Free AI Prompt Templates for Students: 20 Copy-Paste Prompts for Studying, Writing, and Exam Prep

Create a set of flashcards to help me study for my exam.

Subject: [e.g., "Organic Chemistry"]
Topic: [e.g., "Functional groups and their reactions"]
Level: [e.g., "second-year university"]
Number of cards: [e.g., 25]
What I already understand well: [e.g., "I know the basic structures, but I mix up the reactions"]
Exam format: [multiple choice / short answer / essay / mixed]

For each flashcard:
- FRONT: A question that tests understanding, not just memorization
- BACK: Clear, concise answer with a memory hook (mnemonic, analogy, or visual cue)

Mix these question types:
- Definition questions (what is X?)
- Comparison questions (how does X differ from Y?)
- Application questions (when would you use X instead of Y?)
- "Why" questions (why does X happen?)

Don't make them too easy. If I can answer without thinking, the card isn't helping me learn. Include 3-4 tricky ones that target common misconceptions.

I'm struggling to understand [concept]. Explain it to me using the Feynman technique.

Subject: [e.g., "Economics"]
Concept: [e.g., "supply and demand elasticity"]
My current understanding: [describe what you think you know, even if it's wrong — this helps target the explanation]
What specifically confuses me: [e.g., "I don't get why some goods are inelastic and how to predict which ones"]

Explain it like this:
1. Start with a simple analogy using something from everyday life
2. Build from there — add complexity one layer at a time
3. When you introduce a technical term, define it immediately using the analogy
4. After explaining, give me a test question to check if I actually understood
5. If the concept has common misconceptions, list them and explain why they're wrong

Keep the language simple. I don't need to sound smart — I need to actually understand this.

Help me build a study schedule for my upcoming exams.

Exams:
1. [Subject] — [date] — [difficulty: easy/medium/hard for you]
2. [Subject] — [date] — [difficulty]
3. [Subject] — [date] — [difficulty]
[Add more as needed]

Today's date: [today]
Hours I can study per day: [realistic number — not aspirational]
- Weekdays: [hours] (available from [time] to [time])
- Weekends: [hours]
Days I absolutely can't study: [list any]
My weakest subject: [which one]
My study style: [e.g., "I focus best in 25-min pomodoro blocks", "I need variety or I zone out", "I study better in the morning"]

Build me:
1. A day-by-day schedule from now until my last exam
2. More time on harder/weaker subjects, tapering off for subjects I'm confident in
3. Spaced repetition: review previously studied material every 3-4 days
4. Buffer days before each exam for final review
5. At least 1 rest day per week (burnout kills performance)

Format as a simple table: Date | Time Block | Subject | What to Focus On

I need to read and understand a text for class. Help me engage with it actively instead of just highlighting everything.

Subject: [e.g., "Political Science"]
Text: [paste the passage, or describe the reading — title, author, chapter]
"""
[Paste text here if not too long, or summarize the key arguments]
"""

Assignment/purpose: [e.g., "I need to discuss this in seminar tomorrow", "This is background for my essay"]

Help me by:
1. Pre-reading questions: Give me 3 questions to have in mind BEFORE I start reading (this primes my brain to look for answers)
2. Key arguments: What is the author actually claiming? Summarize the thesis and main supporting arguments
3. Critical questions: 5 questions a good student would ask about this text:
   - Where is the argument weakest?
   - What assumptions does the author make?
   - What evidence is missing?
   - How would someone disagree?
   - How does this connect to [other topic we've covered]?
4. Discussion preparation: 2 points I could raise in class that show I actually engaged with the text (not just "I agree with the author")
5. One-paragraph summary I can write in my own words to confirm understanding

Help me build an outline for my essay.

Assignment: [paste the full prompt/question from your professor]
Course: [e.g., "Introduction to Philosophy"]
Word count: [required length]
Sources required: [how many, what kind — academic journals, books, primary sources?]
My preliminary thesis: [your best guess at your main argument — even if rough]
Key sources I've already found: [list 2-3 sources and what they argue]

Build an outline that includes:
1. Introduction
   - Hook (not "Since the beginning of time..." — something specific and interesting)
   - Context: 2-3 sentences that frame the debate/question
   - Thesis statement: clear, arguable, specific
2. Body paragraphs (as many as needed for my word count)
   - For each paragraph: topic sentence, key evidence/quote to use, analysis direction, counterargument if applicable
3. Counterargument section
   - Strongest objection to my thesis
   - How I respond to it (don't just dismiss it — engage with it)
4. Conclusion
   - Restate thesis in light of evidence
   - Broader implications ("so what?")

Important: This is an OUTLINE, not a draft. I'll write the essay myself. Give me the structure and direction, not the sentences.

