Hello! We know that sometimes apps can be a little mysterious. If you’ve ever wondered why a feature works a certain way, or why something looks different than you expected, you are in the right place.
💡 Did you know? At iStoria, every feature is designed with one goal in mind: to help you master English effectively.
To make things easier, we’ve organized the answers into three sections below.
🧠 Learning Methodology
Questions about how iStoria teaches English (Accents, Translations, Repetition).
Why are some stories locked?
Why are some stories locked?
This is a feature designed to help you focus.
How it works: Once you choose and start a story, the other stories in the level turn gray and lock temporarily.
The Goal: This ensures you finish your current adventure without distractions.
To unlock them: Simply complete the story you are reading, and the rest will light up again for you to choose next! (Want to know more? Read our full guide on [How Story Locking Works])
Why can't I translate sentences in advanced levels?
Why can't I translate sentences in advanced levels?
If you noticed the translation feature disappeared after Level 4, don't worry—nothing is broken!
The Reason: We provide full sentence translations in Levels 1-4 to help you get started. In advanced levels, we switch to Context Learning.
Why? Guessing the meaning of a sentence from its context is a powerful "brain workout" that helps you think in English rather than translating in your head.
Tip: You can still tap on individual words to see their meaning and hear their pronunciation at any time. (Read our full guide on [Sentence Translation])
Why can't I retake a story test?
Why can't I retake a story test?
You can certainly use the "Read Again" button to review the story, but please note that this will not let you retake the test.
The Reason: The system is designed to measure your true level on the first attempt, so the test score is final.
💡 Our Advice: Don't stress about the score! This is just one chapter in your journey, and it won't affect your final evaluation if you do well in the upcoming chapters. Treat it as a "learning experience" and focus your energy on the next one. You've got this! 💪
Can I change the story accent to American?
Can I change the story accent to American?
Most of our core stories are produced by Oxford, so they feature a British accent. This is part of the original audio and cannot be changed.
However, you have options: When you tap on a specific word, you can hear the American pronunciation. You can also change the dialect of the AI assistant in your Settings. (Read our full guide on [How to Change the Assistant's Voice])
Why does the same word appear multiple times in practice?
Why does the same word appear multiple times in practice?
It might feel repetitive, but this is the secret to long-term memory!
The Reason: A word doesn't move to your "I Know" list until you have proven you know it across several different skills.
Adjusting it: If you feel it's too much, you can adjust the repetition count in the Vocabulary Practice settings. Once you master the word, it will move to your "I Know" list and stop appearing.
Can I choose a specific skill to practice?
Can I choose a specific skill to practice?
Currently, you cannot manually select a specific skill (like just "Listening" or just "Speaking").
The Reason: iStoria uses a smart algorithm to present skills progressively. Each skill appears automatically once you have mastered the previous step. Trust the process—it’s designed to make the words stick!
Why can't I go back to the story during the quiz?
Why can't I go back to the story during the quiz?
To help you truly test your memory and comprehension! 🧠
The Goal: Focusing on questions without the text makes your brain work harder to retrieve information—a key step in mastering English.
Don’t worry: If you miss an answer, just use "Read Again" after the quiz to strengthen your learning! 🚀
👤 Your Account & Progress
Questions about your Level, Streak, and Certificates.
How can I change my learning level?
How can I change my learning level?
If the stories feel too easy or too hard, you can switch your level to match your skills better.
What changes: This will only update your learning path and content.
What stays: Great news! Your progress is safe. You will keep your Streak, Badges, and Vocabulary list.
How to do it: Go to Profile > Settings > Change Level. (Note: If you want to completely erase your history and start from zero, please use the separate "Reset Progress" option in Settings instead).
Why can't I open previous levels marked as "Passed"?
Why can't I open previous levels marked as "Passed"?
If you took a placement test and jumped to a higher level (e.g., Level 5), the app automatically marks previous levels as "Passed" and locks them.
The Reason: We value your time. Since you have already mastered those skills, we lock them so you can focus 100% on the new level that actually improves your English, rather than repeating what you already know.
Want to go back? You can manually change your level in Settings, but keep in mind: this restarts your journey. You will lose your current spot and start over from the first story of the new level you chose.
I lost my streak! Can I get it back?
I lost my streak! Can I get it back?
We know how frustrating it is to see that number disappear! Your streak resets if you miss a day of reading or practice.
The Good News: You can restore your streak within 48 hours of losing it by going to the app's Calendar and tapping the Restore Streak button.
Note: If more than 48 hours have passed, the streak cannot be restored, but don't be discouraged—start a new one today!
How do I get my certificate?
How do I get my certificate?
Celebrating your success is important! Certificates are available for Premium subscribers upon finishing a level.
To download it: Go to the Home page > Scroll to your Completed Level > Tap the three dots next to the level > Select Get Certificate.
What happens after I finish all the levels?
What happens after I finish all the levels?
Congratulations! Finishing Level 8 is a massive achievement. By this point, you will have mastered over 3,000 essential words.
What’s next? Keep your skills sharp by reviewing your "I Know" list and doing practice tests. You can also explore the Library, where we constantly add new books and stories to help you learn new vocabulary in fresh contexts!
📱 App Features & Library
Questions about Skipping, Limits, and Book Summaries.
Can I skip stories or levels?
Can I skip stories or levels?
Yes, you can! We understand that sometimes a story might not match your interest, or you might feel ready for a harder challenge. This feature is available for Premium subscribers.
To skip a story: You can skip up to 20% of stories in your current level by tapping the three dots next to the story title and selecting Skip.
To skip a Level: If you have completed at least 80% of a level, tap the three dots next to the Level name and select Skip Level.
Can I skip a specific chapter inside a story?
Can I skip a specific chapter inside a story?
While you can skip an entire Story from the main list, skipping individual chapters within a story is not possible.
The Reason: Stories are like a chain. Every chapter contains key events and new vocabulary. To fully understand the plot and learn effectively, you need to read the chapters in order without gaps.
Why can't I read more stories or do more practice tests?
Why can't I read more stories or do more practice tests?
If you are using the Free version of iStoria, there is a daily limit to help you build a consistent habit without burning out.
The Limit: You have 3 uses per day.
What counts as a use? Reading a chapter, reading a library book, or finishing a practice session.
Reset Time: Your attempts automatically renew every night at midnight (12:00 AM) your local time.
Why are the library books summaries and not full versions?
Why are the library books summaries and not full versions?
We want you to learn efficiently. Our library provides focused summaries so you can absorb the key ideas and vocabulary quickly without getting bogged down in very long texts.
Note: We respect copyright laws, so we only provide original summaries. If you love a story and want the full experience, we encourage you to check out the original book from a bookstore!