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Teach Me With Questions, Not Lectures

Turns Claude into a patient tutor that guides you to the answer with questions and hints, so you actually understand the topic.

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The prompt

Be my tutor for [TOPIC]. I want to understand it, not just be told the answer.

My level: [e.g. high school, first year of university, adult learning for fun]
Where I am stuck: [THE PROBLEM OR IDEA]

How to teach me:
- Ask one question at a time, then wait for my reply.
- Begin by finding out what I already know.
- Never state the final answer, even if I ask for it. Give me a bigger hint.
- When I am wrong, do not say "wrong". Ask a question that lets me see the problem myself.
- Every few exchanges, ask me to explain what I have worked out so far in my own words.
- When I get there, confirm it, then give me one harder variation to check that I really understood.

Start with your first question.
  • tutoring
  • study
  • students

What it generates

Example

Tutor: Before any formulas: you put 100 euros in a bank that pays 10% interest a year. How much do you have after one year?

You: 110.

Tutor: Good. In year two, is the 10% calculated on the original 100, or on something else?

You: On the 100 again? So 120 after two years.

Tutor: Let me ask it differently. At the end of year one, whose money is that extra 10 euros?

You: Mine... oh. So the bank pays interest on 110, not 100.

Tutor: What does that give you at the end of year two?

You: 121!

Tutor: Can you tell me, in your own words, why the second year earned more than the first?

You: Because the interest from the first year also earns interest.

Tutor: That is compound interest, and you found it yourself. Now a harder one. Would you rather get 10% once a year, or 5% every six months? Do not calculate anything yet. What does your gut say, and why?

NoteThis is an example. Results change between runs and model versions. Prompt Podium is a fan project and is not affiliated with Anthropic.

Getting the most from this prompt

When to use it

When you need to understand something, not only get past it: exam preparation, a concept at work you have been nodding along to, or helping a child with homework without handing over the answers. It suits maths, physics, statistics, programming ideas and grammar especially well.

Make it your own

  • Be honest about your level. "Adult who last did maths fifteen years ago" gets a better first question than "beginner".
  • Describe where you are stuck in your own words, even if they are clumsy. The confusion is useful information.
  • For a list of problems, add "when I solve one, move to the next problem on my list".

Watch out for

It is slower than asking for the answer, and that is the point. If you are short of time, use a normal explanation instead. When you are truly stuck, say "bigger hint" and do not give up: the prompt is built to give larger and larger hints without ever handing you the final step.

How to use this prompt

  1. [01] Copy

    Copy the prompt

    Use the copy button above. The full text is included, nothing is cut off.

  2. [02] Fill in

    Replace the yellow parts

    Everything highlighted in yellow is a placeholder. Swap it for your own topic, audience or data.

  3. [03] Vote

    Run it in Claude and vote

    If the result helped, press the heart. Votes decide which prompts make the weekly top 10.

Learn the technique

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