Finals Prep Fall 2025: Kat's Study Tips

Kat's Tips: ChatGPT Study Mode

If Ashley’s process is about taming the chaos and getting organized, mine is about digging deeper, turning study sessions from memorization marathons into actual learning. Once I’ve uploaded all my course materials — slides, readings, notes, and whatever else I might need — I switch ChatGPT into Study Mode.

To get there, click the plus sign next to the search bar and select Study and Learn. This mode shifts the focus from quick answers to real understanding. ChatGPT doesn’t just hand you solutions, it walks you through them, asks questions back, and helps you spot where your reasoning falls short.

Phase 1: Active Learning on Demand

I use this most often for my math-heavy courses because it forces me to think through every step. After hours of studying, it’s easy to slip into autopilot — recognizing patterns instead of actually solving problems. Study mode breaks that loop.

For example, I’ll upload a practice test with solutions and prompt:

“Generate 5 new practice problems based on the concepts covered in the practice test.”

Then, I’ll attempt each and ask:

“Walk me through the correct solution step-by-step, and explain where my logic went wrong.”

This combination — self-testing, immediate feedback, and contextual explanation — is where Study Mode really shines. It helps me see how I’m thinking, not just what I’m missing.

Phase 2: Drilling Down on Weak Spots

Study Mode is also great when I know the concept, but keep making the same mistakes. I’ll ask:

“Based on the questions I’ve missed, what are the three main subtopics I need to review?”

It highlights patterns and builds a mini-lesson tailored to those gaps. Sometimes I’ll ask ChatGPT to re-explain the same topics in a new way, either through analogies, alternate problem types, or visual reasoning, until it really sticks.

For more reading-based classes, I adapt the approach:

“Ask me comprehension questions about this text.”

“What are some possible counterpoints for my essay’s argument?”

Each exchange keeps me actively engaged rather than passively reviewing.

Phase 3: The Rapid-Fire Review

Right before an exam, I use Study Mode like a built-in quiz partner. I’ll say something like:

“Give me a quick overview quiz of key formulas, definitions, and concepts I’ll need for this test.”

It becomes an instant cram session, quick enough to refresh my memory yet focused enough to keep me from spiraling into irrelevant details. It’s like asking a friend to quiz you, only this friend already knows your syllabus.

Final Thoughts

Study Mode turns ChatGPT from a search engine into a study partner. It doesn’t just answer; it engages, challenges, and adapts. The key is to give it a full context — your notes, attempts, and course materials — so it can meet you where you are.

When it’s late, caffeine is low, and motivation’s running on fumes, flipping into Study Mode keeps studying from feeling mechanical. It’s not about memorizing faster, it’s about understanding better.