The Questions Parents Ask Most,
Answered Directly

Small-group classes of 2-10 students.

This class size is the balance point we have validated over the years: teachers can track every student's in-class responses, homework, and gaps, while preserving a peer-learning atmosphere and healthy competition — ensuring that the time and effort every student invests translates into results.

Yes. Every course comes with a complete syllabus.

Syllabi, lesson-hour schedules, textbooks, and stage-by-stage goals for each subject are shared with parents before enrollment, including prerequisite notes. To request a syllabus, add our WeChat Assistant.

Every class comes with homework. Multiple-choice questions are graded by TAs; long-answer questions are reviewed by the teacher, with selected items discussed in class.

Homework is capped at 30-60 minutes per subject — no drill marathons. Mistakes are reviewed collectively in class by the teacher, and TAs follow up one-on-one on completion.

Yes — dual support from the course teacher plus a dedicated one-on-one TA.

In-class questions are resolved on the spot. After class, students can post in their dedicated service group; if a child is too shy to ask directly, the TA forwards the question to the teacher — academic questions go straight to the instructor. Before each year's AP exams, we also set up subject-specific Q&A groups for final sprint support.

All classes are recorded. Replays can be used for review or to make up missed sessions, and remain permanently available after the term ends.

Yes. Both group classes and one-on-one tutoring offer a total of 30 minutes of free trial.

We match the right teacher clearly upfront, so you enroll with full confidence. Add our WeChat Assistant to book a trial.

AP prep comes in three class formats, which also form our recommended roadmap to a 5.

① Foundational Learning Classes (summer preview / fall in-sync / winter-Christmas intensive review — content is essentially equivalent): build the complete AP knowledge framework, with chapter-level practice for consolidation; ② Pre-Exam Sprint Classes (late Feb–late Apr): rapid review of syllabus test points and topic-based past-paper practice targeting difficult areas. Students scoring 4 on the foundational course's final mock are advised to join; those scoring 5 can instead book a few hours of one-on-one before the exam; ③ Pre-Exam Mock Classes (late Apr–exam day): 3 timed past-paper mock exams + 3 review sessions (7.5 hours), proctored by teachers to close any remaining gaps.

Yes. Refunds are pro-rated by remaining class hours, with no processing fee, credited within 10 business days — a transparent, actual-cost refund policy.

Yes. We issue official VAT special invoices for corporate payments, and personal-title invoices for individual payments.

Our AP 5-score rate is around 90% each year, with slight variation by subject.

See the full track record on the Student Results page, or add our WeChat Assistant to receive the results poster for a specific subject.

For students targeting US TOP 30 universities, plan for 7-10 AP courses; for TOP 50, plan for 3-5. The core principles are "progression across four years, mixed difficulty, and a STEM-humanities balance" — all premised on protecting school GPA. GPA always comes first; AP is the bonus on top.

TOP 30 route (7-10 courses): Grade 9 — 1-2 warm-ups (Precalculus / Microeconomics / Human Geography / Environmental Science / Psychology); Grade 10 — 2-3 courses (World History or Psychology, Macroeconomics, Physics 1 or Biology); Grade 11 — 3-4 courses (Calculus BC, Chemistry or Physics C, US History or English Language and Composition, Statistics) — the core year with the highest value; Grade 12 — 1-2 courses to finish and convert credits. Five iron rules: GPA comes first; progress in difficulty without skipping levels (Physics C requires a calculus foundation); keep at least one humanities AP; maintain 2 courses in Grade 12 to demonstrate continued academic engagement; use high-5-rate subjects like Psychology and Environmental Science to balance overall difficulty. Note: AP Chinese adds limited value for Chinese-heritage applicants and is not recommended, as it takes up a slot; final plans should be adjusted to the child's school offerings and interests.

Every student is assigned a dedicated one-on-one TA — the core of Rocket Academy's service.

TA responsibilities: collecting and grading homework, supervising daily subject-vocabulary check-ins, analyzing stage-test results, reporting weekly progress to parents, and coordinating Q&A. Simply put: the teacher handles the teaching; the TA makes sure it sticks.

A class opens with as few as 2 students.

