How to Write a Recommendation Letter with AI Quiz

Answers and explanations appear as you take the quiz.

1. According to the guide, what three things does a strong recommendation letter do that a boilerplate letter cannot?
   • Uses formal letterhead, stays under one page, and includes a signature
   • Lists the candidate's grades, test scores and awards
   • Establishes the writer's basis for judgment, gives specific evidence, and makes an honest comparison
   • Praises the candidate's personality, work ethic and punctuality
2. What is a 'brag sheet' in the context of this guide?
   • A short document from the candidate listing projects and what they want emphasized
   • A list of the writer's own accomplishments to include at the top
   • A template of positive adjectives the AI can use
   • A ranking of all candidates the writer has recommended
3. Which line would the guide consider most persuasive?
   • She is hardworking and dedicated
   • She is one of the nicest people I know
   • She always gives 110 percent
   • She stayed late to fix the data pipeline before the grant deadline, then wrote documentation so the next analyst could run it
4. What does the guide call the biggest misconception about using AI for recommendation letters?
   • That AI letters are always too short
   • That AI can make a letter stronger than the writer's actual knowledge
   • That AI cannot follow a standard letter structure
   • That committees refuse to read typed letters
5. Why should US educators be careful about pasting student records into consumer AI tools?
   • Student education records are protected under FERPA
   • Consumer tools cannot read academic transcripts
   • Colleges automatically reject letters written with AI
   • The records will make the letter too long
6. What did the 2003 Trix and Psenka study of medical faculty recommendation letters find?
   • Letters for women were longer and more detailed
   • Letters written by department heads were rated highest
   • Letters for women were shorter and more often emphasized effort than accomplishment
   • Letters with rankings were ignored by readers
7. What does the 'interview-first' prompting technique involve?
   • Asking the candidate to write the entire letter
   • Having the AI look up the candidate online before drafting
   • Recording a video interview with the candidate
   • Telling the AI to ask you questions one at a time about specific situations before writing
8. Why does the guide suggest asking the AI to match each anecdote to the program's selection criteria?
   • To make the letter longer
   • It reveals criteria you have no evidence for
   • It guarantees the candidate will be accepted
   • It removes the need to edit the draft