Free Resource

NotebookLM
for Students.

A setup guide and prompt starter pack for using NotebookLM in your actual study workflow — no fluff, just what works.

Free · No signup needed Google NotebookLM CA / Class 12 Commerce
Part 01 — Setup Guide
1.1Account Setup 1.2Creating Your First Notebook 1.3Adding Sources 1.4YouTube as a Source 1.5The Studio Panel
Part 02 — Prompt Starter Pack
2.1System Prompts 2.2Chat Prompts
Part 01 — Setup Guide
1.1

Account Setup

01

Use the right Google account

Go to notebooklm.google.com and sign in with a Google account. NotebookLM is free — and it's free tier is more than enough for most.

02

Check your account age

Some Studio features — Audio Overview formats (Brief, Critique, Debate), Video Overview — are restricted on Google accounts registered as under 18. If you're missing options in the Studio panel, this is almost certainly why.

Important

If Studio features are missing, switch to a Google account registered as 18+. Everything should appear after that. This is a Google account-level restriction, not a NotebookLM setting you can change.

1.2

Creating Your First Notebook

01

Think of a notebook as a project

One notebook per subject, or per chapter — whatever makes sense for your workload. Don't try to put everything into one notebook.

02

Click "New Notebook" and name it clearly

Something like Accountancy — Partnership or Economics — Macroeconomics. You can have up to 100 notebooks.

03

Start simple

Add 2–3 sources, ask a few questions, and let the workflow emerge from actual use. Don't over-plan the structure before you've spent time with it.

1.3

Adding Sources

01

Click "Add Source" inside your notebook

NotebookLM accepts several types:

  • PDF files — chapter notes, NCERT, CBSE support material, modules
  • Google Docs
  • Copied or pasted text
  • YouTube video URLs
  • Websites
02

Limits you'll never realistically hit

100 notebooks · 50 sources per notebook · up to 500,000 words per source. As a student, these are effectively unlimited.

1.4

YouTube as a Source

01

Paste a YouTube URL directly as a source

NotebookLM reads the transcript and makes the entire lecture searchable and conversational. Works for any YouTube lecture — PW, Next Toppers, or any educator with a public channel.

02

Check for captions before adding

NotebookLM needs a transcript. If the video has no captions, it won't be able to read it. To check: open the video, click the CC button, If it's there, you're good. If It's grayed out, then it has no Captions.

How to use it

Once added, ask: "What did the teacher say about [specific concept]?" or "Summarise what was covered on [topic] in this lecture." A fully searchable, talkable version of every lecture you've ever watched.

1.5

The Studio Panel

On the right side of your notebook. Five output tools — all generate from your sources, not generic internet content.

Audio Overview Most Used

A podcast-style conversation between two AI hosts discussing your material. Four formats: Deep Dive, Brief, Critique, Debate. Brief before an exam is the most practical — low effort, decent recall boost.

Video Overview

Same as Audio but generates a video with visuals. Formats: Brief or Explainer. Uses Google's Nano Banana image model with style options — Whiteboard, Anime, Watercolor, Retro Print. Better for visual learners.

Mind Map Underrated

Interactive visual map of all your sources. Main topic in the centre, clickable branches. Good for a structural overview before a full read — covers headings, subheadings, and keywords only.

Flashcards & Quiz

Cards and MCQs built from your actual material — not a generic question bank. Customizable by count, difficulty, and focus area. More relevant than most practice tools because questions come from how the concept was actually taught.

Part 02 — Prompt Starter Pack
2.1

System Prompts

Paste these into the NotebookLM chat to produce a specific, structured output from scratch. Add your sources first, then run the prompt. Designed to give clean, complete results without back-and-forth.

First Draft Notes Generator

Converts raw material into complete, self-contained revision notes

### ROLE You are a study notes architect. Your job is to convert raw study material into clean, complete, self-contained revision notes. ### OBJECTIVE Extract and organize ALL substantive content from the provided material into structured notes I can revise from — without ever needing to reopen the source. ### WHAT TO INCLUDE - Every concept, definition, principle, and explanation - All examples, case studies, and illustrative scenarios - Any Q&A that exists within an explanation (not as a standalone question) ### WHAT TO EXCLUDE - Practice questions and exercises - Chapter-end or back exercises - Any standalone interrogatives not embedded in explanation ### HOW TO WRITE IT - Follow the source material's original sequence — do not reorder - Use clear headings and subheadings for navigation - Simplify dense language without losing meaning - No citations, page numbers, or source references in output ### EXECUTION RULE Do not begin until the full material is loaded and accessible.

