writing-10day-test-prep

name	writing_10day_test_prep
description	How to write the "Grade 7 Math — 10-Day Test Prep" book — day files, environments, state handling, and generation

Grade 7 Math — 10-Day Test Prep — Complete Guide

Overview

"Grade 7 Math — 10-Day Test Prep" is a rapid-review study guide that covers all 56 core CCSS Grade 7 math topics in 10 days. It is designed for students preparing for state-wide standardized tests. Unlike the "In 30 Days" book which teaches concepts from scratch, this book assumes students have already learned the material during the school year and need a confident, stress-free review.

All 10 days are review days. Each day covers 4–6 topics through ultra-compact "review cards," followed by mixed test-style practice problems. The tone is calming, encouraging, and confidence-building — never panicky or high-pressure.

The entire book must be < 100 pages (target ~80–95 pages). Students can't read too much in 10 days — keep everything ultra-compact. Content is review-only: one brief reminder per topic, one quick example, and 2–3 practice problems per topic. No full teaching sequences.

Key Stats

Metric	Value
Total days	10
Review days	10 (all days)
Topics per day	4–6
Core CCSS topics	56
Additional state topics	14 (delivered as bonus review cards)
Modified core topics	11 files / 11 unique core IDs (produce variant day files)
States with modifications	7 (AK, FL, IN, MN, OK, TX, VA)
Chapters	None (continuous 10-day flow)

Page Budget

Component	Pages
Front matter (welcome, how-to-use, 10-day plan, tips)	~6
Day openers (10 × 1 page)	10
Day content (review cards + practice)	~50–60
Test-day tips appendix	~2
Answer key	~8–10
Total	~80–95

Per-day targets:

• 4-topic day: opener (1 pg) + review cards (~2 pg) + practice (~2 pg) = ~5–6 pages
• 5-topic day: opener (1 pg) + review cards (~2.5 pg) + practice (~2.5 pg) = ~6–7 pages
• 6-topic day: opener (1 pg) + review cards (~3 pg) + practice (~2.5 pg) = ~7–8 pages

How It Differs from Other Book Types

Aspect	In 30 Days	10-Day Test Prep
Purpose	Teach from scratch	Review & build confidence
Duration	30 days	10 days
Topics per day	1–2	4–6
Content depth	Full lesson + worked example	Review card (key rule + 1 example)
Practice per topic	3–4 problems	2–3 problems
Tone	Enthusiastic teaching	Calm, reassuring review
Color theme	Orange (energetic)	Teal/green (calming)
Class file	in30Days.cls	testPrep10.cls
Style package	VMfunDays.sty	VMtestPrep.sty
Mascot role	Daily companion	Confidence coach
Chapter structure	9 chapters	No chapters (continuous)
Session length	20–25 min	25–35 min

Prerequisites

The following files must be created or copied from Grade 3 and adapted before writing day content:

File	Source	Notes
testPrep10.cls	Copy from Grade 3, adjust grade-level references	Document class (teal/green theme, no chapters)
VM_packages/VMtestPrep.sty	Copy from Grade 3	Test-prep-specific environments
test_prep_main.tex	Copy from Grade 3, update paths	Master document (template)

---

File Structure

testPrep10.cls                          # Document class (teal/green theme, no chapters)
test_prep_main.tex                      # Master document (template)
VM_packages/VMtestPrep.sty             # Test-prep-specific environments

topics_in10days/                        # Core day files (CCSS baseline)
    day-01-ratios-and-proportional-relationships.tex
    day-02-percents-in-everyday-life.tex
    day-03-percent-error-integers-and-rational-basics.tex
    day-04-rational-operations-and-expression-foundations.tex
    day-05-expressions-and-two-step-equations.tex
    day-06-equations-inequalities-and-scale-drawings.tex
    day-07-geometric-figures-angles-and-circles.tex
    day-08-circles-area-volume-and-statistics.tex
    day-09-comparing-populations-and-probability.tex
    day-10-probability-models-and-compound-events.tex

topics_in10days_modified/               # Modified day files (state-specific)
    day-01-ratios-and-proportional-relationships.tex            # OK: ch01-06 mod
    day-02-percents-in-everyday-life-minnesota.tex              # MN: ch02-01 mod
    day-02-percents-in-everyday-life-v1.tex                     # FL,TX: ch02-06 mod
    day-03-percent-error-integers-and-rational-basics.tex       # VA: ch03-01 mod
    day-04-rational-operations-and-expression-foundations.tex   # AK: ch03-08 mod
    day-07-geometric-figures-angles-and-circles-indiana.tex     # IN: ch06-03 mod
    day-07-geometric-figures-angles-and-circles-virginia.tex    # VA: ch06-06 mod
    day-08-circles-area-volume-and-statistics.tex               # OK,TX: ch08-01 mod
    day-09-comparing-populations-and-probability-v1.tex         # FL,IN,MN,VA: ch08-03 mod
    day-09-comparing-populations-and-probability-v2.tex         # AK,OK,TX: ch08-04 mod
    day-10-probability-models-and-compound-events.tex           # FL,TX: ch09-03 mod

topics_in10days_additional/             # Bonus review cards (state-specific)
    bonus-ch01-07-proportional-reasoning-with-scale-models.tex
    bonus-ch02-08-personal-financial-literacy.tex
    bonus-ch02-09-financial-literacy-budgeting-saving-and-investing.tex
    bonus-ch02-10-compound-interest-introduction.tex
    bonus-ch03-09-introduction-to-square-roots.tex
    bonus-ch03-10-rational-number-operations-in-extended-contexts.tex
    bonus-ch03-11-introduction-to-scientific-notation.tex
    bonus-ch04-07-laws-of-exponents.tex
    bonus-ch06-07-transformations-on-the-coordinate-plane.tex
    bonus-ch06-08-similar-figures-and-proportions.tex
    bonus-ch07-07-cylinder-surface-area-and-volume.tex
    bonus-ch08-05-stem-and-leaf-plots.tex
    bonus-ch08-06-circle-graphs.tex
    bonus-ch08-07-data-displays-extended.tex

initial_pages/test_prep/                # Front matter
    00-welcome.tex
    01-how-to-use.tex
    02-test-taking-tips.tex
    03-what-youll-need.tex
    06-my-test-tracker.tex

Note: Grade 7 uses the correct spelling topics_modified/ (no typo).