If a class cannot be formed, we first arrange another class starting in the same period; if no suitable alternative exists, you may receive a full refund or convert to one-on-one tutoring at a discounted rate.

One-on-one pricing uses tiered discounts by lesson package — the larger the package, the lower the hourly rate.

For exact pricing and package options, please add our WeChat Assistant; we can run an assessment first and then provide a precise quote based on your child's situation.

Three campuses: Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing.

Shanghai Campus: T3-706, Changning International, 1398 Kaixuan Road, Changning District, Shanghai Shenzhen Campus: Room 407, Building 1, Huanggang Business Center, Excellence Century Center, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Beijing Campus: Room 2205, 22F, Yinke Building, 38 Haidian Street, Haidian District, Beijing

We make no "score guarantee" promises, but we do provide goal-management assurance.

Score guarantees are non-compliant marketing in the education industry. Our alternative: set a target score through an entrance assessment, then track learning progress at every stage with full transparency — parents can check the learning file at any time. By monitoring and adjusting the child's learning state and plan, we achieve score improvement.

Yes, and it's free.

If the pace or style doesn't fit during the course, simply tell your advisor and we will re-match a teacher.

Yes. Key subject vocabulary is sent before class for students to learn, with TAs supervising daily check-ins.

Group classes are paid in full — and any issue during the course can be refunded by class hour. One-on-one tutoring supports installment payments.

Yes: an entrance assessment + monthly progress reports + a full-length final mock exam.

The entrance assessment sets targets and class placement; parents receive monthly updates on homework and error patterns; a full-length mock exam is arranged before the real test. All results go into the learning file, which is the basis for refunds, schedule changes, and teacher switches — this is what we mean by transparent service.

In this case, we recommend one-on-one.

First, there is a knowledge gap (the prerequisites before limits aren't solid — check especially whether the precalculus foundation is in place), and a small group can't pause its pace to fill one student's gaps. Second, schools set their own pace and depth, so one-on-one is more targeted for protecting GPA. Plan: 2 hours of one-on-one on Saturday afternoons to close the gaps in functions, limits, and continuity and catch up with school, with a TA supervising homework online on weekdays. Most students are back on track in 8-10 weeks.

It depends on calculus progress, not physics itself.

Physics C: Mechanics requires calculus as a tool, and for engineering applicants Physics C carries more weight. If the student is already taking or has finished calculus, go straight to Physics C: Mechanics; if calculus hasn't started, take Physics 1 first to build the conceptual framework, then Physics C the following year.

Going from 3 to 5 is feasible, but it must be high-intensity one-on-one.

First 6 weeks: topic-by-topic one-on-one gap-filling (clearing the knowledge point behind every mistake). Last 6 weeks: full past-paper sets plus error review, with one timed full-length mock per week. Sprint group classes are paced for students scoring 4; a student at 3 can't keep up with that pace.

It depends on the current mock score band.

Around a 4 on mocks: a sprint small group offers the best value — systematic practice plus mock reviews are enough. Large knowledge gaps or scores below 3: start with one-on-one to close the gaps. For most students, the optimal solution is a "foundational small-group course + a few one-on-one sessions before the exam to close gaps" combination — also the plan we recommend most often.

A RMB 20,000 budget can cover a combined Physics C foundational + sprint plan.

The exact arrangement requires an entrance assessment first (mechanics and E&M foundations, calculus fluency) before deciding the class combination and hours. Our Shanghai campus is at Changning International; students from Pudong can join group classes online or in person depending on distance. For the latest weekend schedule, add our WeChat Assistant to get the timetable.

The key to securing a 5 is a two-stage approach: stay in sync with school as the foundation, then sprint with past papers before the exam.

8-10 one-on-one sessions over winter break work well for a first systematic pass (going through the BC syllabus by topic + foundational problems); move into past-paper training after the spring semester starts. Students in Guangzhou can attend fully online, with the same faculty as offline. For pricing, please add our WeChat Assistant.

For AP English we first need to confirm whether it's English Language or Literature; both are available as group classes or one-on-one. AP German teachers are extremely scarce in China, so it can only be arranged as one-on-one tutoring.

