StudyMate Guidelines: How to Ask Better Questions

StudyMate works best when your question is specific about the text/portion, the task type (notes, analysis, practice set, etc.), and your board/class (ICSE/ISC, Class 9-12) when needed.

Quick rules (high impact)

Say the board/class when asking about exam pattern, marks, syllabus, or worksheets.
Say what you want: summary / theme / character sketch / critical appreciation / practice set / contextual Q&A.
Point to a section: stanza/lines, paragraph, scene/act, or a named moment in the story.
Add constraints: word limit, marks, number of points, difficulty level.
For quotes/extracts, ask for exact lines only when you are on that topic page (so StudyMate can use the provided text).

1) Theme / Central Idea

Ask for a clear scope + evidence + format.

Explain the central theme of "Telephone Conversation" in 5 points, and add 2 key lines as evidence.

For ICSE Class 10: Give the theme of "Bonku Babu's Friend" with 3 exam-friendly points.

2) Character Sketch

Specify which traits to focus on, and ask for textual evidence.

Write a character sketch of Bonku Babu (ICSE Class 9) in 120-150 words with 3 traits and one supporting line/extract for each.

Give a short character sketch of the landlady in "Telephone Conversation" focusing on prejudice + tone + behaviour.

3) Analytical / Critical Questions

Tell StudyMate what to analyze (tone, irony, symbolism, structure) and what you need in the output.

Analyze how irony is used in "Telephone Conversation". Write a 200-word answer with: (i) 3 examples, (ii) effect on reader, (iii) conclusion.

Explain how the alien encounter changes Bonku Babu. Answer in 5 bullets and include one extract from the transformation part.

4) Contextual / Extract-Based Questions

Best results happen when you are on the exact topic page and request the exact ICSE/ISC split.

ICSE Class 9: Create ONE 16-mark contextual question from "Bonku Babu's Friend" with split 3+3+3+3+4 and include a verbatim extract.

ISC Class 12: Create a 20-mark worksheet from "Telephone Conversation" as per ISC pattern (3 MCQs, 2 reasons, 1 paragraph, 1 long - 10 marks).

5) Practice Sets / Worksheets

Say total marks + pattern + what to include. If you want just ONE set, say so.

I am a student of ICSE Class IX. Give me ONE 20-mark practice set on "Bonku Babu's Friend": 4 MCQs (1 mark each) + 16-mark contextual (3+3+3+3+4).

ISC Class 12: Give me ONE 20-mark worksheet on "Telephone Conversation" using the ISC mini pattern. Keep it exam-style.

6) Syllabus / Marking Scheme / Exam Pattern

Always mention board + class, and ask for the exact thing you need.

ICSE Class 10: What is the section-wise marks breakdown for Literature (Paper 2)?

ISC Class 11: List the grammar topics we cover and what to focus on for exams.

ISC Class 12: Explain the project work requirements and a good project structure.

7) Improve your follow-up questions

If the first reply is not what you wanted, tell StudyMate what to change.

No, keep the same topic, but follow the ISC Class 12 pattern strictly and make the long answer 10 marks.

Give simpler wording and add a 120-150 word model answer for the paragraph question.

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