Lesson 1 of 6
Write a clear goal
A useful prompt starts with a task you can describe and a result you can check.
The idea
Start with a verb: compare, explain, draft, or classify. Then name the deliverable. ‘Help me study’ leaves the subject, time available, and kind of help open. A revision schedule is a deliverable you can inspect: does it cover the subject, fit your time, and include practice? Clear instructions reduce ambiguity; they do not guarantee a correct answer.
Compare two instructions
Before
A request with important details left open.
Help me study.
After
An instruction with an explicit task and constraints.
Create a 7-day revision plan for a biology exam. Allow 45 minutes each day and include one self-test. Present it as a table with day, topic, activity, and time.
Try it yourself
Use the scenario below, then compare your approach with a worked example.
Compare and reflect. No live AI generation.
Key takeaway
Describe the result you need before adding a role or asking for a tone.