Yes — this is one of the most practical applications of AI in exercise design for mixed-level cohorts. Ask Claude to produce three versions of the same exercise: one with more structure and guidance for beginners, one that gives the scenario and steps back for intermediate learners, and one that presents just the situation and asks advanced learners to design their own approach. Same learning objective, three different entry points.
The Mixed-Level Problem in Cohort Courses
Most cohort courses enroll students at varying experience levels — and this creates a persistent tension. A beginner needs scaffolding, clear instructions, and examples. An advanced student finds that same scaffolding patronising and disengaging. One exercise cannot serve both without disappointing someone.
The traditional solution is to run separate cohorts by skill level, which creates a marketing and scheduling problem. The AI-assisted solution is to create tiered exercises that let each student self-select into the version that matches where they are. Same class, same session, different exercise depth.
How to Generate Tiered Exercises With Claude
Give Claude your core exercise brief — the concept, the scenario, the output you want — and then ask: “Create three versions of this exercise. Version 1 is for beginners: include step-by-step instructions, worked examples for each step, and sentence-completion prompts. Version 2 is for intermediate learners: provide the scenario and the output required, but let them determine their own steps. Version 3 is for advanced learners: give them only the scenario and ask them to design their response from scratch, including justifying their approach.”
Claude will produce all three versions in a single pass. Review them to make sure the jump between levels is appropriate — Version 2 should genuinely be harder than Version 1, not just shorter. The key difference at each level is how much structure you remove: beginners need process guidance, intermediates need the task without the process, advanced learners need only the problem.
In delivery, frame the choice without judgement: “There are three versions of this exercise. Pick the one that best matches where you are right now. Level 1 gives you the most guidance. Level 3 gives you the most challenge. Either is fine — the goal is that you’re working at the edge of what you can do, not in your comfort zone.” This framing encourages students to be honest about where they are rather than picking the version that makes them look most advanced.
What This Means for Educators
Tiered exercises solve one of the stickiest problems in cohort teaching: keeping experienced students engaged while supporting beginners. Advanced students who are bored disengage and drop off. Beginners who feel lost do the same. Tiered exercises mean both groups are working at the right level of challenge — and that challenge is what produces growth.
This also has a community benefit. In FluentCommunity, when students share their exercise outputs, you naturally see the range of approaches. That range is its own teaching tool — beginners see what is possible, advanced students see where others are getting stuck and often step in to help.
The Simple Rule
One concept, three scaffolding levels. Claude writes all three in minutes. Every student works at the edge of their ability instead of the middle of everyone else’s.