Even though it may feel like classes just started yesterday, it is now May, which means it’s finals season. As a result, every ounce of knowledge you accumulated over the past semester will be put to the test — a daunting task AI can help with.
Also: 6 ways AI can help you ace finals – for free (without plagiarizing)
There are a plethora of AI tools that students can tap into today to make prepping for finals a much more effective experience. When used properly, these tools don’t replace students’ ability to do work, but help take the burdensome tasks off their plates so they can jump straight into preparing.
I test AI tools daily, and I wish I’d had these tools at my disposal during my education.
Also: The top 20 AI tools of 2025 – and the #1 thing to remember when you use them
Identifying the right tools and use cases is the key to using AI effectively for schoolwork. Since there are so many tools, I compiled the list below from months of testing to make your life easier.
1. ChatGPT
ChatGPT is at the top of my list because of its multiple potential use cases that can improve a student’s workflow.
OpenAI’s chatbot launched in November 2022, unleashing a generative AI craze because its writing, coding, and reasoning capabilities captured people’s attention globally. Since then, the bot has become even better, undergoing major updates that make it better suited for student use.
Also: How to use ChatGPT to write your resume
For example, ChatGPT can browse the internet and, as a result, has information on all current events and sites. ChatGPT is also a really powerful multimodal tool that can ingest inputs other than text, including documents, files, and images, that students can use to summarize documents, transcribe handwritten notes, simplify textbook passages, and more.
Most recently, ChatGPT’s image generation was upgraded to the GPT-4o model, significantly improving image quality. The AI can now produce realistic images, text, charts, and other graphics, which could be helpful for visual learners.
Of course, ChatGPT also has the advanced writing, coding, and mathematical abilities it’s known for, making it a great assistant for all subject assignments, including writing and editing essays, solving and explaining math problems, and generating and debugging code.
Some other ways you can use ChatGPT in your studies are:
- Answering questions you have about the class or materials
- Researching for a paper
- Explaining complex topics, such as history, current events, politics, and scientific terms, in a more digestible way
- Verbally talking through questions or subjects with you
- Writing Excel formulas
- Making graphs and charts
To find the best way to use ChatGPT for your workflow, I recommend applying it to the use cases discussed above and experimenting.
It is also worth acknowledging that ChatGPT is only one of many AI chatbots on the market. Some other capable and competitive chatbots include Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude, each holding advantages. Ultimately, the bots will achieve similar results, so go with the interface you are used to or prefer.
Also: Google’s AI Mode just got more helpful – and easier to access
It is also worth taking advantage of some of the deals available for students, which give free access to premium AI subscriptions with higher limits and features.
For instance, Google is giving US students free access to Google’s One AI Premium Plan, and students who enroll before June 30 will receive free access through spring 2026. OpenAI launched a similar promotion, offering US students free access to ChatGPT Plus until the end of May.
2. NotebookLM
NotebookLM is an experimental AI notebook combining the power of large language models with your notes and content, creating a searchable notebook grounded in your data. You can use it to further your understanding of a topic, generate summaries, answer questions, and even discuss your content with you.
NotebookLM is also home to the viral Audio Overviews feature, which lets users convert their imported content into an engaging podcast featuring two AI hosts discussing their notes. Some helpful use cases for this feature include listening to your content on the go and breaking down dense and complicated topics conversationally. Google just upgraded Audio Overviews to create content in over 50 languages.
Also: Google’s NotebookLM can discuss your notes with you now. How to access it (and why you should)
NotebookLM is free to access, but there is a premium NotebookLM Plus tier. However, with Google’s special offer, students can access the premium tier at no additional charge with their free Google AI One Premium plan. The premium NotebookLM plan offers subscriber-only features and five times higher usage limits across some of NotebookLM’s best elements, including Audio Overviews, notebooks, queries, and sources per notebook.
3. Grammarly
The free The Grammarly Extension is so useful that I included it in my AI Tools for Work roundup, because I use it daily. This tool is unique in that it uses AI rather than a human to show you how your work could be improved. The application runs in background and catches mistakes that are easily missed.
Grammarly will also roll out a new AI-based content detector tool. Here’s how the tool works
Grammarly will scan any text, whether it is an essay written in Google Docs or a Gmail email, and detect spelling and grammar errors. The tool will also suggest edits to your text’s syntax, including ways to rephrase or rewrite it, adjust the tone, etc. The edits will result in a more polished piece of work, and you can learn from them. You can also use AI bots for copyediting. Copy and paste your text into the search bar of the chatbot. This technique usually requires switching platforms while the Grammarly extension is running in the background.
4. Quizlet
I used I used Quizletas a study aid from middle school to college to help me retain information for exams. Quizlet has been using AI for over six years to power its study features such as Learn mode. It recently added more AI in order to improve its offerings and solve every issue I had with the platform.
Quizlet’s core feature is the study set. It includes terms and definitions students can use to learn in different ways, including flashcards, matching columns, and other styles. Creating study sets used to require hours of manual input. AI can now do it for you.
A teacher or student only needs to input their notes in the form of PDF, image or document and Quizlet will automatically create the study set that they can use to learn. Also: How to use ChatGPT for an essay
Students can browse the millions created by other users. During my education, I used this option to get study sets on a particular topic or textbook. Quizlet has gamified features such as Blast, Categories and more to help you retain the information.
5. Socratic
Although younger learners can benefit from AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, there are concerns about giving children access to the internet. If you are a parent who is concerned, Socratic can be a great option.
The Socratic app allows students to type in any question they have about what they’re learning in school, or upload their worksheets. The app will generate a conversational response that looks like it was written by a human, complete with unique graphics. It may even include YouTube video links.
This app does not generate essays or answers. Socratic, on the other hand, is an intelligent tool that provides step-by-step instructions and explanations to help students find answers. Also:Google Socratic to help with your homework.
Socratic blocks inappropriate questions and answers, giving parents peace of mind.
This tool is not only for younger people. Google calls it a “learning app from Google that helps high school and university students.” but I’d say that its limitations and fun graphics make it more suitable for younger learners.
