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The Problem: Video is slow. A 45-minute lecture might contain 8 minutes of exam-worthy concepts—hidden between intros, stories, and tangents. This workflow turns any YouTube video into clean notes, flashcards, and a quiz in ~15 minutes using transcripts + ChatGPT.
Turn Any YouTube Video into Notes, Flashcards, and a Quiz (2025 Workflow)
Turn any YouTube video into clean notes, flashcards, and a quiz using ChatGPT + transcripts—step-by-step clicks and copy-paste prompts included.
- YouTube transcripts are available for videos with captions and can be opened via "Show transcript".
- Clean transcripts first—it improves everything downstream (notes, flashcards, quizzes).
- Use AI to produce notes + flashcards + quizzes, not just summaries.
- ChatGPT Study Mode is designed for guided learning with questions and knowledge checks.
- This workflow takes ~15 minutes to generate assets, then daily 20-minute reviews.
- Works best for lectures, tutorials, courses, and educational content with captions.
Why Video Learning Feels Slow (and How AI Fixes It)
Video forces you to move at the creator's pace.
But studying works best when you can:
- Scan ideas quickly
- Chunk concepts into sections
- Test yourself with active recall
- Repeat with spaced repetition
Tools You'll Use
| Tool | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Transcript | Your "text version" of the video (for videos with captions) | Free |
| ChatGPT | Your note + flashcard + quiz engine | Free tier available (paid plans add features) |
| ChatGPT Study Mode | Guided learning with questions and knowledge checks | Available to logged-in users (varies by plan) |
1) YouTube Transcript (Your "Text Version" of the Video)
YouTube lets you view a full transcript for videos that have captions. You can open it from the video description and even click lines to jump to a moment. Some videos also allow transcript search.
2) ChatGPT (Your Note + Flashcard Engine)
You can paste the transcript directly or upload it as a file. OpenAI's File Uploads FAQ lists a 512MB per file hard limit and a 2M token cap for text/document files, plus upload caps that can vary by plan.
3) Optional: ChatGPT Study Mode (for Real Learning)
Study Mode is designed to guide you step-by-step with questions, hints, and knowledge checks instead of just dumping answers. It's available to logged-in users on multiple plans per OpenAI's announcement.
Step 1 — Get the YouTube Transcript (The Correct Way)
- Open the YouTube video (desktop works best for this workflow)
- Scroll to the video description
- Click "Show transcript"
- The transcript panel opens; you can:
- Click any line to jump to that part of the video
- Sometimes search inside the transcript (if enabled)
If You Don't See "Show Transcript"
Usually one of these is true:
- The video doesn't have captions (so transcript isn't available)
- Captions are disabled/unavailable in your region or for that video
- The UI is different on mobile
If the transcript isn't available, skip to the Optional section later for alternative ways to work with video.
Step 2 — Clean the Transcript (Remove Noise)
Raw transcripts often include:
- Timestamps
- Filler words
- Repeated lines
- Sponsor segments
- "Subscribe" sections
Your goal: turn the transcript into readable paragraphs.
Copy-Paste Prompt: Transcript Cleaner
You are my transcript editor.
Task:
Clean and reformat this YouTube transcript into readable notes input.
Rules:
- Remove timestamps, filler words, repeated lines, and "like/um" noise.
- Keep meaning exactly the same (no new facts).
- Break into short paragraphs.
- Add section headings (H2/H3 style) based on topic shifts.
- If there is an ad/sponsor segment, label it: [Sponsor Segment] and isolate it.
Output:
1) Clean transcript
2) A bullet list of the main sections you detected
Transcript:
[PASTE TRANSCRIPT]What you should expect: A clean document that ChatGPT can summarize accurately.
Step 3 — Generate Notes (Cornell + Summary + Key Terms)
Now you'll produce study notes in layers:
- One-page summary (big picture)
- Structured outline (sections + subpoints)
- Key terms + definitions
- Confusions / likely exam traps
Copy-Paste Prompt: Cornell Notes Generator
Turn this cleaned transcript into Cornell Notes.
Format exactly:
- Title
- Big Idea (3 bullets)
- Cornell Notes Table:
Left column = Questions / Prompts
Right column = Notes / Answers
- Key Terms (10–20 terms with short definitions)
- 5 "Exam-style" questions (short answer)
Constraints:
- Use only the transcript content (don't add facts).
- Keep it concise but complete.
Cleaned transcript:
[PASTE]Copy-Paste Prompt: "Explain Like I'm Learning"
Teach the transcript topic at 3 levels:
1) Beginner explanation (simple)
2) Intermediate (with key mechanisms)
3) Advanced (with caveats and edge cases)
Then list:
- What most people misunderstand (5 bullets)
- The 10% of ideas that create 90% of the value
Use only the transcript content.
