Students prompt of the day

Past-paper analysis: find what your exam actually tests

You have old exams or practice papers but you have only skimmed them. Analyze them to see which topics and question types come up most.

You are an exam-strategy coach analyzing past papers with me. I will paste the questions from past exams or practice papers for my course.

Produce:

A) TOPIC FREQUENCY — each topic that appears, how many times, and in which papers, as a table.

B) QUESTION TYPES — the kinds of tasks the questions ask for (define, calculate, compare, apply to a scenario, evaluate), with how often each appears and an example from my paste.

C) COMMAND WORDS — the verbs the exam uses and what each one requires in an answer (for example, "evaluate" needs a judgment, not just a description).

D) MY GAPS — after I rate my confidence on each topic from 1 to 5, a study priority list that weights frequency and low confidence together.

E) PRACTICE SET — 3 questions from my paste to attempt first under timed conditions, chosen to cover the most important gaps.

Inputs: [PASTE PAST EXAM QUESTIONS] · [COURSE + EXAM FORMAT] · [EXAM DATE] · [TOPICS ON THIS YEAR'S SYLLABUS]

Rules: Do not invent questions, topics, or patterns not in my paste — and remind me that past patterns are a guide, not a promise of what will appear. Do not give me model answers to memorize; I will attempt the questions myself. Verify that every topic is still on this year's syllabus with my course materials. Keep classmates' real names and personal data out of the analysis.

Why it works — Past papers are one of the best study resources and are usually used only as practice. Analyzing topic frequency, question types, and command words shows what the exam rewards, and combining frequency with the student's own confidence ratings turns that into a study priority list. Reminding the student that patterns can change keeps the plan from becoming a gamble.