Most "best ChatGPT prompts" lists are filler. This is not. Below are 60+ prompts we use ourselves, organised by who you are (student / professional / founder / writer) and the job you're trying to get done. Each prompt is copy-paste ready, tested on ChatGPT 5, and structured to work in Claude or Gemini with minimal tweaks.
How to use this guide
Every prompt below uses the 5-part framework: Role · Task · Context · Format · Example. Wherever you see [BRACKETED] text, replace it with your specifics. Save the ones you use weekly to your prompt library (or your OBSYNK account) so you don't rewrite them every time.
For students
1. The personalised study planner
You are a tutor who specialises in cognitive science and learning optimisation. I am studying [SUBJECT] for [EXAM] on [DATE]. I have [HOURS] available per day. Build me a 4-week study plan using spaced repetition, active recall, and interleaving. Output as a markdown table with columns: Day, Topic, Method, Time. End with three pitfalls I should avoid.
2. The Feynman-method explainer
Explain [CONCEPT] to me as if I am a curious 14-year-old. Use one analogy from everyday life. After the explanation, ask me three questions to check my understanding.
3. The exam-question generator
Based on [TEXTBOOK CHAPTER / NOTES below], generate 10 exam-style questions of mixed difficulty (3 easy, 4 medium, 3 hard). For each question, also provide a 3-line model answer.
4. The essay structurer
I need to write a [WORD COUNT] essay on [TOPIC]. Help me build an outline with: a strong thesis statement, three main argument paragraphs (each with a topic sentence and 2 supporting points), and a conclusion that synthesises (not summarises).
5. The mistake-finder for drafts
Read this draft and identify the three weakest paragraphs. For each one, explain why it is weak and propose a stronger version. Do not rewrite the entire essay.
6. The flashcard maker
From the text below, create 20 Anki-style flashcards. Format each as: Front: [question or term]. Back: [concise answer, max 2 sentences].
7. The concept-comparison table
Compare and contrast [CONCEPT A] and [CONCEPT B] as a markdown table with the following columns: Definition, Key principle, Best example, Common confusion, When it applies.
For professionals at work
8. The email-rewriter
Rewrite the email below to be 30% shorter, more direct, and free of corporate jargon. Preserve the meaning. Constraints: no "leverage", no "synergy", no "circle back", no "best regards". Sign off with just my first name.
9. The meeting summariser
Summarise the meeting transcript below as: (1) three key decisions made, (2) all action items with owner and deadline, (3) any unresolved questions. Format as markdown.
10. The performance review draft
You are an HR business partner. Help me draft a performance review for my report. Strengths: [LIST]. Areas to improve: [LIST]. Tone: honest, specific, kind. Format: STAR method, 200-300 words per section.
11. The decision-matrix builder
I am deciding between [OPTION A] and [OPTION B]. Build me a weighted decision matrix. Suggest 6 criteria with weights. Score each option 1-10 on each criterion with brief reasoning. Output a final recommendation.
12. The presentation outliner
I am giving a 15-minute presentation to [AUDIENCE] on [TOPIC]. Build me a 10-slide outline. Each slide: a clear title, three bullet points, and one suggestion for a visual.
13. The interview-prep partner
I have an interview for [ROLE] at [COMPANY]. Based on the job description below, generate the 8 most likely interview questions, and for each, give me a STAR-method answer structure tailored to my background: [PASTE CV].
For founders and operators
14. The customer-discovery interview script
You are a customer-research expert in the style of Steve Blank. I am building [PRODUCT] for [TARGET CUSTOMER]. Write me 12 open-ended interview questions designed to validate or invalidate the problem. Avoid leading questions.
15. The competitor teardown
Analyse [COMPETITOR URL]. Identify: (1) their core value proposition, (2) their pricing strategy, (3) three weaknesses I can exploit, (4) two strengths I should not directly compete with. End with a one-sentence positioning angle for my product.
