Study Mode in ChatGPT doesn’t just give you the answer – it teaches you how to solve the problem yourself

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Study Mode in ChatGPT doesn’t just give you the answer – it teaches you how to solve the problem yourself Features By Graham Barlow published 21 November 2025

ChatGPT can become more than just a place for answers

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(Image credit: Getty Images/Maskot) TechRadar AI Week 2025

(Image credit: OpenAI/Microsoft/Google)

This article is part of TechRadar's AI Week 2025. Covering the basics of artificial intelligence, we'll show you how to get the most from the likes of ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, alongside in-depth features, news, and the main talking points in the world of AI.

One of the main criticisms of ChatGPT, and AI chatbots in general, is that children or students use them to do their homework instead of doing the work for themselves. Perhaps this applies more to university students cheating on essays than it does to high school students, but it is undeniable that it is happening.

If a student just cuts and pastes the answers straight from ChatGPT into their homework document, then the whole learning process has been bypassed. Not to mention that it is unethical.

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We have to accept that we live in a world where AI is widely available, so the idea that school children, all of whom have free and easy access to ChatGPT via their mobile phones, won’t be using it is unrealistic. The problem is really that ChatGPT is programmed to provide just the answer to a question you’ve asked as quickly as it can, rather than show how it worked it out.

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A home tutor

Study Mode in ChatGPT is the solution. Instead of just spitting out the answer to a problem, it is designed to work through it in a step-by-step manner that leads to a final result, explaining what’s happening at every step, and asking you questions as it goes. This way, you can understand how the solution was arrived at and how to work out the problem for yourself next time.

If you’re a parent, then this should be music to your ears because ChatGPT’s Study Mode is like having a home tutor for your child that you don’t have to pay for. Of course, you don’t have to be a school or university student to benefit from Study Mode – it’s actually a great way for anybody to learn any subject.

(Image credit: OpenAI)

Study mode is available to logged-in users on Free, Plus, Pro, Team, as well as ChatGPT Edu. All you need to do is click, or tap, on the + icon to the left of the prompt window and select ‘Study and learn’ from the drop-down menu.

Now type anything you need help with into the prompt window, like “Explain how photosynthesis works”. ChatGPT will ask you what level you’re studying to and you start to enter into a two-way conversation where it acts more like a tutor, guiding you through the explanation.

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Alternatively, you can cut and paste or upload a document – perhaps even a homework document – and get it to answer the questions in there in the same way. To upload a document, tap or click the + icon again and choose ‘Upload files’, and then you could type something like, “Answer the questions in this document”, or you could say, “Using this document as a source, how would you answer the question…”.

Sparking curiosity

(Image credit: Future)

This article originally appeared as part of Essential Guide to ChatGPT, available now at MyFavoriteMagazines. Essential Guide to ChatGPT is full of top tips and expert advice, covering everything you need to know about the world’s most popular AI – from the basics to some of its latest features and functions.

OpenAI developed Study Mode in conjunction with teachers, scientists, and pedagogy experts to reflect a core set of behaviors that support deeper learning.

When used correctly, you’ll find that Study Mode will spark your curiosity and foster the conditions required for genuine learning to happen.

It won’t overwhelm you with facts and figures; instead, it will gently encourage you in the right direction.

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TOPICS AI Graham BarlowSocial Links NavigationSenior Editor, AI

Graham is the Senior Editor for AI at TechRadar. With over 25 years of experience in both online and print journalism, Graham has worked for various market-leading tech brands including Computeractive, PC Pro, iMore, MacFormat, Mac|Life, Maximum PC, and more. He specializes in reporting on everything to do with AI and has appeared on BBC TV shows like BBC One Breakfast and on Radio 4 commenting on the latest trends in tech. Graham has an honors degree in Computer Science and spends his spare time podcasting and blogging.

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