---

The 10-Day Plan

Design Rationale

The day-to-topic mapping was designed using these principles:

1. All 10 days review — no filler days or rest days. Every day covers real content.
2. 4–6 topics per day — flexible range based on topic weight and complexity. Grade 7 has 56 core topics (vs 44 in Grade 6), so days average ~5.6 topics.
3. Conceptual grouping — topics within a day are related so students can see connections.
4. Chapter-aligned flow — follows the natural chapter order (Ratios → Percents → Rational Numbers → Expressions → Equations → Geometry → Circles/Area → Statistics → Probability) for easy cross-referencing with the All-in-One book.
5. Cross-chapter bridging — with 9 chapters spread across 10 days, some days bridge two chapters. Bridging occurs at natural transition points (e.g., the last topic of Chapter 2 pairs with the first topics of Chapter 3).
6. Modification-aware grouping — modified topics are grouped to minimize variant files. In particular, ch08-03 (FL,IN,MN,VA) and ch08-04 (AK,OK,TX) have disjoint state sets and are kept on the same day (Day 9) for exactly 2 clean variant files.
7. Lighter days for harder content — Day 9 (statistics compare + probability start) has only 4 topics since comparing populations requires careful reasoning. Day 10 has 5 topics but they share a common probability theme.

Topic Weight Analysis

Topic files were analyzed by line count (from topics/) to assess content complexity:

Weight	Line Range	Examples
Light	40–46	ch08-02 (40), ch08-03 (40), ch07-03 (42), ch09-02 (42), ch09-05 (42), ch07-01 (45), ch02-05 (46), ch02-07 (46)
Medium	48–56	ch06-02 (48), ch03-07 (49), ch08-04 (49), ch02-01 (50), ch03-06 (51), ch03-08 (51), ch04-01 (52), ch05-02 (52), ch06-03 (52), ch04-02 (54), ch03-02 (55), ch04-04 (56), ch05-03 (56)
Heavy	57–69	ch05-06 (57), ch06-04 (57), ch04-06 (58), ch01-06 (59), ch03-03 (59), ch01-01 (60), ch05-05 (62), ch01-04 (65), ch01-05 (66), ch01-02 (67), ch01-03 (69)

Key insight: Grade 7 topic files are compact (max 69 lines). The heaviest topics are concentrated in Chapter 1 (Ratios & Proportional Relationships) — the foundational chapter. For review purposes, even heavy topics become a single ~⅓ page review card.

Complete Day-to-Topic Mapping

Day 1 — Ratios & Proportional Relationships (6 topics)

#	ID	Topic	Weight
1	ch01-01	Unit Rates with Fractions	Heavy (60)
2	ch01-02	Recognizing Proportional Relationships	Heavy (67)
3	ch01-03	Finding the Constant of Proportionality	Heavy (69)
4	ch01-04	Writing Equations for Proportional Relationships	Heavy (65)
5	ch01-05	Graphing Proportional Relationships	Heavy (66)
6	ch01-06	Applying Proportional Reasoning to Real-World Problems	Heavy (59)

Theme: "Proportional Relationships Master" — The cornerstone of Grade 7 math. Students review unit rates with fractions, recognizing proportional relationships in tables and graphs, the constant of proportionality, writing equations like $y = kx$, graphing proportional relationships (interpreting $(0,0)$ and $(1,r)$), and applying proportional reasoning to multi-step problems. Despite all topics being "heavy" in the full curriculum, the review cards are compact: state the definition, show one example.

Modifications: ch01-06 modified by OK — adds estimation as a fifth strategy alongside ratio tables, tape diagrams, unit rates, and equations. Every worked example includes estimate-first step and reasonableness check. → 1 variant file (OK)

Bonuses after Day 1:

• ch01-07 Proportional Reasoning with Scale Models (OK)

Day 2 — Percents in Everyday Life (6 topics)

#	ID	Topic	Weight
1	ch02-01	Solving Percent Problems	Medium (50)
2	ch02-02	Connecting Percents and Proportions	Medium (56)
3	ch02-03	Percent Increase and Decrease	Medium (54)
4	ch02-04	Markups, Discounts, and Sales Tax	Medium (50)
5	ch02-05	Tips, Commissions, and Fees	Light (46)
6	ch02-06	Simple Interest: Earning and Paying Interest	Medium (52)

Theme: "Percents & Financial Math" — All the everyday percent applications in one day: solving percent problems, connecting percents to proportions (part/whole = %/100), percent increase and decrease, markups/discounts/sales tax, tips/commissions, and simple interest ($I = Prt$). A natural grouping that covers real-world financial math.