16. The landing-page copy draft
Write a landing-page copy structure for [PRODUCT]. Audience: [TARGET]. Key benefit: [BENEFIT]. Tone: confident, specific, no jargon. Format: hero headline, sub-headline, three benefit blocks (each with H3 + 2 lines), one testimonial placeholder, one CTA.
17. The investor-update template
You are a founder operator who has written investor updates for the last 36 months. Help me draft this month's update. Include: highlights, metrics (MRR, churn, growth), lowlights, asks. Tone: confident but honest. Length: under 600 words.
18. The pricing experiment designer
I currently charge [PRICE] for [PRODUCT]. Help me design three pricing experiments to test in the next 90 days. For each: hypothesis, test setup, success metric, expected duration.
For writers and content creators
19. The headline generator (10× pattern)
For the article topic "[TOPIC]" with audience "[AUDIENCE]", write me 10 headlines using these patterns: 2 listicle, 2 how-to, 2 question, 2 counter-intuitive, 2 curiosity. No clickbait. Each under 70 characters.
20. The voice-matcher
Read the three writing samples below. Identify the voice in 5 specific attributes (sentence length, vocabulary, tone, rhythm, recurring patterns). Then write a new 200-word paragraph on [TOPIC] in that exact voice.
21. The clichés-killer
Identify every cliché, AI-ism, and overused metaphor in the text below. For each one, propose a fresh alternative that preserves meaning. Output as a markdown table.
22. The SEO-aware draft
Draft a blog post on [TOPIC]. Target keyword: [KEYWORD]. Audience: [AUDIENCE]. Word count: 1800-2000. Use H2 and H3 hierarchy. Include 5 questions in a FAQ section. Style: answer-first (lead paragraph directly answers the title question).
23. The newsletter intro
Write three different one-paragraph newsletter intros for an email on [TOPIC]. Each one should hook with a different mechanic: (1) personal anecdote, (2) counter-intuitive claim, (3) timely cultural moment. Each under 80 words.
For developers and product folks
24. The code-review assistant
Review the code below for: (1) bugs, (2) performance issues, (3) readability problems, (4) security concerns. Format as a markdown table: issue, severity (high/med/low), fix.
25. The PRD outliner
Help me write a one-page PRD for [FEATURE]. Sections: problem, target user, success metric, scope (what's in and what's out), open questions. Tone: clear, specific, no jargon.
26. The regex helper
I need a regex that [DESCRIPTION]. Provide the regex, an explanation of each part, and 5 test cases (3 that should match, 2 that should not).
For AI creators specifically
27. The prompt-template designer
You are a senior prompt engineer for [MODEL]. Help me design a reusable prompt template for [USE CASE]. The template should have 4-6 swappable variables. Output the template, plus 3 example fills.
28. The Midjourney prompt translator
I have this idea: [DESCRIBE IMAGE IN PLAIN ENGLISH]. Convert it into a Midjourney V7 prompt using the 9-element structure (shot type, subject, action verb, location, lighting, lens/film, camera motion, mood, aspect ratio). Add appropriate --style and --s parameters.
29. The creator bio writer
Write me three versions of an OBSYNK creator bio. I do: [WHAT YOU DO]. My style: [DESCRIBE]. Tone: confident, specific, no AI clichés. Constraints: under 200 characters each.
30. The launch tweet
I am launching a new prompt pack: [TITLE]. Write me 5 launch tweets — each under 280 chars — using different hooks: curiosity, social proof, problem/solution, contrarian take, before/after.
How to organise the prompts you use
If you find yourself rewriting the same prompts every week, you've outgrown ad-hoc usage. Build a personal prompt library — Notion, Obsidian, or your OBSYNK profile. Tag each by use case. Within 30 days you'll have a productivity multiplier that competitors don't.
Browse battle-tested prompt packs at OBSYNK Explore — every prompt is tagged with the AI model it was tested on, plus the use case it solves. The best way to learn prompt engineering is to study prompts that already work.
