100 Secret ChatGPT Commands and Tricks That Actually Work

ChatGPT has become much more than a chatbot that answers questions. Most people still use it in the simplest possible way: they type a question, read the answer, and move on.

That is where they are missing a lot.

There are built in ChatGPT shortcuts, unofficial command style instructions, formatting commands, study techniques, research instructions, writing shortcuts, coding commands and custom commands that can completely change how ChatGPT responds.

I went through the commonly shared ChatGPT shortcuts and separated the useful ones from the fake “secret commands” that are often presented as official features. One important point before we start: not every command below is an official ChatGPT slash command. Some are built in features, while others are short instructions that ChatGPT understands as normal language.

That distinction matters.

For example, @study is an actual ChatGPT shortcut for Study Mode. OpenAI also documents /study as an option in interfaces where slash suggestions are available. Study Mode can work with uploaded learning material and can be used for explanations, practice questions, quizzes and revision.

The rest of this list focuses on commands and instructions that are genuinely useful in practical work.

Official and built in ChatGPT commands

1. @study

Use this to activate Study Mode.

It is especially useful for students because ChatGPT can guide you through a topic instead of simply giving you the answer.

Try:
@study Explain photosynthesis to me from beginner level.

2. /study

If slash suggestions are available in your ChatGPT interface, /study can be used to find Study Mode.

Availability can vary by device and interface, so don’t present it as a universal slash command.

3. /canvas

Where Canvas is available, this can open a workspace for longer writing or coding tasks.

Canvas also has built in shortcuts for editing writing and code.

4. Use Canvas

If you don’t have a visible shortcut, simply asking ChatGPT to use Canvas can be useful when working on a longer document or coding project.

5. Suggest edits

In Canvas, this can be used to get suggestions for improving selected writing.

6. Adjust the length

Canvas can change the length of a piece of writing.

This is useful when you have a 1,500 word answer but need it reduced to 700 words.

7. Change reading level

You can adjust writing for a different reading level.

This is particularly useful when converting technical material into simpler study notes.

8. Add final polish

Useful for checking a piece of writing for clarity, grammar and consistency before using it.

9. Add comments

In supported Canvas coding workflows, comments can be added to code to make it easier to understand.

10. Fix bugs

Canvas includes a coding shortcut for fixing bugs.

This is much more useful than simply asking ChatGPT to “make my code better” because the task is clearly defined.

Summary and simplification commands

These are not official slash commands. Think of them as short command style instructions.

11. TLDR

Give ChatGPT a long article, lecture or document and ask for a very short summary.

Example:
TLDR this article in 5 points.

12. ELI5

Explain something as simply as possible.

Example:
ELI5 how inflation works.

This is one of the most useful shortcuts when a textbook explanation is too complicated.

13. ELI10

Use the same idea at a slightly more advanced level.

Example:
ELI10 quantum computing.

14. Summarize

Ask ChatGPT to reduce a long piece of content to its main ideas.

15. Key points

Useful when you don’t want a paragraph summary.

Example:
Give me only the key points from this chapter.

16. In a nutshell

Ask for the shortest useful explanation of a topic.

17. Bullet summary

Convert a long passage into short bullet points.

18. One page summary

Useful for exam preparation.

Example:
Turn these notes into a one page revision sheet.

19. Simplify

Convert difficult language into simpler language without losing the main meaning.

20. Explain simply

This is often better than asking ChatGPT for a summary because it focuses on understanding rather than just reducing the text.

Formatting commands

21. TABLE

Ask ChatGPT to organize information into a table.

Example:
Compare TCP and UDP in a table.

22. OUTLINE

Create a structure before writing an essay, presentation or report.

23. LIST

Turn information into a numbered or bullet list.

24. COMPARE

Compare two or more subjects using the same criteria.

25. PROS AND CONS

Quickly organize advantages and disadvantages.

26. CHECKLIST

Turn instructions into an actionable checklist.

27. STEPS

Ask for a process in a clear sequence.

28. TIMELINE

Turn historical events or project milestones into chronological order.

29. JSON

Ask ChatGPT to return structured information as JSON.

This is particularly useful for programmers and developers.

30. MARKDOWN

Ask ChatGPT to format information using Markdown headings, lists and code blocks.

Writing commands

31. REWRITE

Give ChatGPT existing text and ask it to rewrite it.

32. FIX

Useful for grammar, spelling and clarity.

Example:
FIX this paragraph without changing its meaning.

33. TIGHTEN

Ask ChatGPT to remove unnecessary words while keeping the important information.

34. EXPAND

Take a short idea and turn it into a detailed explanation.

35. HUMANIZE

Ask ChatGPT to make writing sound more natural and less robotic.