Modifications: ch02-01 modified by MN — adds explicit real-world financial contexts for percent problems (discount, markup, tax, tip computations). ch02-06 modified by {FL, TX} — expands simple interest with additional financial contexts (savings account comparisons, loan interest). → 2 variant files:

• minnesota (MN): ch02-01 modified only
• v1 (FL, TX): ch02-06 modified only

Bonuses after Day 2:

• ch02-08 Personal Financial Literacy (MN, OK, TX)
• ch02-09 Financial Literacy — Budgeting, Saving, and Investing (TX)
• ch02-10 Compound Interest Introduction (TX)

Day 3 — Percent Error, Integers & Rational Number Basics (5 topics)

#	ID	Topic	Weight
1	ch02-07	Percent Error: How Close Are Your Estimates?	Light (46)
2	ch03-01	Integers and Their Opposites	Medium (53)
3	ch03-02	Adding Integers	Medium (55)
4	ch03-03f	Subtracting Integers	Heavy (59)
5	ch03-04	Adding and Subtracting Rational Numbers	Medium (52)

Theme: "Percent Error & Integer Foundations" — Wraps up Chapter 2 with the percent error formula ($\text{percent error} = \frac{|\text{estimated} - \text{actual}|}{|\text{actual}|} \times 100$), then transitions to Chapter 3's integer and rational number operations. Students review integer concepts (opposites, absolute value), adding integers on number lines, subtracting integers (add the opposite: $p - q = p + (-q)$), and extending to rational numbers.

Modifications: ch03-01 modified by VA — expands opposites and absolute value with additional ordering, comparison, and number-line contexts. Includes comparing and ordering rational numbers in multiple forms using inequality symbols. → 1 variant file (VA)

Day 4 — Rational Operations & Expression Foundations (6 topics)

#	ID	Topic	Weight
1	ch03-05	Multiplying Integers and Rational Numbers	Medium (56)
2	ch03-06	Dividing Integers and Rational Numbers	Medium (51)
3	ch03-07	Converting Rational Numbers to Decimals	Medium (49)
4	ch03-08	Solving Real-World Problems with Rational Numbers	Medium (51)
5	ch04-01	Writing and Evaluating Expressions	Medium (52)
6	ch04-02	Simplifying Expressions by Combining Like Terms	Medium (54)

Theme: "Complete Rational Operations & Expression Start" — Finishes Chapter 3 (multiply/divide rational numbers, convert to decimals, multi-step real-world problems) and begins Chapter 4 (write/evaluate expressions, combine like terms). A bridging day that flows naturally from numerical fluency into algebraic thinking.

Modifications: ch03-08 modified by AK — same rational-number problem-solving content but all examples use Alaska-relevant data: winter temperatures, fisheries catch data, elevation changes, and subsistence economy contexts. → 1 variant file (AK)

Bonuses after Day 4:

• ch03-09 Introduction to Square Roots (VA)
• ch03-10 Rational Number Operations in Extended Contexts (AK)
• ch03-11 Introduction to Scientific Notation (VA)

Day 5 — Expressions & Two-Step Equations (6 topics)

#	ID	Topic	Weight
1	ch04-03	Expanding Expressions with the Distributive Property	Medium (52)
2	ch04-04	Factoring Expressions	Medium (56)
3	ch04-05	Adding and Subtracting Linear Expressions	Medium (52)
4	ch04-06	Rewriting Expressions to Solve Problems	Heavy (58)
5	ch05-01	Writing Two-Step Equations from Word Problems	Medium (52)
6	ch05-02	Solving Two-Step Equations	Medium (52)

Theme: "Expression Mastery & Equation Start" — Completes Chapter 4 (distributive property, factoring, combining expressions, rewriting for insight: $a + 0.05a = 1.05a$) and begins Chapter 5 (writing and solving $px + q = r$). The bridge from expressions to equations is seamless — factoring and expanding prepare students for equation solving.

Modifications: None.

Bonuses after Day 5:

• ch04-07 Laws of Exponents (FL, VA)

Day 6 — Equations, Inequalities & Scale Drawings (6 topics)

#	ID	Topic	Weight
1	ch05-03	Solving Equations with the Distributive Property	Medium (56)
2	ch05-04	Solving Multi-Step Problems with Rational Numbers	Medium (56)
3	ch05-05	Writing and Solving Inequalities	Heavy (62)
4	ch05-06	Graphing Solutions to Inequalities on a Number Line	Heavy (57)
5	ch06-01	Understanding and Using Scale Drawings	Light (46)
6	ch06-02	Reproducing Scale Drawings at a Different Scale	Light (48)

Theme: "Equations Complete & Scale Drawings" — Finishes Chapter 5 (equations with distributive property, multi-step rational number problems, writing/solving inequalities, graphing on number lines) and begins Chapter 6 with scale drawings. The two scale drawing topics are light-weight and provide a change of pace after the algebraic intensity.

Modifications: None.

Day 7 — Geometric Figures, Angles & Circle Basics (6 topics)

#	ID	Topic	Weight
1	ch06-03	Drawing Geometric Figures with Given Conditions	Medium (52)
2	ch06-04	Constructing Triangles from Three Measurements	Heavy (57)
3	ch06-05	Cross-Sections of Three-Dimensional Figures	Medium (50)
4	ch06-06	Angle Relationships: Supplementary, Complementary, and Vertical	Medium (53)
5	ch07-01	Parts of a Circle	Light (45)
6	ch07-02	Circumference of a Circle	Light (45)

Theme: "Geometry & Circle Foundations" — Completes Chapter 6 (geometric constructions, triangle conditions, cross-sections, angle relationships) and begins Chapter 7 with circle basics (parts of a circle, circumference formula $C = \pi d$ or $C = 2\pi r$). The two circle topics are light-weight, providing balance for the more complex geometry content.

Modifications: ch06-03 modified by IN — adds explicit requirements for justifying each step in geometric constructions, including technology-based construction methods. ch06-06 modified by VA — adds connections to congruence and similarity concepts, plus more complex multi-step angle problems with algebraic expressions. → 2 variant files:

• indiana (IN): ch06-03 modified only
• virginia (VA): ch06-06 modified only

Bonuses after Day 7:

• ch06-07 Transformations on the Coordinate Plane (IN, VA)
• ch06-08 Similar Figures and Proportions (TX, VA)

Day 8 — Circles, Area, Volume & Statistics Intro (6 topics)

#	ID	Topic	Weight
1	ch07-03	Area of a Circle	Light (42)
2	ch07-04	Area of Composite Shapes	Light (44)
3	ch07-05	Surface Area of Three-Dimensional Objects	Light (42)
4	ch07-06	Volume of Prisms	Light (44)
5	ch08-01	Populations and Samples	Light (43)
6	ch08-02	Making Inferences from Random Samples	Light (40)

Theme: "Circles, Area, Volume & Sampling" — Completes Chapter 7 (area of circles $A = \pi r^2$, composite shapes, surface area, volume $V = Bh$) and begins Chapter 8 with statistics foundations (populations vs. samples, random sampling, making inferences). All topics are light-weight (40–44 lines) — review cards can be very compact with formula + diagram + one example.

