Discover how to craft precise AI prompts for detailed baking steps. Learn why specifying exact measurements and timings is crucial for novice-friendly recipes.
Table of Contents
Question
You are a beginner in cooking, and you need exact instructions to make a cake. You feed the following prompt to a tool: “Briefly describe how to bake a cake.”. This provides step-by-step instructions but misses out on the specifics of each step. What changes must you make to the prompt to receive beginner-friendly instructions?
A. Describe how to bake a cake in detail. The cake must use chocolate as its main ingredient.
B. Describe how to bake a cake in detail with specifics. The cake uses chocolate and is for a few people.
C. Describe how to make a 500g cake in the shortest time possible. The cake is for a few people.
D. Provide beginner-friendly instructions on how to bake a 500g chocolate cake. List the ingredients with exact amounts and specify the precise time for each step.
Answer
D. Provide beginner-friendly instructions on how to bake a 500g chocolate cake. List the ingredients with exact amounts and specify the precise time for each step.
Explanation
This prompt effectively applies key prompt engineering principles by:
- Specifying audience needs (“beginner-friendly”) to ensure clarity and appropriateness
- Defining exact parameters (500g chocolate cake) to eliminate ambiguity
- Requiring structured output (listed ingredients with amounts, timed steps) for actionable guidance
Option D outperforms others by:
- Including measurement precision (vs. vague “few people” in B/C)
- Avoiding open-ended terms like “briefly” that caused initial issues
- Using directive language (“list”, “specify”) favored in effective prompting
This approach aligns with IBM’s recommendation for “writing, refining and optimizing inputs” to generate high-quality outputs, and matches CertiProf’s emphasis on clear instructional formats. For certification exams, understanding these granular specification requirements demonstrates mastery of prompt engineering fundamentals.
Prompt Engineering skill assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Prompt Engineering exam and earn Prompt Engineering certification.