Advanced prompts for students
The personalized syllabus interrogator
Below is my course syllabus. (1) Identify the 5 most likely exam topics based on the weighting and depth of coverage. (2) For each, give me a 3-sentence summary and the 2 hardest sub-topics. (3) Suggest a 4-week revision plan that prioritises by exam weighting.
The dissertation skeleton
I am writing a [WORD COUNT] dissertation on [TOPIC]. My research question: [QUESTION]. Build me a chapter-by-chapter outline. For each chapter: chapter title, the argument it advances, the key evidence it draws on, and 3 questions it leaves unresolved (for later chapters or future work).
The viva voce simulator
Based on the dissertation excerpt below, role-play as a sceptical examiner conducting a viva voce. Ask me one tough question at a time. After I answer, critique my answer and ask the next harder question. Continue for 8 rounds.
Advanced prompts for professionals
The Monday-morning brief
You are my chief of staff. Below is my calendar, my inbox summary, and last week's project notes. Produce my Monday-morning brief: (1) the 3 most important things this week, (2) decisions I need to make, (3) people I owe a follow-up to with one-line context each, (4) one thing to deprioritise.
The negotiation pre-mortem
You are a senior negotiation coach. I am negotiating [CONTEXT]. My BATNA is [BATNA]. Their likely BATNA is [BATNA]. Help me prepare: (1) the 5 most likely opening moves they will make, (2) the strongest counter to each, (3) my "must-have" vs "trade away" list, (4) the one move that would derail me, and how to avoid it.
The 1:1 prep
I have a 1:1 with my report tomorrow. They have been a strong performer but the last 4 weeks have shown signs of disengagement. Help me prepare: (1) 3 open-ended questions to surface what's going on, (2) signals I should watch for, (3) two concrete actions I can offer if appropriate.
Advanced prompts for founders
The pitch deck story-tester
Below is my 10-slide pitch deck. Read it as if you were a Series A partner with 30 seconds to evaluate. (1) What's the one thing you understood instantly? (2) What's the one thing you didn't understand? (3) What's the one question you'd ask first? (4) On a scale of 1-10, how memorable is the deck — and why?
The hiring rubric writer
I'm hiring a [ROLE] at [COMPANY STAGE]. Build me a 6-criterion interview rubric. For each criterion: definition, 3 sample interview questions, and what a "great" vs "good" vs "below bar" answer looks like.
The customer email response
A customer just sent the email below complaining about [ISSUE]. Draft three response options: (1) most empathetic, (2) most direct, (3) most strategic (uses the moment to deepen the relationship). For each, explain when it's the right choice.
Advanced prompts for writers
The "what's the take" prompt
I have research on [TOPIC]. The findings are interesting but I can't see the take. Read the research and give me 5 possible "takes" — counter-intuitive angles that would make this publishable. For each, write a one-paragraph thesis statement and the strongest opening sentence.
The cold-open generator
Write 10 different cold-open paragraphs for an article titled "[TITLE]". Each one should use a different opening mechanic: anecdote, statistic, contradiction, scene, dialogue, second-person address, question, image, history, prediction. Each under 80 words.
The voice-distilled lookalike
Read the three samples below from a writer I admire. Distill their voice into 6 specific attributes (sentence length pattern, recurring rhythms, vocabulary tendencies, tonal moves, structural habits, identifiable tics). Then write a new 250-word paragraph on [MY TOPIC] in that exact voice.
Meta-prompt: building your personal prompt library
If you find yourself rewriting the same prompts every week, you've outgrown ad-hoc usage. The five-step setup:
- Pick a home: Notion, Obsidian, or your OBSYNK profile.
- Create three folders: Daily-use (10 prompts max), Specialist (deeper-cut prompts you reach for monthly), and Templates (skeletons with swap-in variables).
- Tag each prompt by use case.
- Version aggressively — every iteration gets a new line.
- Audit quarterly. Archive the prompts you didn't open in 90 days.
If you write prompts professionally, consider publishing your best ones to OBSYNK — even if you're not yet selling, the SEO and AEO indexing surfaces your prompts to a much wider audience than any private library can reach.
