Using AI to learn math is a secret advantage most students miss. It’s like having a learning shortcut that helps you understand faster with less confusion.
The mistake? Most students simply ask AI to solve math problems for them. This won’t help you ace exams. You get good at math by understanding concepts, not collecting quick answers.
This post will show you four ways to use AI to ace secondary school and JC math. It includes the exact AI prompts you can use, all based on proven learning methods.
The fastest way to learn math is to treat AI as your personal, always patient tutor. This means:
- Having AI guide you through problems step-by-step, rather than just giving you solutions
- Showing AI your incorrect answers, and asking it to identify the areas to improve
- Using AI to understand complex math concepts that you find challenging
You can use AI math tutors like The Wise Otter for all the strategies in this guide — just take a photo of your math work and get instant, personalised help.
Ready to change how you learn math? Let’s explore AI techniques most students don’t know about yet.
Four ways to leverage AI to ace math
1. Guided problem solving
How it works: Snap a photo of a tough math problem from your textbook, homework, or practice paper. Ask AI for guiding questions rather than having AI directly solve it for you.
Why it helps: You build conceptual understanding by reasoning through each step.
When to use: After you’ve attempted a problem but can’t solve it.
Watch how to do this with The Wise Otter:
How to use this prompt (and all others in this guide):
- When working with a math problem: Take a photo of it, upload to The Wise Otter, and add the prompt as your photo caption
- If you’re not uploading a photo, simply send the prompt as a message in the chat
2. Explain complex concepts
How it works: Ask AI to break down complex math concepts like algebra, trigonometry or statistics into simple terms with relatable examples.
Why it helps: Textbooks and classroom lessons sometimes move too quickly. AI can provide simple and clear explanations tailored to your level.
When to use: When struggling with new topics in class or preparing for upcoming tests.
3. Analyse your mistakes
How it works: Take a photo of your wrong math answer and ask AI where you went wrong.
Why it helps: You won’t repeat the same mistake if you understand why you made it. This targeted approach helps you identify and strengthen weak topics.
When to use: After getting marked work back from your teachers or when checking your answers against solutions.
4. Master concepts
How it works: When you want to master a concept, explain it back to AI in your own words without looking at your notes. This uses the feynman technique which is a proven method to quickly understand and memorise complicated topics.
Why it helps: Explaining forces you to identify gaps in your understanding. If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. This forces active recall which is far more effective than passive rereading or highlighting your notes.
When to use: After learning new topics in class, during revision periods or when you’re preparing for exams.
Tips on applying the feynman technique:
- Write down everything you remember about the concept from memory
- Use your own words and explain it as simply as possible without looking at any notes
- Only read the AI’s response after giving your best effort to write everything down
- It’s normal if you can’t recall everything; this is part of learning
- Use the AI’s response to fill in gaps in your knowledge
- Make this a regular practice for all important topics you learn in class
Why the feynman technique works:
Struggling to recall is actually good and necessary for learning. It’s what helps you remember concepts for a long time. The more you struggle to recall, the faster you learn.
Final Tips
Use AI as a supplement to, not a replacement for, your regular classes and study routines.
Always verify AI explanations with your textbooks and school notes when possible.
Focus on correcting your mistakes more than just getting correct answers.
Regularly test your understanding by explaining concepts back to AI.
Practice these techniques whether you’re in secondary 1 or JC2; they apply to every level.
Remember — while AI can be an incredible tool, you still need to put in the work. The goal isn’t to use AI to avoid learning math, but to use it to learn math much faster and with less frustration.
Happy learning!
