Prompts that get you a better answer

Tips for a better answer

• If an explanation doesn’t click, ask for a different everyday example.
• For decisions about your own money, use this to learn the basics, then talk to a qualified mortgage adviser.

An example, filled in

Explain how interest rates affect mortgages to me. My level: complete beginner. Why I want to know: we’re thinking about buying our first home. Start with a one-sentence explanation, then a short one with an everyday example. Keep the tone friendly and avoid jargon; if you need a technical term, explain it. Then ask me two questions to check I’ve understood, and wait for my answers before going further. If any of what you tell me is debated, or you’re unsure about it, say so.

Tips for a better answer

• Check anything surprising in its answers against your textbook or class notes: AI can be confidently wrong.
• Explaining an answer in your own words helps it stick better than picking from options.

An example, filled in

Quiz me on the causes of the First World War. I’m studying at GCSE history. Ask me one question at a time, and wait for my answer. After each answer, tell me whether I’m right and explain why in a sentence or two, then make the next question harder if I got it right, or easier if I didn’t. Mix the question types: multiple choice, short answers and explaining in my own words. Be encouraging. After ten questions, sum up what I know well and what to revise. If my notes and your knowledge disagree, point it out so I can check. My notes: Alliances: Triple Entente and Triple Alliance. Militarism: an arms race, especially in navies. Imperialism: competition for colonies. Nationalism: tension in the Balkans. The trigger: the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, 28 June 1914.

Tips for a better answer

• Keep the original open beside the explanation, and check the key points against it.

An example, filled in

Help me understand the text below. I’m a first-year nursing student who finds research papers hard going. For each paragraph or section: sum it up in one plain sentence, explain any technical terms, and say how it connects to the main argument. Then give me the main argument in three sentences, and two questions to think about. Be patient and clear. If a passage is ambiguous, say so instead of choosing one reading. The text: Methods: A randomised controlled trial was carried out across 12 wards. Patients (n=480) were allocated to the intervention or the control group. The primary outcome was length of stay; secondary outcomes included readmission within 30 days.