I have a thesis statement for my paper but I think it needs work. Help me make it stronger.

My current thesis: "[paste your thesis]"
Assignment question: [what the paper is supposed to address]
Course level: [intro / upper-division / graduate]

Evaluate my thesis on these criteria:
1. Is it arguable? (Could someone disagree? If everyone would agree, it's not a thesis)
2. Is it specific? (Does it make a clear claim, or is it vague?)
3. Is it scoped correctly? (Can I actually support this in [word count] words, or is it too broad/narrow?)
4. Does it answer the assignment question directly?

Then give me:
- Version A: My thesis refined and improved
- Version B: A stronger version that takes a bolder position
- Version C: The opposite argument's thesis (so I can make sure mine is actually arguable)

For each version, explain what's different and why it's better.

Help me evaluate whether this source is good enough to use in my academic paper.

Source:
- Title: [title]
- Author(s): [names]
- Publication: [journal name, publisher, or website]
- Date published: [year]
- Type: [journal article / book / news article / blog post / report / website]
- URL or DOI: [if available]

My paper topic: [what I'm writing about]
Required source types: [e.g., "peer-reviewed journal articles only" or "any credible source"]

Evaluate:
1. Credibility: Is the author qualified? Is the publication reputable? Is this peer-reviewed?
2. Currency: Is this source recent enough for my topic? (Note if the field has changed significantly since publication)
3. Relevance: How directly does this source address my paper topic?
4. Bias: Does the author have obvious biases? Is the publication known for a particular slant?
5. Scope: Is this a primary or secondary source? How deep does it go?

Overall rating: Strong Source / Acceptable / Weak — Use Carefully / Don't Use

If it's weak, suggest what kind of source I should look for instead.

I need to use information from a source in my paper without plagiarizing. Help me paraphrase and cite properly.

The original passage:
"""
[Paste the passage you want to reference]
"""

Source details:
- Author(s): [names]
- Title: [title]
- Year: [year]
- Page number: [if applicable]
- Citation style required: [APA 7th / MLA 9th / Chicago / Harvard]

Provide:
1. A proper paraphrase — same ideas, completely different wording AND sentence structure (not just swapping synonyms)
2. A proper in-text citation for the paraphrase
3. An example of how to use a direct quote from this passage (with proper citation)
4. The full reference/bibliography entry
5. A signal phrase example ("According to Smith (2024)..." or "Smith (2024) argues that...")

Important: The paraphrase should demonstrate understanding of the idea, not just rearrange the original words. If a professor compared them side by side, they should NOT look similar.

I need to solve this problem and actually understand the method, not just get the answer.

Subject: [e.g., "Calculus", "Physics", "Statistics"]
Problem:
"""
[Paste the full problem, including any given values or conditions]
"""

My attempt so far: [describe what you've tried, or say "I don't know where to start"]
What specifically confuses me: [e.g., "I don't know which formula to use" or "I get lost after step 3"]

Walk me through it like this:
1. Identify what we're solving for and what information we have
2. Name the concept or method we'll use (and briefly explain why this method, not another)
3. Solve step by step — show every step, not just the leaps
4. At each step, explain WHY we're doing it (not just WHAT)
5. Final answer with units (if applicable)
6. Quick sanity check — does this answer make sense? How can I verify it?

After solving:
- Give me a similar practice problem (different numbers, same method)
- Show me only the setup, and let me try solving it before you reveal the answer

Help me write up my lab report. I have the raw data and observations — I need help structuring and analyzing them.

Course: [e.g., "General Chemistry"]
Experiment: [what you did]
Hypothesis: [what you predicted would happen]
Raw data:
"""
[Paste your measurements, observations, or data tables]
"""

What actually happened: [brief description of results, including anything unexpected]
Required sections: [list what your professor requires — usually: abstract, intro, methods, results, discussion, conclusion]

Help me with:
1. Results section: Organize my raw data into clean tables and describe the trends
2. Calculations: Walk me through any calculations needed (percent error, averages, statistical tests)
3. Discussion: Help me interpret the results
   - Do the results support or refute my hypothesis?
   - What sources of error might explain discrepancies?
   - How do my results compare to theoretical/expected values?
4. Conclusion: 3-4 sentences summarizing what was learned

Do NOT write the Introduction or Methods sections for me — those describe what I actually did and should be in my own words. Just help me analyze and interpret the data.

Create a comprehensive formula sheet for my upcoming exam.

