You can use the reference feature of the app at any time. You should take at least one lesson before you take a revision session, since the general idea is that you only revise what you have learned. Beyond that, there are slightly different guidelines for complete beginners and intermediate learners.

Every time you answer a test question in a revision session correctly, the length of time until same question is asked is doubled. If you answer incorrectly, the question is repeated in the next session. Read more.

You can use almost all of the functionality of the app by just entering the letters A to Z. However a few features require Chinese soft keyboard, which you can probably install on your phone for free via the phone language settings. Read more.

You only need an internet connection to make in-app purchases and update the app to the latest version. Otherwise no connection is necessary.

Please see here.

You enter the tone at the end of each syllable by pressing the dedicated tone buttons on the screen. More about Pinyin tones here.

In each session of Chinese Drill, you are first tested on character knowledge, and then on words. Read more.

If you have entered the correct Pinyin, but your answer for “Meaning” differs from the one given by the app, you are allowed to decide for yourself if your answer is close enough to be acceptable.

This means you have not entered the correct tone mark for one or more syllables. See also here.

In common with other Chinese input methods, you type the letter “v” and the app converts it to “ü”.

The notes button appears bright yellow on the character or word reference page when there are actually notes to be read, either supplied with the app or written by yourself. Regardless of colour, pressing it will take you to an editor where you can write your own notes.

Pressing this will result in the word or character not being scheduled for revision. We recommend doing this only for items that you are quite sure you will never forget or never need to know.

If you attempt a revision session immediately after installation without taking any lessons, this will happen. Otherwise, the spaced repetition principle can still cause this to happen occasionally if you have answered all questions correctly in previous sessions.

In principle, Chinese drill will run on Android tablets and Apple iPads, although the layout has been optimised for mobile phones. Read more.

On versions 6 and 7 of Android, the launch icon may not display correctly, and be replaced by an Android default icon. Operation is otherwise unaffected.

If you do not see additional levels added after purchasing an upgrade, please press on the button “Restore Previous Purchase” on the Settings page.

All data generated in the app is stored internally in the user’s device only. None is uploaded to any network or transmitted externally. The app does not use or access any user data from the host device outside the app itself.