This is an unofficial instruction, not a hidden ChatGPT mode.

36. FORMAL

Convert casual writing into professional or formal language.

37. CASUAL

Make writing more relaxed and conversational.

38. ACADEMIC

Ask for an academic writing style.

39. PERSUASIVE

Strengthen an argument while keeping the original point.

40. PROOFREAD

Ask ChatGPT to find grammar, spelling, punctuation and clarity problems without completely rewriting your work.

Learning commands for students

41. TEACH ME

Instead of asking for an answer, tell ChatGPT to teach you the subject.

Example:
Teach me database normalization from beginner level.

42. SOCRATIC

Ask ChatGPT to teach through questions instead of immediately giving the answer.

This is particularly useful when studying concepts.

43. HINT

Tell ChatGPT not to reveal the answer immediately.

Example:
HINT: Help me solve this equation without giving me the final answer.

44. QUIZ ME

Turn ChatGPT into a quiz partner.

45. ONE QUESTION AT A TIME

This prevents ChatGPT from dumping 20 questions on the screen at once.

46. CHECK MY ANSWER

Give ChatGPT your answer and ask it to identify mistakes.

47. FIND MY WEAKNESS

Give ChatGPT several answers and ask which concepts you need to revise.

48. FLASHCARDS

Convert notes into question and answer cards.

49. ACTIVE RECALL

Ask ChatGPT to test you from memory instead of showing the answer first.

50. SPACED REVISION

Ask ChatGPT to create a revision schedule based on the topics you need to remember.

Exam preparation commands

51. EXAM MODE

Ask ChatGPT to behave like an examiner and test you.

52. MOCK TEST

Generate a complete practice test.

53. MARK MY ANSWERS

Give your answers and ask ChatGPT to assess them against a specified marking scheme.

54. DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Ask for easy, medium and difficult versions of the same topic.

55. PREVIOUS PAPER ANALYSIS

Upload previous exams and ask ChatGPT to identify recurring topics.

56. IMPORTANT TOPICS

Give ChatGPT your syllabus and ask it to rank topics by importance.

57. LAST MINUTE REVISION

Ask for a high priority revision plan when your exam is close.

58. COMMON MISTAKES

Ask what students commonly get wrong about a particular topic.

59. LIKELY QUESTIONS

Ask for practice questions based on your syllabus and supplied study material.

Don’t treat these as guaranteed predictions. They are preparation tools.

60. ANSWER KEY

Give ChatGPT a practice test and ask it to create an answer key with explanations.

Research commands

61. ANALYZE

Ask ChatGPT to examine a document, argument or dataset in detail.

62. KEY FINDINGS

Extract the most important findings from research material.

63. METHODOLOGY

Ask ChatGPT to explain how a research study was conducted.

64. LIMITATIONS

Identify weaknesses or limitations in a research paper.

65. COMPARE PAPERS

Give ChatGPT two papers and ask it to compare their arguments, methods and findings.

66. COUNTERARGUMENT

Ask for the strongest argument against your position.

67. DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

Tell ChatGPT to challenge your argument instead of agreeing with you.

68. FACT CHECK

Ask ChatGPT to identify claims that need verification.

For important academic or factual work, ask for sources and verify them yourself.

69. SOURCE CHECK

Ask which claims require reliable external sources.

70. LITERATURE REVIEW

Use your research material to organize themes, findings and gaps in the literature.

Mathematics and science commands

71. SOLVE STEP BY STEP

Ask for a clear solution process rather than just the final answer.

72. GIVE ME A HINT

Useful when you want to solve the problem yourself.

73. CHECK MY WORK

Paste your own solution and ask ChatGPT to locate the first mistake.

74. SHOW ANOTHER METHOD

Ask for a second way to solve the same problem.

75. EXPLAIN THE FORMULA

Ask what each part of a formula means and when to use it.

76. VARIABLES

Ask ChatGPT to define every variable in a mathematical or scientific formula.

77. UNIT CHECK

Ask ChatGPT to check whether your units are consistent.

78. REAL WORLD EXAMPLE

Connect an abstract scientific concept to something familiar.

79. PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Generate new questions based on the topic you are learning.

80. COMMON ERRORS

Ask ChatGPT to show the mistakes students usually make when solving that type of problem.

Coding commands

81. DEBUG

Paste code and ask ChatGPT to identify the problem.

82. EXPLAIN CODE

Ask for a line by line explanation.

83. CODE REVIEW

Ask ChatGPT to review readability, logic and possible problems.

Canvas also provides a built in code review shortcut where Canvas is supported.

84. TEST CASES

Ask for test cases that can be used to check your program.

85. EDGE CASES

Ask ChatGPT to find unusual inputs that could break your program.