Modifications: ch08-01 modified by {OK, TX} — adds designing experiments and collecting data as precursors to sampling concepts. → 1 variant file (OK, TX)

Bonuses after Day 8:

• ch07-07 Cylinder Surface Area and Volume (FL, VA)

Day 9 — Comparing Populations & Probability Basics (4 topics)

#	ID	Topic	Weight
1	ch08-03	Comparing Two Populations Visually	Light (40)
2	ch08-04	Comparing Populations with Measures of Center and Variability	Medium (49)
3	ch09-01	What Is Probability?	Light (45)
4	ch09-02	Theoretical Probability	Light (42)

Theme: "Data Comparisons & Probability Foundations" — Completes Chapter 8 (visual comparison of populations, formal comparison using mean/median/MAD/IQR) and begins Chapter 9 with probability basics (probability as 0–1 number, theoretical probability formula). Only 4 topics because population comparison requires careful visual reasoning, and this day has the most complex variant situation (ch08-03 and ch08-04 are each modified by different state groups).

Modifications: ch08-03 modified by {FL, IN, MN, VA} — expands visual comparison to include stem-and-leaf plots, circle graphs, and frequency tables alongside dot plots and box plots. ch08-04 modified by {AK, OK, TX} — de-emphasises MAD in favour of IQR and range; adds extended contextual applications. → 2 variant files:

• v1 (FL, IN, MN, VA): ch08-03 modified only
• v2 (AK, OK, TX): ch08-04 modified only

Bonuses after Day 9:

• ch08-05 Stem-and-Leaf Plots (FL, OK, TX, VA)
• ch08-06 Circle Graphs (FL, MN, TX, VA)
• ch08-07 Data Displays Extended (AK, IN, OK)

Day 10 — Probability Models & Compound Events (5 topics)

#	ID	Topic	Weight
1	ch09-03	Experimental Probability	Light (42)
2	ch09-04	Probability Models	Light (45)
3	ch09-05	Sample Spaces for Compound Events	Light (42)
4	ch09-06	Finding Probabilities of Compound Events	Light (43)
5	ch09-07	Simulating Compound Events	Light (42)

Theme: "Probability in Action" — The final day covers experimental probability (long-run relative frequency), probability models (uniform and non-uniform), sample spaces for compound events (lists, tables, tree diagrams), computing compound event probabilities, and simulation design. All topics are light-weight, making this a comfortable finish. The probability theme is unified and builds naturally from experiments to models to compound events.

Modifications: ch09-03 modified by {FL, TX} — expands experimental probability with additional simulation design, random-number generators, and frequency tables for comparing experimental vs. theoretical results. → 1 variant file (FL, TX)

Totals Verification

Day	Topics	Running Total
1	6	6
2	6	12
3	5	17
4	6	23
5	6	29
6	6	35
7	6	41
8	6	47
9	4	51
10	5	56

• Total: 56 topics ✓
• Range: 4–6 per day ✓
• Distribution: one 4-topic day, one 5-topic day, eight 6-topic days
• Variant files: 11 total across 7 days

---

Writing Day Files

Step 0: Read Source Topic Files First

Before writing or editing ANY day file, you MUST read the original topic files to understand the math content, notation, and difficulty level. The 10-day test prep is a condensed review of the full teaching content — you cannot write accurate review cards or practice problems without understanding what was taught.

Source directories (ordered by importance):

Directory	Contents	When to read
topics/	Core CCSS topic files — full lessons with teaching, examples, and practice. These are the "All in One" book versions.	ALWAYS read EVERY topic file assigned to the day you're writing.
topics_additional/	Supplementary state-specific topic files — additional topics beyond CCSS (14 files, 48–57 lines each).	Read when writing bonus review cards for topics_in10days_additional/.
topics_modified/	State-modified core topic files — alternate versions of core topics with state-specific emphasis (11 files, 54–66 lines each).	Read when writing variant day files for topics_in10days_modified/.

Workflow for writing Day N:

1. Look up which topics Day N covers (e.g., Day 1 = ch01-01 through ch01-06)
2. Read EACH source file: topics/ch01-01-*.tex, topics/ch01-02-*.tex, etc.
3. Understand: what key rules are taught, what notation is used, what examples are given, what practice difficulty level is expected
4. Write the review cards by distilling each topic to its essential rule + 1 quick example
5. Write practice problems that match the difficulty and style of the source files

Workflow for writing bonus files:

1. Read the source from topics_additional/ (e.g., topics_additional/ch01-07-*.tex)
2. Distill into a bonusReview card with 2–3 practice problems

Workflow for writing variant day files:

1. Identify which topics are modified on this day (see Day-to-Topic Mapping above)
2. Read the modified version from topics_modified/ AND the core version from topics/
3. Compare: what changed? (e.g., financial contexts, estimation emphasis, Alaskan data)
4. Adjust ONLY the affected review card(s) and practice problem(s) in the variant file
5. All other topics in the day file remain identical to the core version

Why this matters: Without reading the source files, you risk:

• Using wrong notation or terminology
• Writing review cards that don't match what was taught
• Creating practice problems that are too easy, too hard, or off-topic
• Missing key formulas or rules that students were expected to learn
• Inconsistency between the review and the full curriculum

Day File Template

Every day file lives in topics_in10days/ and follows this structure:

% ============================================================================
% Day N — Day Theme Title
% Topics: chXX-YY, chXX-YY, chXX-YY, ...
% ============================================================================

\prepDayPage{N}{Day Theme Title}{%
    \begin{itemize}[leftmargin=6mm, itemsep=3pt]
        \item[\textcolor{prepTeal}{\faCheck}] Topic 1 name
        \item[\textcolor{prepTeal}{\faCheck}] Topic 2 name
        \item[\textcolor{prepTeal}{\faCheck}] Topic 3 name
    \end{itemize}
}

\calmingNote{You already know this! Today we'll just do a quick review
             to make sure everything is fresh.}

% ─── REVIEW CARDS ──────────────────────────────────────────────

\begin{reviewCard}{Topic 1 Title}
Key rule or formula in 2–3 sentences.