MCQ Quiz Generator

Creates a 20-question exam from your sources — not a generic question bank

### ROLE You are an exam paper designer. Your job is to test conceptual understanding, not memory. ### OBJECTIVE Create a complete MCQ quiz from the provided study notes and source material that tests genuine understanding of key concepts, definitions, and examples. ### QUESTION DESIGN RULES - One clear concept per question — no double-barrelled questions - All 4 options must be plausible — no obvious throwaway choices - Test understanding and application, not rote recall - Base questions on concepts, definitions, distinctions, and examples from the material ### QUESTION MIX (per 20 questions) - 8 questions → Core definitions and concepts - 7 questions → Application and "why/how" scenarios - 5 questions → Distinctions between commonly confused ideas ### WHAT TO AVOID - Questions answerable by elimination without knowing the concept - Trick questions or intentionally misleading wording - Repeating the same concept across multiple questions ### OUTPUT FORMAT Q[number]. [Question] - A) - B) - C) - D) (Provide all questions first, then answers at the end) Answer Key Q1 → [Correct Option] — [One line explanation of why it's correct] ### EXECUTION RULE Do not begin until both the study notes and source material are fully provided. Default quiz length: 20 questions unless instructed otherwise.
2.2

Chat Prompts

Copy-paste directly into the NotebookLM chat. Replace anything in [brackets] with your actual topic or concept.

Recall & Explanation
01
Plain-language explanation
When a concept has been read but hasn't clicked yet
Explain [concept] in plain language, as if I've never heard of it before. Use an example if it helps.
02
Summarise the source
After adding a lecture or PDF you haven't read yet
Summarise everything this source covers about [topic]. Keep it concise — just the key ideas, definitions, and any examples given.
03
Teach it back to me
To test your own understanding after studying
I'm going to explain [concept] to you. Tell me what I got right, what I missed, and what I got wrong — based only on what the sources say. [Write your explanation here]
04
Where in the lecture
To find a specific moment in a YouTube lecture source
What did the teacher say about [specific concept or rule]? At approximately what point in the lecture was this covered?
Distinction & Comparison
05
Difference between two concepts
For commonly confused pairs — the most exam-relevant prompt type
What is the difference between [X] and [Y]? Focus on what makes each one distinct, not just their definitions.
06
Cross-reference two sources
When you have a lecture and a textbook in the same notebook
Does the lecture cover anything about [topic] that the PDF doesn't? Are there any differences in how the two sources explain it?
07
Which source covers this best
When you have multiple sources and want to know where to look
Which of my sources has the most detailed coverage of [topic]? Quote the relevant passage if possible.
Exam Preparation
08
What's most likely to be examined
Before an exam — to triage what to focus on
Based on my sources, what are the most important concepts, definitions, and distinctions in [chapter/topic] that I should know well before an exam?
09
Rapid revision summary
The night before — covers a chapter in minutes
Give me a rapid revision summary of [chapter/topic] — key terms, core concepts, important examples, and anything that's easy to forget or mix up. Keep it tight.
10
Generate 5 exam-style questions
To self-test without using the Studio quiz
Generate 5 exam-style questions on [topic] — mix of definitions, application, and distinction-type. Do not give the answers yet. I'll answer them first.
11
Common mistakes on this topic
After studying a chapter — catch gaps before they become exam errors
What are the most common mistakes or misconceptions students have about [topic], based on the material in my sources?
Active Study
12
Numerical walkthrough
For Accountancy — step-by-step through a solved example
Walk me through an example of [method/calculation] step by step, using numbers from my sources. Explain the logic of each step, not just what to write.
13
Build a structured outline
Before reading a dense chapter — get the skeleton first
Give me a structured outline of everything covered in [chapter/source] — just headings, subheadings, and key terms. No explanations yet.
14
Find a specific rule or condition
When you remember something was said but can't locate it
What do my sources say about [specific rule, condition, or exception]? Give me the exact treatment — include any conditions or exceptions mentioned.
15
Spot what's missing from my notes
After writing your own notes — check for coverage gaps
Here are my notes on [topic]. Based on what's in the sources, what have I missed or left incomplete? [Paste your notes here]