ChatGPT is a powerful tool for budding professionals and students, harnessing the power of the internet for gathering knowledge. However, a generative AI tool is largely dependent on the right kind of prompts to get the best out of it, and ChatGPT is no different. Luckily, its maker, OpenAI, has helped us with a couple of prompts that could help students use ChatGPT in the same fashion as IIT students!
OpenAI has recently unveiled more than 50 detailed, real-world examples showing how students, particularly those at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), are leveraging the generative AI tool to augment their learning, turning the chatbot into a sophisticated, super-personalised digital tutor.
These 50+ examples shared by OpenAI highlight a critical development – the skill of prompt engineering, i.e., writing precise instructions for AI, is becoming as essential as traditional domain knowledge. Students are feeding ChatGPT with complex, context-rich prompts to transform their study process.
Hence, here are the top 10 ChatGPT prompts that IIT students are utilising to make their studies easier to grasp.
AI for studies
Deconstruct Code:
Engineers are pasting large blocks of code and asking the AI to “Debug this Python script, explain the logical error in simple terms, and propose an optimised solution.” This moves the learning process beyond the simple trial-and-error to guided and instantaneous feedback.
Simplify Complex Theories:
Rather than passively reading dense textbooks, students are asking ChatGPT, “Explain the principles of quantum entanglement using a cricket analogy,” or, “Summarise the 10 most critical findings from this machine learning research paper, formatted as bullet points for a presentation.” This forces the AI to adapt its explanation to the student’s existing frame of reference.
Generate Practice Assessments:
To prepare for tough examinations, students are using prompts like, “Create a set of five hypothetical, high-difficulty physics problems based on the syllabus of IIT JEE Advanced,” which allows for endless, personalised test preparation tailored to their weak spots.
Create Structured Study Plans:
Students are utilising the AI to generate revision schedules, such as “Outline a four-day study plan to cover all topics in my Advanced Algorithms course, allocating extra time for dynamic programming.”
Get a Design Critique
This prompt turns the AI into a skilled design reviewer, forcing a structured critique that identifies strengths, weaknesses, and actionable solutions, a format crucial for design iteration. Use the prompt: “I will upload my design. Act as a professional designer and give: 1. Top 3 strengths 2. Top 3 areas for improvement 3. Actionable tweaks to improve aesthetics and clarity 4. Optional alternative concept idea”
Define a Proof of Concept
This prompt uses role-playing and defined constraints to challenge the AI to merge complex ideas into a single, cohesive, and user-centric technical demonstration (Proof of Concept, or PoC).
Here is the prompt: “You are the top 1% of project developers, known for turning ambitious ideas into reality. Your mission: build a Spider-Man simulation that goes beyond combat and swinging. See my project doc for all the details. Define a single, cohesive proof of concept that ties my ideas together, showing how a player would interact with this unique simulation.”
Pre-grade your assignment:
You can use ChatGPT to help you by examining your assignment. You can ask it to be extremely critical, like your professor, and make it analyse your work. Here is the prompt: “Act as my professor and grade my assignment”
Beyond the Classroom: AI for career
With job placement being a major focus at the IITs, many students are leveraging ChatGPT to refine their professional soft skills and career planning.
Refine Professional Communication:
Students use the tool to draft formal emails to professors or recruiters, ensuring tone and professionalism are impeccable. Prompts include, “Rewrite my résumé bullet points to highlight the business impact of my projects using action verbs,” and, “Help me draft a polite email requesting an extension on my assignment.”
Interview Preparation:
Students are using AI to run mock interviews. They enter a job description and ask the GPT to assume the role of an HR manager, generating tough behavioral or technical questions tailored to the specific role and company.
Skills Gap Analysis:
Students are asking, “What are the most in-demand skills for a [specific] role at a company like Google, and what free online courses should I take to bridge my current skill gaps?”