\textbf{Quick Example:}
$...$
\end{reviewCard}

\begin{reviewCard}{Topic 2 Title}
Key rule in 2–3 sentences.

\textbf{Quick Example:}
$...$
\end{reviewCard}

\begin{reviewCard}{Topic 3 Title}
Key rule in 2–3 sentences.

\textbf{Quick Example:}
$...$
\end{reviewCard}

% ─── TEST TIP ──────────────────────────────────────────────────

\begin{testTip}{Common Mistake}
Describe a mistake students often make on this type of question,
and how to avoid it.
\end{testTip}

\mascotSays{You're doing amazing! Just a few more and you're done for today.}

% ─── MIXED PRACTICE ───────────────────────────────────────────

\begin{testPractice}
\resetProblems

\practiceHeader{Topic 1 Title}
\prob ... \answerExplain{...}{...}
\prob ... \answerExplain{...}{...}

\bigskip
\practiceHeader{Topic 2 Title}
\prob ... \answerExplain{...}{...}
\prob ... \answerExplain{...}{...}

\bigskip
\practiceHeader{Topic 3 Title}
\prob ... \answerExplain{...}{...}
\prob ... \answerExplain{...}{...}

\bigskip
\practiceHeader{\faStar~Bonus Challenge}
\prob [harder multi-step question] \answerBlank[2cm]
\answerExplain{...}{...}

\prob [harder multi-step question] \answerBlank[2cm]
\answerExplain{...}{...}
\end{testPractice}

% ─── CONFIDENCE CHECK ─────────────────────────────────────────

\confidenceCheck{%
    {Topic 1 Title},
    {Topic 2 Title},
    {Topic 3 Title}%
}

\prepDayComplete

Content Guidelines

1. Audience: 12–13 year olds who are ALREADY familiar with the material. Write as a review, not first exposure.
2. Tone: Calm, encouraging, confidence-building. Use phrases like "You remember this!", "You've got this!", "Let's just make sure it's fresh."
3. Review cards: Each reviewCard is ≤ ⅓ page. State the key rule in 2–3 sentences, show ONE quick example. No deep explanations — students already learned this.
4. Practice: 10 problems per day in the testPractice section — 8 regular + 2 bonus challenge. Regular problems: 2–3 per topic using \practiceHeader{Topic}. Bonus problems go under \practiceHeader{\faStar~Bonus Challenge} at the end — these are harder, multi-step questions that challenge students who've mastered the basics. Use:
   • Multiple choice: \answerMC{B}
   • Short answer: \answer{42}
   • True/False: \answerTF{True}
   • With explanation: \answerExplain{answer}{explanation} — use for ALL problems (see Answer Key & Explanations below)
5. Test-style problems: Problems should resemble state test format — clear, concise, with answer choices where appropriate.
6. One testTip per day — focus on a common mistake or test strategy relevant to that day's topics.
7. One \mascotSays{} per day — encouragement only. Keep it to ONE short sentence.
8. One \calmingNote{} per day — right after the day opener. Sets the emotional tone.
9. Math always in $...$. Use \times and \div, not × or ÷.
10. Bold key terms on first use with \textbf{...}.
11. No \newpage before practice — let content flow naturally.
12. 3–4 goals max in the \prepDayPage itemize list (even if covering 5+ topics — group related ones).

Note for 6-topic days (Days 1–2, 4–8): With 6 topics and only 8 regular problems, some topics will get only 1 practice problem. Prioritize the most heavily tested topics with 2 problems. Lighter or closely related topics can share problem slots.

Answer Key & Explanations

The 10-Day Test Prep uses \answerExplain{answer}{explanation} for every practice problem. This is different from the "All in One" or "Study Guide" books which use plain \answer{}.

In day mode, the Answer Key renders:

1. Answer chips — compact colored circles with the problem number and the answer text.
2. Explanation boxes — purple tcolorboxes printed after the answer chips for each day, showing the problem number and explanation.

The Answer (first argument) — MUST be short

The answer text appears inside a small inline "chip" in the Answer Key. It must be just the final result — one number, one word, or a very short expression. No calculations, no parenthetical notes, no reasoning.

Good answers:

\answerExplain{$\dfrac{5}{8}$}{...}
\answerExplain{$-7$}{...}
\answerExplain{$x = 12$}{...}
\answerExplain{$48$ cm²}{...}
\answerExplain{$\$4.50$ per lb}{...}
\answerExplain{$35\%$}{...}
\answerExplain{$\dfrac{3}{8}$}{...}
\answerExplain{True}{...}

Bad answers (too verbose — explanation leaks into answer):

% ✗ WRONG — parenthetical belongs in explanation, not answer
\answerExplain{$48$ cm² ($\frac{1}{2} \times 12 \times 8$)}{...}
\answerExplain{$-7$ (moved 7 left from 0)}{...}

The Explanation (second argument) — MUST show the work

The explanation is printed in a purple box and must be 1–2 full lines long. It should show the complete calculation or reasoning that leads to the answer — not just a generic strategy hint.

