AI can be a very good study partner, as long as you use it to understand things and not to copy answers. Below are 10 copy-and-paste prompts for notes, exams and research. Replace anything in [brackets] with your own details.
Before you start
Check your school or university rules on AI, and always write your final answers yourself. AI can make mistakes, so confirm facts in your textbook or class notes.
Prompts for understanding a topic
1. Explain it simply
Explain [topic] as if I am 12 years old. Then explain it again at university level. Use one everyday example.
2. Key points
Summarize [topic] in 5 key points. Then list 3 things students often misunderstand about it.
3. Quiz me
Ask me 5 questions about [topic], one at a time. Wait for my answer before asking the next one. After each answer, tell me what I got right and what I missed.
4. Find the gaps in my notes
Here are my notes on [topic]: [paste notes]. What important points are missing or unclear?
Prompts for exam preparation
5. Study plan
My [subject] exam is in [number] days and I can study [hours] hours a day. Create a day-by-day study plan with short breaks and one revision day at the end.
6. Flashcards
Turn these notes into 15 flashcards, with a question on one side and a short answer on the other: [paste notes]
7. Learn from mistakes
I keep getting questions about [topic] wrong. Explain the common reasons students make these mistakes, then give me 3 practice questions.
Prompts for research and writing
8. Essay outline
I am writing an essay on [topic]. Suggest an outline with an introduction, 3 main points and a conclusion. Do not write the essay.
9. Feedback without rewriting
Read my paragraph and tell me where the argument is unclear. Do not rewrite it. Give me 3 suggestions I can apply myself: [paste paragraph]
10. Finding good sources
What kinds of sources (books, journals, official reports) would be reliable for a paper on [topic]? Suggest search terms I can use in a library or on Google Scholar.
One warning: AI can invent sources that do not exist. Never cite a book or article you have not opened and read yourself.
Habits that make these prompts work
- Tell the AI your subject and level (for example, high school biology).
- Ask for one thing at a time.
- Ask follow-up questions when something is unclear.
- Check facts in your textbook.
Make your own prompts
Our free Prompt Builder helps you create a prompt for any subject. If you are new to prompts, start with How to Write Better Prompts: 5 Simple Steps.
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