The pool of German AP candidates is small; we recommend confirming faculty and scheduling with an advisor as soon as possible, with one-on-one as the fallback plan. For scheduling, please add our WeChat Assistant to confirm.

The direction fits, but the writing load of history courses needs to be assessed in advance.

European History is closely related to Art History, and adding Art History for a music-focused applicant is a sound bonus combination. One caution: all AP history courses include DBQ / LEQ writing, and students transferring from the public system usually need extra support in academic writing — we recommend dedicated writing coaching.

To prepare for AP Physics, the math focus must be set correctly: AP Physics 1/2 requires algebra and trigonometry; AP Physics C also requires calculus.

Probability, polar coordinates, matrices, and similar precalculus topics aren't used in AP Physics 1/2 and can be left to the end or skipped; vectors are best learned through their physics applications. Algebra + trigonometry + the needed parts of precalculus fit within 40 hours; if Calculus BC is also required, add another 30-35 hours. One-on-one is RMB 980/hour (within 30 hours), with three discounted packages: RMB 26,400/30 hours, RMB 46,800/60 hours, RMB 87,600/120 hours — usable across all subjects and competitions; unused hours are refunded at the package rate, with no time limit.

Skip the zero-foundation systematic class; switch to a mock-and-sprint course instead.

With existing foundations plus a school course in parallel, knowledge coverage isn't the gap — what's missing is AP CSA question-type training (especially FRQ free-response coding). For fall, we recommend past-paper mocks plus in-depth FRQ reviews, one-on-one or sprint small group depending on mock scores.

We recommend using the gap for bridging — it solves two problems at once.

Whatever the placement test covers, completing the precalculus-to-AB bridge content is pure gain for both the school placement test and later BC study — math is a prerequisite subject, and learning it early is never "too far ahead." A 20-30 hour one-on-one bridging plan works well.

Starting after school begins in September is entirely in time, but we recommend preparing early for the June-July placement tests.

Calculus BC + Physics 1 is a classic combination. We suggest spending a small amount of summer time on math-physics bridging (for the placement tests), finalizing the full plan in September once school course selections are out, and adding remaining subjects after confirming with the school counselor. For subjects the school offers, follow Rocket's spring weekend sprint classes with past-paper training through exam day; for subjects the school doesn't offer, take an off-campus fall / winter foundational course plus a spring sprint; if school unit tests or monthly exams are challenging, add one-on-one support alongside school — after all, GPA is the most important factor in applications.

Go straight to AMC10; the prep cycle is 8-12 months.

An existing Honor Roll means the foundation is in place — going back to AMC8 practice adds little. Compared with public-system math, AMC10's extra content is mainly in number theory, combinatorics, and probability — the core value of training. Suggestion: Rocket's spring weekend systematic course (once a week) or a summer systematic course, plus 3 months of timed past-paper training before the exam.

For Oxford/Cambridge applications, BPhO carries more weight; the two can be taken in sequence.

BPhO is a UK-style competition with short-answer questions; its depth is close to the Oxbridge interview style, and admissions officers recognize it highly. Physics Bowl is multiple-choice and fast-paced, good for building competition experience. Timeline: Physics Bowl in March → BPhO Round 1 in November — a natural progression.

With zero foundation, start with NEC.

NEC's Pre division explicitly targets students with zero background or only introductory IGCSE economics exposure; starting in Grade 10, 3-4 months is enough to systematically master the fundamentals and earn a first competition credential. Even IEO's novice division requires a working knowledge of basic economics, covers macro + micro + personal finance, and includes open-ended questions and live team defense — going in with zero foundation is discouraging. Move to NEC DR / AS divisions in Grade 11, and add IEO once the foundation is solid to demonstrate stronger academic challenge.

No official grade limit — Grades 9-12 can all register, and advanced middle schoolers can also participate.

The Physics Bowl is hosted by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), held each spring (usually April): 40 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes. More important than grade is division choice: Grades 9-10 should take Division 1; Grades 11-12 or students with a full year of physics should take Division 2.

Both divisions are held on the same day and ranked separately; universities value "top-tier awards + difficulty matched to the student's grade."