Good explanations (show the actual math):

\answerExplain{$2$ mph}{Rate $= \frac{1/2 \text{ mi}}{1/4 \text{ hr}} = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{4}{1} = 2$ miles per hour.}
\answerExplain{$\$4.50$}{$I = Prt = 500 \times 0.03 \times 3 = \$45$. Total $= \$500 + \$45 = \$545$. Interest earned is $\$45$.}
\answerExplain{$-7$}{Start at $-3$, subtract $4$: $-3 - 4 = -3 + (-4) = -7$.}
\answerExplain{$6x + 15$}{Distribute: $3(2x + 5) = 3 \times 2x + 3 \times 5 = 6x + 15$.}
\answerExplain{$x = 5$}{$3x + 7 = 22 \Rightarrow 3x = 15 \Rightarrow x = 5$. Check: $3(5) + 7 = 22$~\checkmark}

Bad explanations (too vague — no actual calculation):

% ✗ WRONG — generic strategy, doesn't solve the problem
\answerExplain{$2$ mph}{Divide distance by time to find the unit rate.}
\answerExplain{$6x + 15$}{Use the distributive property.}

Rules Summary

Part	Length	Content	Example
Answer (arg 1)	1–5 words / one expression	Final result only	$-7$, $x = 5$, $48$ cm²
Explanation (arg 2)	1–2 full lines (~50–120 chars)	Show all calculation steps	$3x + 7 = 22 \Rightarrow 3x = 15 \Rightarrow ...$

Review Card Best Practices

Each review card (per topic) should follow this pattern:

\begin{reviewCard}{Solving Two-Step Equations}
To solve $px + q = r$, first \textbf{undo addition/subtraction},
then \textbf{undo multiplication/division}. Always do the same
operation to both sides.

\textbf{Quick Example:}
$3x + 7 = 22 \;\Rightarrow\; 3x = 15 \;\Rightarrow\; x = 5$
\end{reviewCard}

Rules for review cards:

• Maximum 5 lines of teaching text (not counting the example)
• Exactly 1 quick example — show the question and the answer in 1–2 lines
• Use \textbf{} for key terms and the answer
• Use friendly language: "Remember...", "Think of it as..."
• Do NOT include \begin{workedExample} — the example is inline within the card
• Do NOT include \begin{stepsBox} or \begin{conceptBox} — the review card IS the concept
• For formula topics (area, volume, interest), show the formula prominently: $A = \pi r^2$, $I = Prt$

Multi-Topic Day Structure

Since every day has 4–6 topics, all days use the same structure:

1. \prepDayPage opener
2. \calmingNote encouragement
3. One \begin{reviewCard} per topic (4–6 cards)
4. One \begin{testTip} (common mistake or strategy)
5. \mascotSays encouragement
6. \begin{testPractice} with \practiceHeader{} per topic (8 regular problems)
7. \practiceHeader{\faStar~Bonus Challenge} with 2 harder multi-step problems
8. \confidenceCheck listing all topics
9. \prepDayComplete

---

Test-Prep-Specific Environments (VMtestPrep.sty)

New Environments

Environment / Command	Purpose	Color	Icon
\prepDayPage{n}{title}{goals}	Day opener page (calming teal theme)	Teal gradient	Calendar + Star
\calmingNote{text}	Encouraging anti-stress message	Soft yellow/cream	Heart / Smiley
\begin{reviewCard}{title}	Ultra-compact topic review (~⅓ page)	Light mint/green	Book
\begin{testTip}{title}	Test-taking tip / common mistake	Light lavender	Shield
\begin{testPractice}[title]	Mixed practice section (test-style)	Light blue	Pencil
\confidenceCheck{topic1, topic2, ...}	Self-assessment check per topic	Light coral/peach	Thumbs up
\prepDayComplete	"Day Done!" encouraging checkoff	Green	Check circle
\begin{bonusReview}{title}	State-specific bonus review card	Light pink	Star
\begin{testStrategy}{title}	General test-day strategy box	Light orange	Brain

Color Scheme

The test prep book uses a calming teal/green palette to reduce test anxiety:

Color Name	Purpose	Hex
prepTeal	Primary — day openers, review card frames	#2AA198
prepTealLight	Review card backgrounds	#E8F5F3
prepTealDark	Headings, emphasis	#1A6B63
prepMint	Secondary highlights	#A8E6CF
prepLavender	Test tips, strategy boxes	#E8E0F0
prepLavenderDark	Test tip frames	#7E57C2
prepCoral	Confidence check, warm accents	#FFB4A2
prepCoralLight	Confidence check backgrounds	#FFF0EC
prepCream	Calming notes background	#FFF8E7
prepGreen	Day complete, success	#4CAF50

Shared Environments from VM_packages

Day files can also use ALL environments from the standard VM_packages:

• Math visuals: placeValueTable, fractionBar, areaGrid, barGraph, numberLine, etc.
• Engagement: \mascotSays{}, \encouragement{}
• Answers: \answerExplain{short answer}{1–2 line explanation with full calculation} for ALL problems. Use \answerTF{} for True/False only. Do NOT use plain \answer{} in 10-day test prep files.

Do NOT use these environments in test prep day files (they belong to other book types):

• quickLesson (30-day) — use reviewCard instead
• dailyPractice (30-day) — use testPractice instead
• dailyChallenge (30-day) — not needed in test prep
• dayComplete (30-day) — use prepDayComplete instead
• conceptBox, stepsBox, vocabBox — too teaching-heavy for review

---

State-Specific Handling

The 10-day test prep book supports all 50 US states. 43 states use the pure CCSS curriculum (identical content). 7 states have customizations.

