Updated: 4 November 2026

Explain a difficult concept in plain English

This prompt explains a concept as if you were fifteen. You name the concept, subject and what you already know, and it uses one simple analogy, a step-by-step example and a section on common mistakes.

text-explain-like-im-15 — chatgpt — 47 words

Explain [CONCEPT] to me as if I am 15.

Subject: [SUBJECT]
What I already know: [WHAT YOU KNOW]

Use one simple analogy, a step-by-step example, and a "common mistake" section. Then give me 3 quick questions to test whether I understood, with answers hidden until I reply.

Edit in the builder Copy & open ChatGPT ↗Copy & open Gemini ↗Copy & open Claude ↗

If the analogy does not click, say "try a different analogy".

Get a better result

What you will get

A plain-English explanation of the concept with one analogy, a worked step-by-step example, a common-mistake section and three quick questions whose answers stay hidden until you reply.

Common mistake

The analogy does not click.

Fix: Follow the tip and ask for a different one. You can name a hobby, such as cricket or cooking, to get an analogy you already know.

Also watch for

You read the answers before trying the questions. Reply with your answers first, even if you are unsure, so the feedback is about your thinking, not the model’s.
The explanation is too easy because you gave no starting point. Fill in what you already know in more detail, such as “I know what a variable is but not what a function returns”.

Try a variation: exam answer practice

Add “then give me one exam-style question and show a model answer with marks, after I try it first”.

Still not right? Reply with this

Use a cooking analogy instead and give me a slightly harder example. Keep the questions at the end and hide the answers.