Getting the most from AAL

How to use the feedback chat effectively.

Most students use the chat once. The ones who improve fastest use it like a tutor. Here’s how.

After your feedback is generated, a chat opens. The chat knows your question, your response, and your feedback in full. It can explain, extend, demonstrate, and push back.

You’re not paying by the hour. Most students type “ok thanks” and leave. That’s the equivalent of a tutor giving you detailed notes and you putting them straight in your bag. The students who improve fastest are the ones who ask.

What to ask

Prompts that unlock better feedback

Understand the feedback

When the feedback uses a term or concept you don’t fully understand, ask for a plain explanation.

“What does ‘textual integrity’ actually mean in this context?”
“Can you explain what you mean by ‘the directive verb’?”
“Why did I lose marks on question deconstruction specifically?”
Ask for a model at your level

Ask for an example sentence or paragraph at your current band — not at Band 6. A Band 6 model is too far from where you are to be useful.

“Can you show me what a Band 4 opening sentence looks like for this question?”
“Write me one paragraph at Band 5 using the same argument I was trying to make.”
“Show me how my second sentence could be improved — keep it at my level.”
Work on your own sentences

Paste a specific sentence from your response and ask how to improve it. This is the most direct path to getting better — not a model answer to copy, but your own words made stronger.

“Here’s my opening sentence: [paste it]. How would you improve it for Band 5?”
“My third paragraph felt weak. Can you tell me exactly what’s missing?”
“I mentioned the technique but didn’t analyse it. Can you show me the difference?”
Understand the question

If you’re not sure you understood what the question was actually asking, the chat can break it down. Understanding the question is the first mark you earn.

“Can you break down exactly what this question was asking me to do?”
“What does ‘evaluate’ mean as a directive verb compared to ‘discuss’?”
“What should a strong thesis for this question actually argue?”
Prepare for your reattempt

Before you reattempt the question, ask the chat to summarise the one or two things you most need to change. Go into the second attempt with a specific target.

“Before I reattempt, what are the two most important things to focus on?”
“What’s the single change that would have the most impact on my mark?”
“Give me a checklist I can use while writing my second attempt.”
What not to do

The chat won’t help you cheat — and that’s the point.

The feedback chat is set up to help you understand and improve — not to write your response for you. Asking it to write a full Band 6 essay is the wrong use of the tool. You’ll get something back, but you won’t learn anything, and you’ll sit in the actual exam without the skill you should have built.

Less useful
  • “Write me a Band 6 response to this question.”
  • “Just tell me what to write.”
  • “Is my essay good?” (with no specific question)
  • “Ok thanks.” (and leaving)
More useful
  • “Show me how my opening sentence could be stronger at Band 4.”
  • “What’s the one thing that would move me to the next band?”
  • “Can you explain why my analysis was too surface-level?”
  • “Before I reattempt — what two things should I focus on?”

Ready to put this into practice?

Your first feedback takes under two minutes.

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