D1 targets first-year physics students (questions 1-40); D2 targets students who have completed a year of physics (questions 11-50), with deeper mechanics, E&M, and modern physics content. Take the division that matches you — award level matters more than division. A top D1 award is already very impressive; don't reach beyond your level.

D1: IGCSE-level physics plus algebra, basic trigonometry, and simple proportional calculations — no calculus needed. D2: AP Physics C / A-Level A2 / IB HL level foundations, requiring vector operations and quadratic functions, with some questions involving simple calculus.

Note: D1 genuinely doesn't require calculus; some D2 questions involve calculus ideas rather than complex computation. The Physics Bowl is high-volume and fast-paced — 40 questions in 45 minutes, averaging 67 seconds each. The core of prep isn't "learning the material" but being "fast and accurate" — exactly where professional training matters.

Yes — customized teaching is exactly the core scenario of our one-on-one tutoring.

We start with a past AMC10 paper as a diagnostic, tagging mastered vs. weak modules, and the teacher tailors the syllabus accordingly — no re-teaching what's already known, focusing on weak areas like number theory and combinatorics that public-system curricula don't cover, aimed directly at AIME qualification.

With an 85-point foundation, we recommend one round of the AMC10 systematic course (60 hours, RMB 23,800); with good cooperation and on-time homework, AIME qualification is well within reach.

Strategy focus: lock in all of the first 20 questions, build fluency on mid-range problems (16-20), then cover scoring techniques for the hardest problems (21-25) — all of this is covered in one systematic course round. For details, add our WeChat Assistant to get the schedule.

The knowledge depth is more than enough; the focus is question types and timing — no need to start a systematic course from scratch.

Students at the senior-league Olympiad level typically have over 80% of AMC10/12 knowledge covered. We recommend a short sprint: timed training on the last 10 years of past papers plus in-depth error review, paced by a teacher — a few months is plenty.

Diagnose first, then fill modules based on the gap.

AMC12 covers the full Chinese high school math curriculum, and the Australian school pace means algebra and geometry modules need systematic supplementation. We recommend a diagnostic test first, then a customized gap-filling plan — typically a 6-12 month cycle.

Plenty of room — untrained and trained scores are usually two very different numbers.

Two untrained attempts show the knowledge base is there; what's missing is systematic learning and timing strategy. We recommend one full systematic course plus a pre-exam sprint, targeting Honor Roll.

The top-5% cutoff has kept rising in recent years: it was 17-19 in past years, and reached 21 in 2026 — meaning at most 4 mistakes allowed.

Strategy: secure full marks on the first 20 questions; don't give up on the final stretch (21-25). First, re-learn the knowledge points behind every mistake from the sets already done, with targeted breakthroughs; then practice full sets under strict timing — at least 10 full mocks, with review time exceeding solving time each time (was it a knowledge gap, a misread, or time allocation?). Pacing targets: finish the first 15 questions in 15-18 minutes to leave room for the hard ones; at most 1 mistake in questions 16-20; attempt 21-25 with techniques and skip decisively when stuck.

With this foundation, running both tracks next year is entirely feasible — just note the extra content AMC12 has over AMC10.

The scores show a solid foundation; timing is the main variable. We recommend studying to the AMC12 standard (number theory, combinatorics, trigonometry, logarithms), which naturally covers AMC10; after the AMC10 exam, spend one month on AMC12-only content. Note the two exams are about 2 weeks apart — stamina management should be rehearsed in advance.

The IA deserves serious attention; insufficient in-school guidance is a widespread issue, and external support is worthwhile.

The IA accounts for 20%-30% of a subject's grade and is directly tied to the school teacher's scoring, yet in-school guidance and communication are commonly inadequate — so first, maintain close communication with the school teacher throughout, take every piece of feedback seriously, and keep them in sync on IA progress. An external mentor's value isn't ghost-writing; it's vetting topic feasibility, methodology and experimental design, turning school feedback into action, and staged deadline management. We recommend a few targeted sessions or full-process mentoring depending on IA quality and progress.

For native Chinese speakers, Chinese A carries more weight.