Subject: [e.g., "Physics 1 — Mechanics"]
Topics covered on the exam:
- [Topic 1, e.g., "Kinematics"]
- [Topic 2, e.g., "Newton's Laws"]
- [Topic 3, e.g., "Work, Energy, Power"]
- [Topic 4, e.g., "Momentum and Collisions"]
- [Add more as needed]

For each topic, include:
1. All relevant formulas with clear variable definitions
2. Units for each variable
3. When to use each formula (the scenario or condition)
4. Common pitfalls (e.g., "remember to convert to SI units", "this only works for constant acceleration")

Format:
- Group by topic with clear headers
- Use consistent notation
- Bold the formulas I'll use most frequently
- Add a "quick reference" box at the top with the 5 most important formulas across all topics

If my professor allows a cheat sheet on the exam, this should be everything I need on one page.

Help me build a concept map connecting the ideas from my course.

Course: [e.g., "Cognitive Psychology"]
Topic area: [e.g., "Memory — from encoding to retrieval"]
Key concepts I need to include:
- [Concept 1, e.g., "sensory memory"]
- [Concept 2, e.g., "short-term memory"]
- [Concept 3, e.g., "long-term memory"]
- [Concept 4, e.g., "encoding specificity"]
- [Concept 5, e.g., "retrieval cues"]
- [Add more]

Create a concept map that:
1. Shows how each concept connects to the others (with labeled relationship arrows)
2. Groups related concepts together
3. Shows hierarchy (broader concepts at top, specific examples at bottom)
4. Includes brief definitions next to each concept
5. Highlights the connections that are most likely to show up on an exam

Format as a structured text outline (since we can't draw here):
- Use indentation for hierarchy
- Use arrows (→) to show relationships
- Label each arrow with the relationship type (e.g., "is a type of", "causes", "is stored in")

Create a practice exam for me that simulates the real thing.

Course: [e.g., "Introduction to Macroeconomics"]
Exam covers: [list topics and chapters]
Exam format:
- [X] multiple choice questions
- [X] short answer questions
- [X] essay/long answer questions
- [problem solving questions, if applicable]
Time limit: [how long the real exam is]
Professor's style: [e.g., "focuses on application rather than definitions", "loves trick questions about edge cases", "always includes a graph interpretation question"]

For multiple choice:
- Include plausible distractors (wrong answers should be the kind of mistakes students actually make)
- At least 3 questions should require applying concepts, not just remembering definitions

For short answer:
- Target the concepts most likely to appear on the exam
- Require 2-4 sentences each

For essay:
- Pick a question that connects multiple topics (professors love synthesis questions)
- Include grading criteria so I know what a good answer looks like

Provide the answer key SEPARATELY at the end — I want to take the exam first, then check my answers.

Quiz me on [subject/topic] and figure out where my understanding breaks down.

Subject: [e.g., "Organic Chemistry"]
Topic: [e.g., "Reaction mechanisms — SN1, SN2, E1, E2"]
What I think I know well: [e.g., "I can identify SN2 reactions pretty easily"]
What I'm less sure about: [e.g., "I mix up E1 and E2 conditions"]

Start with 5 questions, ranging from basic to advanced. After I answer each one:
1. Tell me if I'm right or wrong
2. If wrong, explain the correct answer and why I likely got confused
3. If right, note whether my reasoning was solid or if I got lucky

After 5 questions:
- Identify my weak spots (specific concepts, not just "you need to study more")
- Give me 3 targeted practice questions for each weak area
- Suggest specific things to review (textbook sections, types of problems to practice, mnemonics)

Be honest about my performance. "Great job!" when I'm struggling doesn't help me prepare for an exam that won't grade me on effort.

I wrote a practice answer. Grade it like my professor would.

Course: [e.g., "Political Philosophy"]
Question:
"""
[Paste the exam question]
"""

My answer:
"""
[Paste your answer]
"""

Grading criteria (if your professor provided them): [paste rubric, or say "standard essay rubric"]
Point value: [e.g., "worth 20 points"]

Evaluate:
1. Content accuracy — Are my facts and concepts correct?
2. Argument quality — Is my reasoning logical and well-supported?
3. Completeness — Did I address every part of the question?
4. Depth — Did I go beyond surface-level? Did I show understanding or just recite definitions?
5. Organization — Is the answer structured in a way that makes sense?

Give me:
- Estimated grade: [X]/[total points]
- What I did well (be specific — "good use of evidence" not just "good job")
- What's missing or weak (the things that would cost me points)
- How to improve this answer in 5 minutes (if this were a real exam, what would I fix first?)

I need to memorize [type of information] for my exam. Create memory aids that actually stick.

