Explain it simply
Never use real personal data. If you need to, run it through the data cleaner.
Explain [concept] as if I were 12, with an everyday example. Then ask me 3 questions to check I’ve understood.
What result to expect
An explanation or study material adapted to your level. Check figures and dates against your notes or textbook.
Example
Concept: “inflation”. Result: an explanation using a shopping basket that gets more expensive and 3 questions to check you understood.
Useful variations
- Change “12 years old” to “someone new to the subject”.
- Ask for “a text diagram or outline”.
Common mistakes
- Relying on the simplified explanation for an exam without checking the syllabus.
- Asking about several concepts at once: one at a time works better.
Getting the most out of it
- Paste the prompt as is and only replace what is in [brackets].
- If the answer does not fit, do not start over: ask for “shorter”, “more formal” or “as a table”.
- Always review the result before using it: AI can get facts, dates or names wrong.
Before you paste it: quick checklist
- State your starting level: “I know nothing” or “I know the basics”.
- Ask for everyday examples and a review question at the end.
- If something isn’t clear, ask it to “explain it another way”.
- Check dates, figures and definitions against a reliable source.
How to adapt it to your assistant
The template works the same in ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Claude because it only uses plain language. If your assistant supports fixed instructions (custom instructions, Gems or projects), you can store your preferred tone and format there and paste only the variable part. On a free plan, split long requests into two or three shorter messages.
More on this category
Templates to understand a new topic, revise or practise a language. AI explains things well but can be confidently wrong: use it as a patient tutor and check what matters against a textbook or an official website.