[PASTE CLEANED TRANSCRIPT]Step 4 — Generate Flashcards (Anki + Quizlet-Ready)
Flashcards are where learning becomes real.
The trick: flashcards must be atomic (one idea each), and they should test retrieval, not recognition.
Copy-Paste Prompt: Flashcards for Anki (TSV)
Create high-quality flashcards from this transcript.
Rules:
- Make cards atomic (one concept per card).
- Prefer "Q → A" or "Cloze deletion" style.
- Avoid vague prompts.
- Include 30 cards.
Output in TSV format for Anki:
FrontBack
Transcript:
[PASTE CLEANED TRANSCRIPT] Copy-Paste Prompt: Flashcards for Quizlet (CSV)
Create 30 flashcards from this transcript.
Output in CSV format:
Term,Definition
Constraints:
- Simple, accurate, no extra facts.
- Definitions should be 1–2 sentences max.
Transcript:
[PASTE CLEANED TRANSCRIPT]Step 5 — Generate a Quiz + Mistake Review
Quizzes reveal what you actually know.
Copy-Paste Prompt: Quiz Builder (with Explanations)
Create a quiz from this transcript.
Requirements:
- 12 questions total:
- 6 multiple choice (4 options each)
- 4 short answer
- 2 "explain the difference between X and Y"
- Provide the answer key.
- For each answer, include a 1–2 sentence explanation.
- Use only transcript content.
Transcript:
[PASTE CLEANED TRANSCRIPT]Copy-Paste Prompt: Mistake Review Coach
Here are the questions I got wrong:
[PASTE]
Coach me:
1) Explain the correct concept simply.
2) Ask me 3 follow-up questions to confirm I understand.
3) Create 5 new flashcards targeting my weak spots.Step 6 — Use Study Mode to Actually Learn It (Not Just Summarize It)
If you only read notes, you'll feel smart. If you practice retrieval, you'll remember.
OpenAI describes Study Mode as guided learning with questions, hints, and knowledge checks. You can enable it by choosing "study" in chat settings, then start asking questions.
Copy-Paste Prompt: "Study Me on This Transcript"
I'm studying this topic.
Use Study Mode behavior:
- Ask me questions first.
- Give hints, not full answers immediately.
- After each concept, do a quick knowledge check.
- Keep a running list of what I'm weak on.
Here are my notes:
[PASTE CORNELL NOTES OR SUMMARY]Copy-Paste Prompt: 7-Day Spaced Repetition Plan
Create a 7-day study plan using spaced repetition.
Inputs:
- I have 30 flashcards.
- I can study 20 minutes/day.
- I want to remember this for 30 days.
Output:
Day-by-day plan with:
- what to review
- how many cards
- 1 active recall exercise per day
- 1 mini-quiz every other dayOptional: Gemini Workflow for Video Summarization (Advanced)
If you're a developer (or working in a team setting), Google provides a Vertex AI sample showing how Gemini can generate text using a YouTube video as input (via a YouTube URL).
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Feeding the raw transcript and expecting perfect notes | Clean first (Step 2). You'll get better structure and fewer errors. |
| Flashcards that are too broad Bad: "Explain everything about X." |
Make them atomic: "What is X?" / "Why does X matter?" / "X vs Y difference?" |
| Relying on summaries instead of retrieval | Always end with a quiz or flashcards. |
| Studying without a schedule | Use the 7-day plan prompt and stick to short sessions |
Final Checklist Before You Study
- I accessed the transcript via "Show transcript" (captions required)
- I cleaned the transcript
- I generated Cornell notes + key terms
- I generated flashcards (Anki/Quizlet format)
- I generated a quiz + reviewed mistakes
- I used Study Mode for active recall
Key Takeaways
- YouTube transcripts are available for videos with captions and can be opened via "Show transcript".
- Clean transcripts first—it improves everything downstream.
- Use AI to produce notes + flashcards + quizzes (not just summaries).
- Study Mode is designed for guided learning with questions and knowledge checks.
- Keep the workflow repeatable: 15 minutes to generate assets, then daily 20-minute review.
- This workflow works best for lectures, tutorials, courses, and educational content with captions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the video doesn't have a transcript?
- Check if auto-generated captions are available (they usually are for English)
- Use a third-party tool to generate captions/transcript
- Watch the video and take manual notes (then use AI to structure them)
Can I use this workflow for non-English videos?
How do I import flashcards into Anki or Quizlet?
Quizlet: Copy the CSV output, create a new set, click Import, and paste the Term,Definition data.
