AI 101: Make AI Work for You | Pre-test

About 10 minutes. Not graded. 12 questions, plus 3 quick confidence questions.

This is not a test you pass or fail. It is fine not to know these answers. Many people will not, because you have not taken the course yet. Your answers show your starting point, so at the end you can see how far you came.

Why we ask: it shows what you already know and which ideas are new to you. When you finish the course, you will see your before and after for each skill, so you can see where you grew and what to review.

How sure do you feel?

Rate each line from 1 (not at all sure) to 5 (very sure). There is no right answer.

I can tell when an AI answer needs checking, and I know how to check it.

1 2 3 4 5

1 = Not at all sure5 = Very sure

I can write a prompt that gets a useful result for a real task.

1 2 3 4 5

1 = Not at all sure5 = Very sure

I can protect my private information and spot an AI scam.

1 2 3 4 5

1 = Not at all sure5 = Very sure

Questions

1. An AI tool gives you a confident answer that includes a quote from a famous person. What is most accurate?

A. It is real, since AI tools copy quotes word for word from books. B. It is fine to use, since the tool sounded so sure about it. C. It may be made up. Look it up in a trusted source first.

2. Which of these is a good job to hand to an AI chat tool?

A. Drafting a first version of a thank you letter. B. Deciding how much of your medicine to take. C. Telling you your exact bank balance today.

3. You need a message to your landlord. Which prompt will likely give the most useful result?

A. Write an email to my landlord about a problem with the apartment that I need help with. B. Please help me write something really good and professional to send to my landlord today. C. Write a short, polite email to my landlord asking when the broken heater will be fixed. Keep it under 100 words.

4. The AI draft is too formal for a note to a friend. What is the best next step?

A. Start a brand new chat with the same prompt. B. Give up and write it from scratch. C. Ask: Make this friendlier and shorter, and keep the main points.

5. Your job bans pasting customer information into AI tools. You want to answer a customer complaint faster. What is the best approach?

A. Ignore the rule since nobody checks. B. Ask AI for a general reply template with no customer details, then fill it in yourself. C. Paste the complaint with the customer's name. Just this once.

6. Which home task is a good, low risk way to save time with AI?

A. Signing a contract the AI summarized. B. A meal plan and grocery list for the week. C. Choosing between two medicines.

7. AI made you a budget table with totals. What should you do before you use it?

A. Redo the math yourself. B. Trust it. Computers do math well. C. Share it with your family right away.

8. You ask AI to summarize a five page lease. What is the biggest risk?

A. It will be worded too simply to use in a real legal dispute. B. Summaries are always safe, since the AI only shortens what is there. C. It may leave out or add points, so compare key parts with the original.

9. Which AI answer needs the most checking before you rely on it?

A. A list of dates and fees for a government benefit. B. A suggested subject line for an email. C. Fun name ideas for a new puppy.

10. You want AI help with a task. Which of these could you paste in safely?

A. Your Social Security number. B. A paragraph you wrote, with names removed. C. Your bank password.

11. You get a call from someone who sounds exactly like your grandson. He says he is in jail and needs money by gift card right now. What do you do?

A. Ask the caller for a callback number and call that one. B. Hang up, call him back at a number you know, and use your family safe word. C. Pay quickly so he is safe.

12. Someone you met online offers a job but says you must first pay a training fee in crypto. What is this most likely?

A. A scam. B. A safe deal if you pay only half. C. A normal hiring step.

Save my starting point

Next up

Go to Lesson 1: What AI chat tools are, and what they are not.

This self-check is not a grade and does not affect your access.