ACT and SAT writing practice

# ACT and SAT writing practice

Assignment types for standardized-test writing practice, starting with ACT Writing if sales/product priority follows the May 26 call.

## Status — ACT split into its own spec (2026-05-28)

This combined idea is now the **umbrella** for standardized-test writing. ACT Writing has been split into its own engineering-ready spec — [`act-writing-section.md`](act-writing-section.md) — per the decision to build **ACT first** as a standalone AssignmentType. This ticket now tracks **SAT Writing** as the sibling follow-on, which will reuse the ACT scaffolding (tutor + grading-assistant architecture, `TimedSession`, and the standardization point-value / submit-for-grade model). The open question "ACT first, SAT first, or combined?" is resolved: **ACT first, SAT follows.**

## Source

Granola meeting: `3fbd5f2d-e409-42bd-b585-fed305edd5cd`, **Summer priorities — assignment types, LMS integration, and reporter**, 2026-05-26 1:31 PM CDT.

The team discussed ACT/SAT writing as a sellable assignment-type expansion. ACT Writing received the clearest near-term rationale: some schools use ACT writing as institutional writing data, but students often get ineffective last-minute prep.

## Problem

Schools need repeated writing practice with fast feedback for standardized writing tasks. Teachers often do not have time to assign enough reps and return detailed feedback before the test.

## Goals

- Create ACT Writing and/or SAT Writing assignment types.
- Give students repeatable practice with immediate feedback.
- Tune tutor and grading assistant behavior to the test format and rubric.
- Support timed practice, including optional countdown timer.
- Prepare point values/grade display for LMS gradebook compatibility.

## Non-goals

- Full ACT/SAT prep course across all sections.
- Claiming official test scoring equivalence before calibration.
- Supporting every historical prompt format in v1.

## Open questions

- [x] ACT first, SAT first, or combined standardized-test writing MVP? — **Resolved: ACT first** (see [`act-writing-section.md`](act-writing-section.md)); SAT follows as a sibling type.
- [ ] Which official/current rubric is canonical? (For SAT, and cross-test consistency.)
- [ ] Should this include Teacher Lounge materials in v1?
- [ ] Is timed mode required for first pilot, or can it follow?
- [ ] Should feedback be grade-first, coaching-first, or both?

## Test plan

- E2E: teacher creates ACT/SAT writing assignment.
- E2E: student completes timed/untimed submission.
- Unit: assignment type resolves standardized-test tutor/grader.
- Contract: grading prompt includes correct rubric dimensions.
- Calibration: compare model scores/comments against a small human-reviewed set before pilot.

## Engineering handoff checklist

- [ ] Domain context covered
- [ ] File paths in `yawp-2.0` listed
- [ ] Data model implications spelled out, including backward-compat plan
- [ ] UX sketch in prose
- [ ] Edge cases enumerated
- [ ] Test plan written
- [ ] Rollout plan decided