The tutor's system prompt has many constraints. One of them is small and load-bearing: end every reply with exactly one guiding question.
Two questions splits the student's attention. Three questions is a lecture. A single question is a decision.
The reason is cognitive load. Working memory is small. A student who has just read a tutor's diagnosis of their attempt is already carrying a lot: their attempt, the diagnosis, the next step. Adding one question is a nudge. Adding three is a fog.
Users who hit this constraint often ask if they can 'unlock more questions.' They cannot. The constraint is the point. We would rather have a student answer one good question and produce their next attempt than see three questions and produce none.
Written by Brainback Research. Published Jul 8, 2026. Filed under Product design.