5.1 Learning Goals

By the end of this section, you will:

• Identify the four core prompt types I recommend for academic work.

• Apply each of these prompt types to your personal study routine.

• Select the right prompt for the right learning task with strategic precision.

5.2 Why Different Prompt Types?

Different learning goals require different tools. You would not use a hammer to saw a piece of wood. In the same way, you should not use a single type of prompt for every learning task. A skilled learner has a toolkit of prompt designs and knows when to use each one. Relying only on long-form explanations is inefficient.

5.3 Explain Prompts

This is the most foundational prompt type. You use it to have the AI act as a private tutor to clarify a concept you do not understand. The goal here is to build a baseline of knowledge.

• “Explain mitosis in simple, step-by-step words.”

• “Explain the concept of fractions to a Grade 8 student using real-world examples.”

5.4 Quiz Prompts

After you have learned a concept, you must test your recall. I believe using AI to generate practice questions is one of its most powerful applications. This is how you engage in active recall, a proven method for strengthening memory.

• “Give me 5 multiple-choice questions on the digestive system. Do not show the answers. I will attempt them first, and then you can show me the correct answers with explanations.”

• “Create 3 short-answer questions that test my understanding of Pythagoras’ theorem.”

5.5 Outline Prompts

When faced with a large amount of text, like a long chapter, your first task is to understand its structure. An outline prompt instructs the AI to compress the chapter into a high-level map. This gives you a scaffold to organize your thoughts and revision.

• “Outline Chapter 2: The Digestive System in 5 main bullet points.”

• “Give me a high-level, bullet-point map of the main electricity topics for the O/L Physics exam.”

5.6 Refine Prompts

This is a more advanced use of AI. It requires you to have already done the initial work of creating something yourself. You then use the AI as an editor to improve your work. This is an excellent way to get feedback on clarity, grammar, and vocabulary.

• Student writes a PEEL paragraph: “Exercise is good for health.”

• Prompt: “I have written a PEEL paragraph. Please act as my English tutor and improve it for clarity, stronger evidence, and better vocabulary.”

5.7 Combo Prompts

Advanced operators often chain different prompt types together to create an efficient learning workflow. This technique, which I call prompt chaining, allows you to move from one stage of learning to the next within a single conversation.

• “First, explain photosynthesis simply. Then, give me 3 quiz questions to test my understanding.”

• “First, outline the main causes of the French Revolution in 5 bullet points. Then, based on that outline, refine my introductory essay paragraph below for clarity and impact.”

5.8 Subject Examples

• Maths: “Outline the steps to solve a quadratic equation. Then, quiz me with 3 practice problems.”

• Science: “Explain the concept of osmosis. Then, create 3 multiple-choice questions about it.”

• English: “Refine my essay introduction below for grammar, clarity, and a stronger opening statement.”

5.9 Practice Drill

Your task is to work in pairs. Each pair will design one prompt of each of the four types (Explain, Quiz, Outline, Refine) for a different academic subject. You will then test these prompts and compare the quality of the results.

5.10 Self-Check & Key Takeaway

1. What are the four core prompt types I have outlined?

2. Which type would you use to prepare for an exam? Which would you use to summarize a chapter? Which would you use to polish an essay?

My key takeaway for you is this: The skilled learner uses the right tool for the right task. Do not overuse the simple “explain” prompt. You must learn to rotate through different prompt types for a balanced and effective learning process.