86. PSEUDOCODE

Convert an algorithm into simple logical steps before writing code.

87. FLOWCHART

Ask ChatGPT to explain the algorithm as a flowchart structure.

88. TIME COMPLEXITY

Ask for the Big O time complexity of an algorithm and an explanation.

89. OPTIMIZE

Ask ChatGPT to improve code while keeping the expected behavior unchanged.

90. PORT TO

Ask ChatGPT to convert code from one programming language to another.

Canvas also has a built in option for porting code to another language.

Advanced commands and custom shortcuts

91. FIRST PRINCIPLES

Ask ChatGPT to break a problem down into its basic assumptions and rebuild the solution from there.

92. SWOT

Ask for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

This works particularly well for student projects and business ideas.

93. MULTI PERSPECTIVE

Ask ChatGPT to analyze the same issue from several viewpoints.

Example:
Analyze university attendance from the student's, teacher's and administration's perspective.

94. ROLEPLAY

Ask ChatGPT to simulate a particular person or situation.

Example:
Act as a university professor and conduct a viva with me.

95. SCENARIO

Give me a realistic situation involving this topic and ask me what I would do.

96. METAPHOR

Ask ChatGPT to explain a difficult concept using a familiar metaphor.

97. EVALUATE YOUR ANSWER

Ask ChatGPT to review its answer against specific criteria.

For example:
Check your answer for missing steps, unsupported claims and calculation errors.

This does not expose private model reasoning. It simply asks for an additional quality check.

98. CUSTOM COMMANDS

You can create your own shortcuts.

For example, tell ChatGPT:
Whenever I write /quiz, ask me one question at a time. When I write /check, check my answer and explain my mistakes. When I write /simple, explain the topic using simple language.

Now those shortcuts can be used within that conversation according to the instructions you gave.

They aren’t official ChatGPT commands. They are your own command system.

99. COMMAND STACKING

You can combine several instructions into one request.

For example:
/quiz + /simple + one question at a time

Or in normal language:
Quiz me on this chapter. Ask one question at a time, start easy, increase the difficulty after every correct answer, and explain my mistakes.

The second version is often more reliable because it clearly describes the desired behavior.

100. MASTER INSTRUCTION

This is probably the most useful trick on the entire list.

Instead of giving ChatGPT a vague request, define the role, task, context, restrictions and output format.

For example:
Act as my university tutor. I am preparing for an exam on database systems. Use the notes I provide as the main source. Explain difficult concepts in simple language. Do not immediately give me answers to practice questions. Ask me questions first, identify my mistakes, and keep a running list of topics I need to revise. At the end of each session, give me a short revision summary.

This is not a secret command in the technical sense. It is simply a much better way to communicate with ChatGPT.

Which of these are actually official?

This is where many articles about “secret ChatGPT commands” become misleading.

@study is an official ChatGPT shortcut for Study Mode. OpenAI documents /study as a slash suggestion in interfaces where those suggestions are available.

Canvas is also an official ChatGPT feature, with built in writing and coding shortcuts such as adjusting length, changing reading level, suggesting edits, fixing bugs and reviewing code.

Commands such as TLDR, ELI5, QUIZ, DEBUG, HUMANIZE, SWOT and FIRST PRINCIPLES should not be described as official hidden ChatGPT slash commands. They are useful natural language instructions or unofficial shortcuts.

That’s actually what makes this list more useful.

You don’t need a special secret mode for most of them. ChatGPT understands ordinary language, so you can write the instruction directly.

The biggest mistake people make

The biggest mistake isn’t failing to know a secret command.

It’s giving ChatGPT a vague request.

Compare these two requests:
Explain databases.

and:
Teach me database normalization as a university tutor. Start from the basics, give me one concept at a time, use simple examples, ask me questions after each concept, and don't reveal the answer until I attempt it.

The second request gives ChatGPT a clear job, audience, learning method and interaction style.

That’s why command style shortcuts can be useful, but clear instructions matter more than the shortcut itself.

Final verdict

If you see an article claiming that ChatGPT has 100 official secret slash commands such as /tldr, /human, /swot, /debug and /eli5, be careful.

Most of those aren’t official ChatGPT commands.

However, many of them are genuinely useful instructions, and they can save time when you know how to use them.

The most useful approach is to combine the two:

Use official features when they exist, such as Study Mode and Canvas.

Use short natural language instructions for repetitive tasks.

Create your own custom shortcuts for workflows you use regularly.

And when accuracy matters, especially for university assignments, research, medical information, legal information or important decisions, don’t assume that a command makes the answer automatically correct. Ask for sources, check important claims and use the original material whenever possible.

That is the real secret to getting more out of ChatGPT.