State Customization Summary

State	Modified Topics	Additional Topics	Total Customizations
Alaska	ch03-08, ch08-04	ch03-10, ch08-07	4
Florida	ch02-06, ch08-03, ch09-03	ch04-07, ch07-07, ch08-05, ch08-06	7
Indiana	ch06-03, ch08-03	ch06-07, ch08-07	4
Minnesota	ch02-01, ch08-03	ch02-08, ch08-06	4
Oklahoma	ch01-06, ch08-01, ch08-04	ch01-07, ch02-08, ch08-05, ch08-07	7
Texas	ch02-06, ch08-01, ch08-04, ch09-03	ch02-08, ch02-09, ch02-10, ch06-08, ch08-05, ch08-06	10
Virginia	ch03-01, ch06-06, ch08-03	ch03-09, ch03-11, ch04-07, ch06-07, ch06-08, ch07-07, ch08-05, ch08-06	11

Heaviest states: Virginia (11 customizations, 3 modified + 8 additional), Texas (10, 4 modified + 6 additional), Florida (7), Oklahoma (7).

Mechanism 1: Bonus Review Cards (Additional Topics)

State-specific additional topics are delivered as standalone \begin{bonusReview} card files that get appended after the relevant day.

Bonus files live in topics_in10days_additional/ and are named bonus-{topic-file-slug}.tex.

Bonus Placement Map

Additional Topic ID	Bonus File	Insert After Day	Rationale
ch01-07	bonus-ch01-07-proportional-reasoning-with-scale-models	Day 1	Extends proportional reasoning (end of Ch1)
ch02-08	bonus-ch02-08-personal-financial-literacy	Day 2	Extends financial math (percents + interest)
ch02-09	bonus-ch02-09-financial-literacy-budgeting-saving-and-investing	Day 2	Extends PFL with budgeting
ch02-10	bonus-ch02-10-compound-interest-introduction	Day 2	Extends simple interest to compound
ch03-09	bonus-ch03-09-introduction-to-square-roots	Day 4	Extends rational number operations (end of Ch3)
ch03-10	bonus-ch03-10-rational-number-operations-in-extended-contexts	Day 4	Extends rational ops with real-world contexts
ch03-11	bonus-ch03-11-introduction-to-scientific-notation	Day 4	Extends number representation (Ch3 capstone)
ch04-07	bonus-ch04-07-laws-of-exponents	Day 5	Extends expression work (end of Ch4)
ch06-07	bonus-ch06-07-transformations-on-the-coordinate-plane	Day 7	Extends geometric figures (end of Ch6)
ch06-08	bonus-ch06-08-similar-figures-and-proportions	Day 7	Extends geometric reasoning
ch07-07	bonus-ch07-07-cylinder-surface-area-and-volume	Day 8	Extends SA/volume to cylinders (end of Ch7)
ch08-05	bonus-ch08-05-stem-and-leaf-plots	Day 9	Extends data displays (end of Ch8)
ch08-06	bonus-ch08-06-circle-graphs	Day 9	Extends data displays
ch08-07	bonus-ch08-07-data-displays-extended

Which States Get Which Bonuses (by day)

Day 1 bonuses:

State	ch01-07
Oklahoma	✓

Day 2 bonuses:

State	ch02-08	ch02-09	ch02-10
Minnesota	✓
Oklahoma	✓
Texas	✓	✓	✓

Day 4 bonuses:

State	ch03-09	ch03-10	ch03-11
Alaska		✓
Virginia	✓		✓

Day 5 bonuses:

State	ch04-07
Florida	✓
Virginia	✓

Day 7 bonuses:

State	ch06-07	ch06-08
Indiana	✓
Texas		✓
Virginia	✓	✓

Day 8 bonuses:

State	ch07-07
Florida	✓
Virginia	✓

Day 9 bonuses:

State	ch08-05	ch08-06	ch08-07
Alaska			✓
Florida	✓	✓
Indiana			✓
Oklahoma	✓		✓
Texas	✓	✓
Virginia	✓	✓

Max bonuses on any single day for any state: 3 (TX on Day 2: ch02-08, ch02-09, ch02-10).

Bonus Review Card Template

% ============================================================================
% Bonus Review: Topic Title
% Supplementary (State-specific: TX, FL, etc.)
% Inserted after Day N
% ============================================================================

\begin{bonusReview}{Topic Title}

% Key rule in 2–3 sentences
...

\textbf{Quick Example:} ...

% 2–3 practice problems
\resetProblems
\prob ... \answerExplain{...}{...}
\prob ... \answerExplain{...}{...}

\end{bonusReview}

Mechanism 2: Modified Day Files (Variant Day Files)

When a day contains one or more modified topics, a variant day file is created for each unique combination of modifications. The generation script selects the correct variant based on the state's modified list.

Complete Variant File Inventory

Day	Variant File	Modified Topics	Used By States
1	day-01-ratios-and-proportional-relationships.tex	ch01-06	OK
2	day-02-percents-in-everyday-life-minnesota.tex	ch02-01	MN
2	day-02-percents-in-everyday-life-v1.tex	ch02-06	FL, TX
3	day-03-percent-error-integers-and-rational-basics.tex	ch03-01	VA
4	day-04-rational-operations-and-expression-foundations.tex	ch03-08	AK
7	day-07-geometric-figures-angles-and-circles-indiana.tex	ch06-03	IN
7	day-07-geometric-figures-angles-and-circles-virginia.tex	ch06-06	VA
8	day-08-circles-area-volume-and-statistics.tex	ch08-01	OK, TX
9	day-09-comparing-populations-and-probability-v1.tex	ch08-03	FL, IN, MN, VA
9	day-09-comparing-populations-and-probability-v2.tex	ch08-04	AK, OK, TX
10	day-10-probability-models-and-compound-events.tex	ch09-03	FL, TX

Total: 11 variant files across 7 days.

