How to Build a Math Practice App in SwiftUI

A Math Practice app presents randomised arithmetic drills, tracks scores, and rewards correct answers with satisfying animations — perfect for students, parents, and educators who want a focused, distraction-free learning tool.

iOS 17+ · Xcode 16+ · SwiftUI Complexity: Beginner Updated: 2026-05-12

Prerequisites

Xcode 16 or later installed on macOS Sequoia or later
Basic familiarity with Swift — variables, structs, and functions
An Apple Developer account (free tier is fine for Simulator testing)

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Define the Data Model

Use a SwiftData @Model class to persist each drill session so players can review their history across launches.

import SwiftData
import Foundation

@Model
final class DrillSession {
    var date: Date
    var totalQuestions: Int
    var correctAnswers: Int
    var operationType: String   // "+", "-", "×", "÷"

    init(operationType: String) {
        self.date = .now
        self.totalQuestions = 0
        self.correctAnswers = 0
        self.operationType = operationType
    }
}

2. Build the Core UI View

Create a full-screen drill view that shows the current problem, accepts a numeric answer, and displays a live score counter.

struct DrillView: View {
    @State private var problem = ""
    @State private var answer = ""
    @State private var score = 0
    @State private var shake = false

    var body: some View {
        VStack(spacing: 32) {
            Text("Score: \(score)")
                .font(.headline).foregroundStyle(.secondary)
            Text(problem)
                .font(.system(size: 52, weight: .bold))
                .offset(x: shake ? -8 : 0)
            TextField("Answer", text: $answer)
                .keyboardType(.numberPad)
                .font(.largeTitle).multilineTextAlignment(.center)
            Button("Check", action: checkAnswer)
                .buttonStyle(.borderedProminent).controlSize(.large)
        }
        .padding()
        .onAppear(perform: nextProblem)
    }
}

3. Implement Arithmetic Drills

Generate random problems, validate the answer, animate feedback, and advance to the next question — all in a handful of Swift functions.

extension DrillView {
    func nextProblem() {
        let a = Int.random(in: 1...12)
        let b = Int.random(in: 1...12)
        problem = "\(a)  ×  \(b)  ="
        answer = ""
    }

    func checkAnswer() {
        guard let input = Int(answer) else { return }
        let parts = problem.split(separator: " ").compactMap { Int($0) }
        if input == parts[0] * parts[1] {
            score += 1
            withAnimation(.spring(response: 0.3)) { nextProblem() }
        } else {
            withAnimation(.default) { shake = true }
            DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 0.4) {
                shake = false
            }
        }
    }
}

Common Pitfalls

Division by zero: Always clamp the divisor to at least 1 when generating division problems to avoid a crash or nonsensical question.
Animation state leaks: Reset shake and other transient state in onAppear so returning from a background session doesn't leave the UI in a broken state.
SwiftData context on the main actor: Mutate @Model objects only on the @MainActor thread; doing so in a background task without await causes silent data corruption in iOS 17.

Monetization: Ad-Supported

An ad-supported model lets you ship for free and grow an audience quickly — integrate the Google Mobile Ads SDK (or Apple's SKAdNetwork-compatible alternative) and show a banner between drill rounds rather than mid-question to avoid disrupting the learning flow. Pair this with a StoreKit 2 "Remove Ads" one-time purchase (Product.purchase(_:)) so power users can pay once and practice without interruptions; even a $0.99 price point converts well when parents appreciate the clean experience.

Ship Faster with Soarias

Soarias scaffolds your entire Math Practice project — SwiftData models, drill logic, StoreKit paywall, and App Store metadata — in minutes rather than days. As a local-first desktop app built for Claude Code users, it runs entirely on your Mac ($79, one-time), so your code and API keys never leave your machine. Skip the boilerplate and spend your two days on gameplay polish instead of project setup.

FAQ

Do I need an Apple Developer account?

You need a free Apple ID to run the app on Simulator and on your own device via Xcode direct install. To distribute on the App Store or TestFlight you'll need a paid Apple Developer Program membership ($99/year).

How do I submit to the App Store?

Archive your app in Xcode (Product → Archive), then use the Xcode Organizer to upload the build to App Store Connect. Fill in your app's metadata, screenshots, and privacy labels, set your pricing, and click Submit for Review. Apple typically reviews beginner-complexity apps within 24–48 hours.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-12 by the Soarias team.