbar.

Can I share files?

No. You must take a screenshot of the file and upload it as an image.

Can I share a Google Doc or other links with my coach?
  • We’d like you to try pasting text directly into the chat or the whiteboard/document editor first. You can also take a screenshot and upload it.

  • If that doesn’t work, you can share links, but keep these rules in mind:

    • Remove your name, email, or other personal info

    • Set the doc to “Anyone with link — Viewer”

    • Do not give edit access

    • Always talk with your coach on UPchieve, not inside the Google Doc

If possible, copy/paste your text into the chat or whiteboard instead.

I need learning accommodations

UPchieve supports things like color-blind mode, speech-to-text, translation tools, and dyslexia support. Check out this doc for more information

Tech Issues During your Session đŸ“±

Whiteboard and chat aren’t connecting

Try refreshing the page (or closing and reopening the mobile app) and ask your coach to do the same.

If that doesn’t fix the issue, report it here. Our tech team will look into it within 48 business hours.

The coach isn’t replying to my messages.
  • Give them a few minutes! They might be checking your work or finding the best way to help.

  • If you've sent several messages and still haven't heard back, there might be a connection or tech issue. Don’t worry, you can request another session!

The coach ended the session abruptly

It might be a connection issue, but that's okay. You can request another session.

I accidentally ended the session. Can I reopen it?

No, you cannot reopen a session once it has ended, but you can request another session.

I requested a session but no one is available/there aren't any coaches

We try to have enough coaches for everyone, but sometimes you might not get matched with one.

Coach availability depends on the subject and the time you ask for help. We’re always adding new tutors, so hopefully your next request will work better!

The coach can’t see the image I uploaded

Refresh the page (or close and reopen the mobile app) and ask the coach to refresh the page too.

If that doesn’t work, try uploading the image in a different format (for example if your image is jpg, convert to png). There are several webpages that help you convert images to different formats such as FreeConvert

After Your Session

Can I look at old sessions?

Yes! Go to session history to review all past sessions.

Can I work with the same coach again?

Yes, but we don’t have a scheduling tool. Follow these suggestions:

  • Ask the coach when they’re free again

  • “Favorite” your coach after your session. You can also favorite them from Session History. Just click the star next to the coach’s name

Remember: You can’t contact coaches outside UPchieve.

Your AccountđŸ‘€

I forgot my password

Use the password reset link. If that doesn’t work, message us

I need to update my email address

message us for assistance.

I need to update my grade level

Follow these steps:

  1. Go to https://app.upchieve.org/profile.

  2. Go to Confirm your grade level and select the correct grade from the dropdown


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