Subject: [e.g., "Anatomy"]
What I need to memorize:
"""
[Paste the list, terminology, sequence, or information]
"""

Create a mix of memory techniques:
1. Mnemonics — acronyms or sentences where first letters spell out a list
2. Analogies — connect abstract concepts to things I already know from daily life
3. Stories — turn a sequence or process into a narrative (our brains remember stories 22x better than facts)
4. Visual associations — describe a mental image I can picture for each key concept
5. Chunking — group related items into meaningful clusters of 3-5

Requirements:
- Make them memorable, even if they're silly — the weirder the association, the stickier it is
- For any sequence (steps, stages, processes), create a method that preserves the ORDER
- For terminology, link the word's sound or etymology to its meaning
- Test me after: give me a fill-in-the-blank quiz using the memory aids

I have messy notes from [lecture / reading / study session]. Help me turn them into something useful.

Course: [e.g., "World History"]
Topic: [e.g., "Causes of World War I"]
My notes:
"""
[Paste your notes — messy is fine, that's the point]
"""

Transform these into:
1. Clean summary (1 paragraph — the "if I only remember one thing" version)
2. Structured notes with clear headings and bullet points
3. Key terms with definitions (any technical vocabulary mentioned)
4. Connections to other topics we've covered in class: [list related topics]
5. Questions my notes DON'T answer (gaps I need to fill from the textbook or office hours)

If my notes are unclear or seem wrong about something, flag it with [CHECK THIS] so I know to verify it.

Don't add information that isn't in my notes — I want to know what I captured, including the gaps.

I'm working on a group project and we need to get organized.

Project details:
- Class: [e.g., "Business Strategy"]
- Assignment: [describe what you need to deliver]
- Due date: [date]
- Team members: [first names and any known strengths]
  - [Name 1]: [e.g., "good at research"]
  - [Name 2]: [e.g., "strong presenter"]
  - [Name 3]: [e.g., "design skills"]
  - Me: [your strengths]

Create:
1. Task breakdown: Split the project into specific, assignable tasks
2. Suggested task assignments based on strengths (note: make these suggestions fair — no one person should do 60% of the work)
3. Timeline with milestones:
   - Week-by-week deadlines leading to the due date
   - A "merge and review" day at least 3 days before the deadline
   - Buffer for the inevitable "someone didn't finish their part" scenario
4. Communication plan: When to meet, how to share updates, how to handle disagreements
5. Quality checklist: What "done" looks like for each section (so there's no argument about quality later)

Reality check: Include a "what if someone doesn't deliver" contingency plan. Because group projects.

I have way too much assigned reading and not enough time. Help me triage.

Readings for this week:
1. [Title, author, pages] — for [class] — [due date]
2. [Title, author, pages] — for [class] — [due date]
3. [Title, author, pages] — for [class] — [due date]
4. [Title, author, pages] — for [class] — [due date]
[Add more as needed]

Context:
- Total reading time I realistically have this week: [hours]
- Which classes have participation grades? [list — these readings are non-negotiable]
- Any upcoming papers or exams where these readings are critical? [list]
- Any readings I can skim instead of deep-read? [your guess]

Help me:
1. Priority ranking (must-read, should-skim, can-skip-for-now) with reasoning
2. Time allocation: how many minutes to spend on each reading
3. Reading strategy per text:
   - Full read? Read intro + conclusion + topic sentences? Skim for specific arguments?
   - What questions to have in mind while reading (so I read actively, not passively)
4. Schedule: map readings to specific time blocks this week

Be honest: if there's no way to do all of it well, tell me. Better to read 3 things properly than 6 things with glazed eyes.

I have multiple assignments coming up and I need a realistic plan to get them all done.

Upcoming deadlines:
1. [Assignment] — [class] — due [date] — worth [% of grade] — status: [not started / in progress / almost done]
2. [Assignment] — [class] — due [date] — worth [% of grade] — status: [status]
3. [Assignment] — [class] — due [date] — worth [% of grade] — status: [status]
[Add more]

My schedule constraints:
- Classes/work: [days and times you're busy]
- Best focus hours: [morning / afternoon / evening]
- Hours per day I can dedicate to assignments: [realistic number]

My tendencies:
- I tend to procrastinate on: [types of assignments — e.g., "long essays", "problem sets", "group work"]
- I work best when: [e.g., "I break things into small chunks", "I have a deadline breathing down my neck", "I work in a library"]

Build me:
1. Priority ranking by urgency + grade weight (a 30% paper due Thursday > a 5% worksheet due Friday)
2. Task breakdown: split each assignment into 30-60 minute work blocks
3. Day-by-day plan mapped to my available hours
4. "Minimum viable submission" for each — if I run out of time, what's the bare minimum that still gets me a decent grade?
5. Reward milestones — after finishing [hard task], I can [break / fun thing] before moving to the next one

Don't give me a plan that requires 14-hour study days. I need something I'll actually follow.