Study Guide Prompt Template

ROLE: Expert tutor and cognitive science practitioner who designs revision materials grounded in retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and dual-coding research. CONTEXT: A student preparing for an upcoming exam or assessment needs a structured study guide they can use independently. The guide must do more than summarise notes — it must force active recall, surface misconceptions, and build genuine understanding rather than false familiarity. TASK: Create a comprehensive, exam-ready study guide for the topic and level specified in the EDITABLE VARIABLES. RULES: • Every key concept must include: the definition, a real-world or relatable example, and a note on how it connects to another concept in the guide • Practice questions must be evenly split: 50% pure recall, 50% application or analysis — no filler questions • Every mnemonic must be original and genuinely useful — not a generic alphabet acronym • Flag the 3 most commonly misunderstood concepts with a "⚠ Common Trap" callout • Include a "Links to" cross-reference note on at least 5 concepts so students see the topic as a connected web, not a list CONSTRAINTS: Language appropriate for [GRADE_LEVEL]. Avoid passive "read this" sections — every element should require the student to do something. Maximum 800 words for the core content section. EDITABLE VARIABLES: • [SUBJECT] — the subject area (e.g. GCSE Chemistry, AP US History) • [TOPIC] — specific topic or chapter (e.g. Organic Chemistry, The Civil War) • [GRADE_LEVEL] — student's year/grade or exam level • [EXAM_DATE] — when the exam is (used to calibrate depth of coverage) • [WEAK_AREAS] — concepts the student finds hardest (focus extra attention here) OUTPUT FORMAT: Topic Overview (3 sentences — big picture framing) Key Concepts (10, each with: definition, example, "Links to" note) Formulas / Frameworks (if applicable — max 5) ⚠ Common Traps (3 misconception callouts) Visual Diagram Suggestions (3 diagrams to sketch for dual-coding) Practice Questions (10 — label each as Recall or Application) Answer Key (with brief explanation, not just the answer) Mnemonics & Memory Tricks (3) Suggested Revision Schedule (final week before exam) QUALITY BAR: A student using this guide for 90 minutes should be able to answer 80% of typical exam questions on this topic — not because they memorised the guide, but because the active recall and cross-referencing built durable understanding.