Passed 10 of 22 test cases with the skill, and 3 of 22 without it.
Without skill14%
With skill45%
Checks it passed that the model alone missed
The response asks between 1 and 5 questions total.
The response includes a fast-path response mechanism.
The response offers multiple-choice options with letters.
and 10 more in the full report
7 fixed3 passed either way12 still failing0 broke
Pass-rate lift
+32 pp
Tokens
+23%
Agent turns
0%
Response time
-35%
Model gemini-3.6-flashMeasured 8/19/2026v110 of 22 cases passed with skill
Tokens, turns and time describe resource use, not a dollar price.
What's inside
The instructions your model reads when the skill loads.
SKILL.md82 linessingle file
Ask Questions If Underspecified
Goal
Ask the minimum set of clarifying questions needed to avoid wrong work; do not start implementing until the must-have questions are answered (or the user explicitly approves proceeding with stated assumptions).
Workflow
1) Decide whether the request is underspecified
Treat a request as underspecified if after exploring how to perform the work, some or all of the following are not clear:
Define the objective (what should change vs stay the same)
If multiple plausible interpretations exist, assume it is underspecified.
2) Ask must-have questions first (keep it small)
Ask 1-5 questions in the first pass. Prefer questions that eliminate whole branches of work.
Make questions easy to answer:
Optimize for scannability (short, numbered questions; avoid paragraphs)
Offer multiple-choice options when possible
Suggest reasonable defaults when appropriate (mark them clearly as the default/recommended choice; bold the recommended choice in the list, or if you present options in a code block, put a bold "Recommended" line immediately above the block and also tag defaults inside the block)
Include a fast-path response (e.g., reply defaults to accept all recommended/default choices)
Include a low-friction "not sure" option when helpful (e.g., "Not sure - use default")
Separate "Need to know" from "Nice to know" if that reduces friction
Structure options so the user can respond with compact decisions (e.g., 1b 2a 3c); restate the chosen options in plain language to confirm
3) Pause before acting
Until must-have answers arrive:
Do not run commands, edit files, or produce a detailed plan that depends on unknowns
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