What each part of the prompt does
- Recall before you look
- Writing the three key points from memory first is the core of the session. Pulling information out of your head strengthens it far more than rereading, and it shows instantly what did not stick.
- Your notes as the answer key
- Comparing your recall with [TODAY NOTES] keeps the check tied to what your class actually covered. The model is grading you against your own material, not against a general version of the topic.
- Five mixed questions
- A definition, a why, an example, a comparison and a link to an older topic each test a different kind of understanding. The linking question also starts connecting today's work to the rest of the course.
- A three-line wrap-up
- The wrap-up gives you a tiny plan: what to reread tomorrow and what to retest in three days. Spacing those checks is what moves today's material into long-term memory.
Variations to try
Same idea, one thing changed.
Weekly review on Sunday Help me review everything I studied this week. Context: - Subject and level: [SUBJECT] - What I covered this week, day by day, in rough notes: [TODAY NOTES] - The next test or exam this is for, and when: [NEXT TEST] Steps: 1. Ask me to write, from memory and without looking at my notes, the three most important things I learned this week. Wait for my reply. 2. Compare my answer with [TODAY NOTES]. Tell me what I recalled correctly, what I got slightly wrong, and what important point I left out. 3. Give me five quick recall questions on this week's material, one at a time. Mix question types: a definition, a "why", an example, a comparison and one that links to an earlier topic in [SUBJECT]. 4. After each answer, say "correct", "partly" or "not yet" with a one-line reason, then ask the next question. 5. Finish with a three-line wrap-up: the point to reread tomorrow morning, one question to try again in three days, and one thing I clearly understand now. Keep every message short. Do not reteach the whole topic unless I ask.
Voice mode, no typing Help me review what I studied today before I stop for the night. Context: - Subject and level: [SUBJECT] - What I covered today, in my own rough notes: [TODAY NOTES] - The next test or exam this is for, and when: [NEXT TEST] Steps: 1. Ask me to write, from memory and without looking at my notes, the three most important things I learned today. Wait for my reply. 2. Compare my answer with [TODAY NOTES]. Tell me what I recalled correctly, what I got slightly wrong, and what important point I left out. 3. Give me five quick recall questions on today's material, one at a time. Mix question types: a definition, a "why", an example, a comparison and one that links to an earlier topic in [SUBJECT]. 4. After each answer, say "correct", "partly" or "not yet" with a one-line reason, then ask the next question. 5. Finish with a three-line wrap-up: the point to reread tomorrow morning, one question to try again in three days, and one thing I clearly understand now. I am using voice mode while walking. Keep every message to one or two spoken sentences, read questions slowly, and do not use lists or tables. Do not reteach the whole topic unless I ask.
If the result isn't right
- Do the review even on days you studied only for twenty minutes; the habit matters more than the length.
- Put the "try again in three days" question in your calendar now, or it will not happen.
- If every answer comes back "correct", ask for harder questions tomorrow; easy reviews feel good but teach little.