[ SUBJECTS ]

AI help by subject

The same Nexus in every class, with each class's own rules. How the three learning modes work in fifteen high school subjects, with a sample hint-first exchange for each.

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Facts as of Oct 18, 2026Last reviewed Oct 19, 20262 min read

[ LEARNING MODES ]

One AI, different rules for each class

Each class in Nexus has a learning mode (Hints, Guided, or Full answer with critique) that students cannot change. A chemistry teacher can keep a class on Hints while the AP Language teacher sets Guided for essay structure. The student uses the same Nexus in every class, and each class's rules come with it.

Why it matters: in a field experiment with about 1,000 high-school students, answer-giving AI raised practice scores but cut unaided exam scores by 17%. A hint-first version of the same AI removed that harm, but it did not beat no AI. The mode keeps the thinking with the student; teaching still creates the gains.

The three modes

Modes describe how a class is set up to respond, and students cannot change a class's mode. AI can make mistakes; before any pilot we check Hints and Guided with real models.

Mode	What the student gets	Good for
Hints	A question or a nudge toward the next step, not the final answer	Practicing a new skill; first attempts
Guided	One step at a time, with the student doing each step	Multi-step procedures, proofs, essay structure
Full answer with critique	A complete answer, with a critique that explains it	Checking finished work; analyzing a model answer after an attempt

Nexus learning modes

Subject guides

Each guide shows how the modes play out in that subject, with a sample hint-first exchange and instructions teachers can add.

Math: algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics
Science: biology, chemistry, physics
English: essay writing, reading comprehension
Social studies: history, economics
Languages and computing: world languages, computer science
Exams: SAT and ACT prep, AP courses

What every subject shares

Three habits hold across subjects. Ask for the student's own attempt before help. Check what students can do alone, a few days later, without AI: classroom quizzing (retrieval practice) improves learning, g = 0.50 across 222 studies, and spaced retrieval beats massed study, g = 0.74 across 29 studies. And give feedback on the student's own work: feedback improves learning, d = 0.48 across 435 studies, with wide variation.

[ FAQ ]

Questions and answers

Can different classes use different AI rules?

Yes. Each class has its own learning mode and teacher instructions, and students cannot change them.

Which mode should a class use?

Start with Hints for practice on new skills, Guided for multi-step work, and Full answer with critique for checking finished work. Our guide on choosing a learning mode goes subject by subject.

Does Nexus work for every subject?

Nexus works on whatever assignment a student brings, in any subject. The guides here cover the high school subjects schools ask about most.

Do the modes improve grades?

We do not claim that. Hint-first AI removed the harm of answer-giving AI in a field experiment but did not beat no AI. Our pilots check what students can do alone afterward.

[ SOURCES ]