Write effective prompts for AI question generation

Write a clear prompt to help Nubric generate math questions that match your topic, student level, and learning goals. A prompt describes the content you want students to work with and any requirements the questions should follow.

In this article, you'll build a prompt by specifying the topic, task, difficulty, and constraints. You'll also learn how to guide the distractors in multiple-choice questions, check the generated content, and refine your instructions.

Before you begin

Requirements

• Access to the AI question generator in Nubric.
• A learning goal and target student level for your questions.

Applies to

Writing prompts to generate questions with AI in Nubric.

Steps

Specify the mathematical topic

Name the mathematical concept you want the questions to cover. Use a specific topic rather than a broad subject.

• Specific: Linear equations with one variable.
• Too broad: Math problems.

Describe what students should do

State the task students should complete, such as simplifying, solving, calculating, or comparing.

• Specific: Create questions where students add two fractions and simplify the result.
• Ambiguous: Fractions.

Select the question type and number of questions in the generator. Keep any instructions in your prompt consistent with those selections.

When you select multiple choice, Nubric generates distractors automatically. You can optionally describe the common mistakes you want these incorrect answer options to reflect.

Define the student level and difficulty

Specify the educational level or prior knowledge students need. Describe the expected complexity when relevant.

• Specific: For middle school students who have learned to find common denominators.
• Specific: Use linear equations that can be solved in two steps.

A topic alone may not communicate the difficulty you intend. For example, "solve equations" leaves both the student level and the complexity open.

Add relevant constraints

Include requirements that affect the question content or expected answer. For example:

• Use denominators between 2 and 10.
• Use integer coefficients and integer solutions.
• Require answers in simplified form.
• Include units in the answer.

Keep the requirements relevant and compatible with each other. Adding more detail is useful only when it helps describe the questions you want.

Combine your instructions

Combine the topic, task, student level, and constraints into a concise prompt. You can use this structure:

Create questions about [topic] for [student level]. Students should [task]. Use [constraints] and require [answer form].

For example, with the generator set to three open-answer questions:

Create questions for middle school students where they add two fractions and provide the result in simplified form. Use denominators between 2 and 10.

Generate and refine if needed

Enter your prompt and select Generate. Nubric adds the generated questions automatically to your quiz.

Reviewing the questions, answers, distractors, and general feedback is recommended. If the content does not match your goals, edit it directly or refine your prompt for another generation request.

When refining the prompt, identify the missing or unclear requirement and state it explicitly. For example, replace "make the questions easier" with "use fractions with the same denominator."

Verify it worked

Compare the generated content with your prompt:

• Do the questions cover the requested topic and task?
• Is the difficulty appropriate for the specified student level?
• Do the numbers, units, and expected answers follow your constraints?
• Are the correct answers accurate?
• For multiple-choice questions, are the distractors incorrect and plausible for the intended students?
• Does the general feedback explain the solution correctly and clearly for the intended students?

A clear prompt helps guide generation, but it does not guarantee that every requirement will be followed or that all generated content will be accurate.

Options and variations

Compare broad and specific prompts

Guide distractors for multiple-choice questions

Distractors are generated automatically when you select multiple choice. If you want them to reflect particular misconceptions, describe those mistakes in your prompt. For example:

Create questions for students beginning algebra about solving linear equations with one variable. Use integer coefficients and integer solutions. Base the distractors on common mistakes, such as sign errors or applying an operation to only one side of the equation.

Check that each distractor is incorrect and that it reflects a plausible mistake. Edit or replace any option that is ambiguous, duplicates another option, or could also be considered correct.

Keep generator limitations in mind

The AI generates question content, including distractors for multiple-choice questions, but partial grading, random variables, and advanced evaluation options must be configured manually. If you request a particular answer form, check the generated answer and its evaluation settings to confirm they match your requirements.

Each generated question is independent. Include the information needed to understand the task rather than relying on another question to provide its context.

Common errors

The difficulty does not match your students

Specify the student level and describe the expected complexity. Include concrete requirements, such as the number of solution steps or whether fractions and negative numbers are allowed.

The output misses a requirement

Check that the requirement is stated clearly and does not conflict with other instructions. Simplify the prompt if necessary, then generate another set of questions or edit the existing content.

The distractors are unsuitable

Describe the common mistakes you want the distractors to reflect when generating another set of questions, or edit the existing options manually. Check that the distractors are incorrect and appropriate for the intended student level.

The answer or general feedback contains an error

A precise prompt does not guarantee mathematical accuracy. Correct the affected answer or explanation in the question editor.

A longer prompt does not improve the results

Remove repeated, irrelevant, or contradictory instructions. Keep the topic, task, student level, and essential constraints clear and concise.

Related

• Generate questions with AI in Nubric.
• Creating questions in Nubric.
• Understanding Question Types in Nubric.