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Plan your finals week around exams and work shifts

Practice: Giving the right context. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

Finals week runs Monday to Friday and you want a study plan to tape above your desk: exactly 5 numbered lines, one per day starting with the day (Mon, Tue, and so on), under 80 words in total, in plain text. Each line gives study times that don't overlap your work shifts, each day's study is for the next exam still ahead, and it uses the latest exam schedule in your notes.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Asking for "a study schedule". The AI builds a big table or an hour-by-hour plan you'll never tape to a wall. Try: Be exact: "5 numbered lines, one per day."
  • Missing the schedule change. The AI uses the first exam list it sees and misses the later email that moved Calc. Try: Add: "Use the latest exam times. Calc moved to Friday 9am."
  • Not giving your fixed commitments. The AI doesn't know you can't swap shifts, so it books study time on top of work. Try: Say: "Study times can't overlap my work shifts."
  • Studying in the wrong order. The AI spreads subjects evenly or puts your weakest subject first, even when another exam is sooner. Try: Say: "Each day, study for the next exam still ahead."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands 10-20% over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each line under 15 words."
  • Formatting for a screen. AI adds bold days and headings that look cluttered when printed. Try: Ask for "plain text I can print."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Says one line per day
  • Mentions the moved exam
  • Works around shifts
  • Orders by the next exam
  • Sets a length limit

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