In admissions officers' eyes, Chinese A (HL) is graded to first-language standards and demonstrates academic ability; Chinese B is graded as a second language and adds limited value for Chinese-heritage students. But Chinese A Literature grading is highly subjective — assess the child's literary analysis and writing skills before committing; don't chase the higher level blindly.

For short-term gains, TOK is more efficient; for the EE, the priority is not to slip.

TOK has a clear grading framework (exhibition 33% + essay 67%); the essay is only 1,600 words on officially prescribed titles, and the bottleneck is logical structure (whether Claims and Counterclaims are clear) rather than knowledge — so fixing the structure lifts the grade faster. The EE is 4,000 words of independent research, and the challenge is process management — an overly broad research question is hard to rescue later, but with steady execution, complete structure, and a focused RQ, a B securing 2 points is quite attainable. We recommend at least 2-3 targeted TOK sessions as the main push, and keeping the EE on schedule to hold the baseline; if the EE topic connects with TOK (e.g., ethics of science, historical research methods), the literature and thinking can be shared, saving significant time.

If reading speed is the big gap, choose the SAT — but we recommend taking a diagnostic mock in each to decide.

ACT Reading demands 4 passages in 35 minutes — extremely speed-intensive; SAT Reading allows more time but with trickier logic. STEM strength helps in both (ACT also has a Science section that can lift the composite). Safest approach: take one official mock of each and let the data decide.

Stuck at 5.0 three times usually means the problem is feedback, not practice volume — we recommend short-term one-on-one.

The 5.0 bottleneck in speaking is usually output frameworks and pronunciation details, which are hard to self-correct. The efficient plan: 8-10 hours of targeted one-on-one correction and framework building plus daily shadowing practice — improvement typically shows within one exam season, far more cost-effective than a long group course.

Check the sub-score requirements of the target program first, then choose the path.

Most G5 programs require sub-scores of 6.0-6.5. Note: Oxford and Cambridge do not accept pre-sessional courses — retaking is the only option. For other G5 schools, if the overall score is stable but one sub-score is 0.5 short and repeatedly stuck, a pre-sessional course saves more time; if sub-scores fluctuate a lot, retaking is more cost-effective. We have courses for both scenarios.

A very high starting point — the key to 1560 is hard Writing and Reading questions.

The math advantage is established; 1560 = full marks in math + 760+ combined in Reading and Writing, leaving minimal room for error. We recommend first using real exams from after August 2025 for a timed diagnostic, then one-on-one refinement of hard-question patterns and adaptive-test strategy. Total hours don't need to be large — precision is what matters.

Jumping from 1450 / 1470 to 1500+ in one week is very hard — that's 30-50 points. Massive drilling is unrealistic; the only path is selective practice plus effective review.

We recommend one mock exam first so the teacher can identify which sections the errors come from, then this week focuses on rebuilding correct solving logic plus patching knowledge gaps. Arrange 2-3 English-medium one-on-one sessions: one full-length diagnostic + two sessions of error review and pacing adjustment — and push as far as possible.

Both are worth referencing — look at the actual errors; ideally, run timed mocks with recent real exams.

Some agencies' mock questions deviate from real exams in design and scoring, and the difficulty of CB's official mocks also lags current real exams. If possible, use real exams from after August 2025 — they track the real exam level more closely. If recent real-exam mocks are stable at 1500+ with full math marks, then before the exam we recommend one-on-one targeted practice in Reading and Grammar to identify weak question types; once solidified, do real-exam mocks to check pacing, and prepare with hard and error-prone questions.

From a 1260-1280 starting point, a summer systematic course plus a fall sprint makes 1450+ a reasonable target.

In-person summer camps run in Shanghai and Shenzhen; both bilingual and English-medium classes are offered. The time difference is only 2 hours, so live online class slots are fully workable, with complete recorded replays. For schedules and faculty, please add our WeChat Assistant to confirm.

At the high-score band pushing for perfection, one-on-one gap-closing is the only efficient path — large classes add little.

