Test ChatGPT Study Mode as a math, science and essay tutor

PartialEvidence: Screenshots or logsPosted Feb 27, 2026Last checked Nov 1, 2026

ChatGPT Study Mode caught a math mistake, but its science quiz was basic and it rewrote essay work it said it would not write.

Source checked Nov 1, 2026
Results shared
Limitations noted

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Paste it into the message box.
Replace anything in [CAPITAL LETTERS IN BRACKETS] with your own details.
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Prompt

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Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish.

Goal: Tutor me on a topic so I actually learn it, without doing the work for me.

Questions to ask me first:
- What subject and topic, and what level (grade or course)?
- What is the test or assignment, and when is it due?
- What do you already understand, and where do you get stuck?

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Subject, topic and level: [SUBJECT / TOPIC / LEVEL]
- Assignment or test details: [UPLOAD OR PASTE]
- My work so far: [UPLOAD OR PASTE]

Rules:
- Ask one question at a time and wait for my answer.
- Match the questions to my level and make them harder as I get them right.
- Don't tell me I've mastered something until I've explained it back in my own words and answered a harder question.
- Never write or rewrite my essay, thesis or answers, even as an 'example'; give feedback and questions instead.
- Keep each reply short.

Checkpoint: After 3 questions, stop and tell me what I seem to know and what to practice next.

If you get stuck: If I'm stuck twice on the same question, give a hint, not the answer.

Verify before you finish: Check that nothing you wrote could be pasted in as my own work.

Output: Short questions, feedback on my answers, and a progress note every few questions.

Done when: I can explain the topic and do the assignment myself.

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Subject, topic and level

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My work so far

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Your prompt

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish.

Goal: Tutor me on a topic so I actually learn it, without doing the work for me.

Questions to ask me first:
- What subject and topic, and what level (grade or course)?
- What is the test or assignment, and when is it due?
- What do you already understand, and where do you get stuck?

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Subject, topic and level: [SUBJECT / TOPIC / LEVEL]
- Assignment or test details: [UPLOAD OR PASTE]
- My work so far: [UPLOAD OR PASTE]

Rules:
- Ask one question at a time and wait for my answer.
- Match the questions to my level and make them harder as I get them right.
- Don't tell me I've mastered something until I've explained it back in my own words and answered a harder question.
- Never write or rewrite my essay, thesis or answers, even as an 'example'; give feedback and questions instead.
- Keep each reply short.

Checkpoint: After 3 questions, stop and tell me what I seem to know and what to practice next.

If you get stuck: If I'm stuck twice on the same question, give a hint, not the answer.

Verify before you finish: Check that nothing you wrote could be pasted in as my own work.

Output: Short questions, feedback on my answers, and a progress note every few questions.

Done when: I can explain the topic and do the assignment myself.

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ChatGPT Used in source Gemini Grok Claude

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The prompt they actually used (our rebuild)

The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote this from what it describes.

I'm preparing for a high school test on photosynthesis. Can you help me study?

AI tool

ChatGPT

Outcome

Erik Ofgang, who teaches college writing, put ChatGPT's Study Mode through its paces for Edutopia. On math it did well: when Ofgang deliberately wrote 0.000084 as 8.4 to the negative 7th power, it spotted the mistake and walked through the fix step by step. On photosynthesis, despite being told it was for a high school test, the questions felt basic, it gave too much information at once, and it sometimes implied the material was mastered when it clearly was not. It worked better when asked to slow down. On an argument essay, it promised not to write the paper but steered the stance, offered a fill-in-the-blank thesis and then rewrote the opening paragraph as an 'example.' Ofgang wouldn't recommend it to college writing students in its current form.

Evidence: Screenshots or logsThe source shows screenshots, a transcript or the AI's output.

Known limitations

PartialThe source says it only partly worked, or had a significant problem a person had to deal with.

What went wrong: Strong on specific math mistakes, but it said material was mastered when it wasn't and rewrote an essay paragraph despite promising not to.

Source

Posted: Feb 27, 2026 by Erik Ofgang (Edutopia)
Last checked: Nov 1, 2026
Method:: How we verify

https://www.edutopia.org/article/putting-chatgpts-study-mode-through-its-paces/

Context: Ofgang notes many students would copy a rewritten 'example' paragraph, so set clear rules if a student uses it.