The 10 Best Prompts for School

Artificial intelligence has arrived in the classroom, and it's here to stay. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or our own SchoolGPT are becoming day-to-day helpers for students around the world. They transform how students learn, study, and prepare for exams.

But here's the thing: AI is only as good as the questions you ask it. A vague prompt gets you a vague answer. A specific, well-crafted prompt, however, gets you exactly what you need– clear explanations, helpful summaries, personalized study plans, and more.

Here's a quick example:

Weak: "Explain mitosis."

Strong: "Explain mitosis to a 10th-grade biology student. Use simple language and focus on the main steps of mitosis."

See the difference? The second prompt tells the AI who you are, what you need, and how you want it delivered.

By the end of this article, you'll have 10 ready-to-use prompts for real school situations and the skills to write your own.

How to Write a Strong Prompt: 3 Simple Rules to Follow

Before we dive into the top 10 example prompts I want to leave you with a easy to follow formula on how to write good prompts for each school situation:

Be specific

Tell the AI exactly what you need. Include the topic, your grade level, and your goal.

Instead of: "Help me with math."

Try: "Help me understand how to solve quadratic equations using the quadratic formula. I'm in 9th grade."

Give Context

Tell the AI about your current situation. What grade are you in? What exactly are you struggling with? What grade are you in? Are you doing your homework or preparing for an exam? Which parts of the topic do you already understand, and which are you struggling with?

Answering these questions helps the AI tailor the answer to you and your needs.

Specify the outcome you would like to have

You can tell the AI what you would like to receive as an outcome. Do you want to get a short answer or a detailed write-up? You can ask for bullet points, a draft of an essay, or any other format that suits your needs.

10 Prompts for School

1. Understanding a Difficult Topic

Sometimes the teacher or the textbook just don't make any sense. Use this prompt to get an easy explanation for any topic.

I'm a 10th-grade student and I don't understand how mitosis works. Explain it step by step in simple language. Use an analogy to help me remember the process.

2. Summarizing a Text

Whether it's a long chapter or a historical document, AI can condense information without losing the key points.

Summarize the following text in 5 bullet points. Focus on the main argument and key supporting details:

$$paste text here$$

3. Explaining Something in Simpler Words

When you are grappling with a concept or topic this prompt can bring you clarity.

Explain the concept of derivatives in calculus like I'm a complete beginner. Avoid jargon and use a real-life example to show how it works.

4. Creating a Study Plan

Exam coming up and you need to start organizing yourself? Use this prompt to create your personal study plan.

I have a biology exam in 10 days covering cell structure, genetics, and evolution. Create a realistic study plan for me. I can study 1 hour per day on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends.

5. Checking Homework

Not sure if your homework is correct. Use the prompt below to get your homework checked. For full confidence at submission.

I solved this math problem and got 42 as the answer. Without telling me the correct answer, can you check my approach and tell me if I'm on the right track? Here's my work:

$$paste your solution$$

6. Preparing for a Test

A test coming up and you don't know how to best prepare. Use quiz questions to test your knowledge upfront.

I have a history test on the French Revolution tomorrow. Quiz me with 10 questions that cover the main causes, key events, and outcomes. After I answer, tell me if I'm correct and explain why.

7. Generating Practice Questions

Want to practice some more but the textbook ran out of questions? Say no more:

Generate 10 practice questions on solving linear equations. Include a mix of easy, medium, and hard difficulty. Provide the answers separately at the end.

8. Outlining or Improving an Essay

Have an essay coming up? Let AI help you create an outline or to tighten up your argumentation.

I need to write a 5-paragraph essay on the effects of climate change on biodiversity. Help me create an outline with a strong thesis statement, three main arguments, and a conclusion. Don't write the essay — just give me the structure and key points to include.

9. Improving Written Homework

Not sure about your writing? Let AI help you polish the writing and fix any grammar.

Review the following paragraph from my essay. Suggest improvements for clarity, grammar, and sentence structure. Explain why each change makes it better:

$$paste your paragraph$$

10. Learning Vocabulary and Language Practice

Learning a new language is hard, let AI help you with it.

I'm learning Spanish and need to practice the past tense. Give me 5 sentences in Spanish using regular -AR verbs in the preterite tense. Then ask me to translate them to English and correct my answers.

Now you have 10 prompts that you can use for your school work right away. Just insert your specific topic and go ahead.

How Not to Use AI in School

AI is a powerful tool, but you should use it responsibly. Avoid the following mistakes:

1. Don't copy & paste: AI-generated answers are not your own. It can be marked as plagiarism if you blindly copy and paste your answers. Additionally, it doesn't help you learn.

2. Don't skip the thinking process: AI should not think and write for you. See it as a partner or tutor that can help you with your school work.

3. Don't rely blindly on AI: AI can make mistakes. Double-check the output of an AI and use your own judgment.

The goal at every point should be to learn better, not to stop learning at all.

Conclusion

Learning to use AI can help you significantly in your everyday school life. Now you know how to write a clear prompt, have 10 example prompts to use right away, and what to avoid when using AI.

So open your favorite AI tool, try one of these prompts today, and see how much easier studying can become.

Happy learning!