With 8 APs already taking significant time, one-on-one gap-closing is the only efficient path: one mock exam first so the teacher can identify weak sections, then focus on rebuilding correct solving logic. Trial process: entrance diagnostic (one real exam) → teacher's weak-point analysis → a complimentary 30-minute trial (extra time can be paid). SAT one-on-one is RMB 1,080/hour (within 30 hours), with three discounted packages: RMB 980/hour at 30+ hours, RMB 880/hour at 60+ hours, RMB 830/hour at 120+ hours — unused hours are refunded at the discounted package rate.

The older one needs to lock down a first-sitting timeline soon; the younger one can build foundations first.

For Grade 11, we recommend completing the first sitting in the fall to leave a spring retake window — which means starting now. The younger child can join English-medium classes — we run English-medium online and in-person classes in the SF Bay Area and Hong Kong, mainly serving native-English-speaking students. Multiple time zones and class formats can cover both children's needs.

Take a mock exam first, then choose the class format by score.

1200-1400: we recommend the systematic course (60 hours) covering all SAT knowledge points plus targeted after-class practice, targeting 1450-1500+; 1400+: a sprint course with drilling and key-point review toward 1500+, or one-on-one focused practice and Q&A on weak sections. For class formats and pricing, add our WeChat Assistant for the pricing plan.

For fine-grained gains at the top band, 4-8 hours of English-medium one-on-one is enough.

The gap from 740 to 780+ in math is the error rate on the hardest questions; from 750 to 770+ in EBRW it's hard grammar questions. This band doesn't need large classes — 2-3 real exams for error analysis plus targeted gap-filling is enough. For English-medium faculty and quotes, please add our WeChat Assistant.

For Oxbridge Economics, we strongly recommend keeping Further Maths.

Math ability is the core screening criterion for Economics and there are explicit expectations: official Cambridge statistics show that among Economics admittees in 2018 / 2019 / 2023, 93% held an A* in Further Maths — without it, the academic profile is at a clear disadvantage. If four subjects feel overwhelming, the problem is usually study method rather than subject count — time management plus targeted tutoring is the answer, not dropping Further Maths.

An October retake is in time — results typically come out the following January and are then sent to UCL.

The premise is that the target program accepts retakes: most UCL programs do, but about 31 popular programs — including Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Law, Medicine, and Electronic & Electrical Engineering — explicitly do not (stated on the program page). Note UCL's definition of a resit: once grades have been cashed in, any re-sit counts as a resit; retaking individual papers before AS + A2 are cashed in does not. As for impact: multiple resits can weaken an application, but for non-restricted programs, one retake lifting Math from B to A is usually not a direct reason for rejection. The risk: if UCL rejects on the B in Math during review, the retake comes too late to help.

The syllabus structure, module division, and grading all differ — take a diagnostic before switching.

CIE Math is comprehensive and examined in one sitting; Edexcel is modular with per-unit retakes and a more patterned question style. We recommend taking an Edexcel past paper first as a diagnostic, identifying divergent modules (e.g., Decision Mathematics, further modules) for targeted gap-filling — not relearning from scratch.

Focus the first semester on academic English rather than rushing into drilling.

The biggest hurdle in the transition is language: science vocabulary, English question stems, and classroom listening. We recommend an academic English / science vocabulary small-group or one-on-one transition course plus TA-supervised daily vocabulary check-ins, bridging STEM subjects with bilingual materials first. With 3-6 months of consistency, most students fully adapt.

About 70% of knowledge points overlap, but skipping has prerequisites.

Two things are missing from the public system: the statistics module and English-medium math expression. Strong students can compress IGCSE and move straight into A-Level, but we recommend keeping the statistics and probability content, and taking an English-medium math diagnostic to confirm the student can read the questions.

Biology + Chemistry are must-haves; Math is strongly recommended; Physics depends on bandwidth.

Commonwealth medical schools generally require Chemistry + Biology (or at least Chemistry), and Math is nearly standard. Taking all four at the cost of slipping grades is counterproductive. Priority order: Chemistry > Biology > Math > Physics.

For average self-discipline needing external structure, in-person works better; for strong self-discipline with commuting time better spent on practice, online can achieve the same results.

In online classes the teacher also requires cameras on and teaches at the computer, so attentiveness is visible; online students are called on for interaction; every class ends with homework to check mastery, with any issues reported to parents promptly.