Complete State × Day Variant Matrix

State	D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8	D9	D10
AK	—	—	—	mod	—	—	—	—	v2	—
FL	—	v1	—	—	—	—	—	—	v1	mod
IN	—	—	—	—	—	—	in	—	v1	—
MN	—	mn	—	—	—	—	—	—	v1	—
OK	mod	—	—	—	—	—	—	mod	v2	—
TX	—	v1	—	—	—	—	—	mod	v2	mod
VA	—	—	mod	—	—	—	va	—	v1	—
43 others	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Legend: — = core file, mod = single variant, v1/v2 = numbered variant, mn/in/va = named variant

Modified Day File Template

% ============================================================================
% Day N — Theme Title (MODIFIED)
% Modification: [describe what changed vs. core]
% Used by: [list of states]
% ============================================================================

\prepDayPage{N}{Theme Title}{%
    ...
}

% ... same structure as core, but the review cards for modified topics
% use the modified content (e.g., financial contexts, estimation emphasis,
% Alaskan data, construction justification, etc.)

What Changes in Each Variant

Day 1 OK variant: ch01-06 review card adds estimation as a fifth proportional reasoning strategy. Practice problems include estimate-first steps and reasonableness checks. Adds warningBox on checking answers.

Day 2 MN variant: ch02-01 review card adds explicit financial contexts — discount, markup, tax, and tip computations as percent problem applications. Other topics remain core.

Day 2 v1 (FL, TX): ch02-06 review card expands simple interest ($I = Prt$) with savings account comparisons, loan interest calculations, and connections between interest rates and financial decisions.

Day 3 VA variant: ch03-01 review card expands opposites and absolute value with additional ordering/comparison contexts. Includes comparing and ordering rational numbers in multiple forms using inequality symbols.

Day 4 AK variant: ch03-08 review card uses all Alaska-relevant data: winter temperatures in Fairbanks, fisheries catch, elevation changes along hiking trails, and subsistence economy contexts. Same mathematical operations.

Day 7 IN variant: ch06-03 review card adds explicit requirements for justifying construction steps. Includes technology-based construction methods alongside hand-drawn approaches.

Day 7 VA variant: ch06-06 review card keeps supplementary, complementary, and vertical angles. Adds connections to congruence/similarity and more complex multi-step angle problems with algebraic expressions.

Day 8 (OK, TX): ch08-01 review card adds designing experiments and collecting data as precursors to sampling concepts. Aligns with OAS-M 7.D.1 and TEKS data-analysis expectations.

Day 9 v1 (FL, IN, MN, VA): ch08-03 review card expands visual comparison to include stem-and-leaf plots, circle graphs, and frequency tables alongside dot plots, histograms, and box plots. Adds multiple-representation comparison problems.

Day 9 v2 (AK, OK, TX): ch08-04 review card de-emphasises MAD in favour of IQR and range. Adds extended contextual applications using localised or financial data.

Day 10 (FL, TX): ch09-03 review card expands experimental probability with simulation design. Includes random-number generators and frequency tables to compare experimental vs. theoretical predictions.

---

YAML Configuration (topics_config.yaml)

Add the following test_prep section to topics_config.yaml, alongside the existing in_30_days section:

# ============================================================================
# TEST PREP — Day-to-topic mapping for the "10-Day Test Prep" book type
# ============================================================================

test_prep:
  days:
    - day: 1
      file: day-01-ratios-and-proportional-relationships
      topics: [ch01-01, ch01-02, ch01-03, ch01-04, ch01-05, ch01-06]
      bonus_after: [ch01-07]
    - day: 2
      file: day-02-percents-in-everyday-life
      topics: [ch02-01, ch02-02, ch02-03, ch02-04, ch02-05, ch02-06]
      bonus_after: [ch02-08, ch02-09, ch02-10]
    - day: 3
      file: day-03-percent-error-integers-and-rational-basics
      topics: [ch02-07, ch03-01, ch03-02, ch03-03f, ch03-04]
    - day: 4
      file: day-04-rational-operations-and-expression-foundations
       [, , , , , ]
       [, , ]
      
       
       [, , , , , ]
       []
      
       
       [, , , , , ]
      
       
       [, , , , , ]
       [, ]
      
       
       [, , , , , ]
       []
      
       
       [, , , ]
       [, , ]
      
       
       [, , , , ]

---

Differences from the 30-Day Book Implementation

Aspect	In 30 Days	10-Day Test Prep
Day file naming	day-NN-topic-slug.tex	day-NN-theme-slug.tex
Modified file naming	Same name in modified/ dir	Same or state-labeled name in modified/ dir
Topics per day file	1–2	4–6
Content per topic	quickLesson + workedExample	reviewCard only
Practice per topic	3–4 problems	2–3 problems
Chapter structure	9 chapters with \chapter{}	No chapters (continuous flow)
Progress denominator	/30	/10
Day opener command	\dayPage	\prepDayPage
Color theme	Orange / funOrange	Teal / prepTeal
Class file	in30Days.cls	testPrep10.cls
Style package	VMfunDays.sty	VMtestPrep.sty
Session length	20–25 min	25–35 min
Special environments	quickLesson, dailyPractice, dailyChallenge	reviewCard, testPractice, testTip, confidenceCheck
Emotional support	\mascotSays (fun)	\calmingNote + \mascotSays (calming)

---

Complete Topic Reference

For quick reference, here is every topic with its day assignment:

Day	ID	Topic Name	Lines
1	ch01-01	Unit Rates with Fractions	60
1	ch01-02	Recognizing Proportional Relationships	67
1	ch01-03	Finding the Constant of Proportionality	69
1	ch01-04	Writing Equations for Proportional Relationships	65
1	ch01-05	Graphing Proportional Relationships	66
1	ch01-06	Applying Proportional Reasoning to Real-World Problems	59
2	ch02-01	Solving Percent Problems	50
2	ch02-02	Connecting Percents and Proportions	56
2	ch02-03	Percent Increase and Decrease	54
2	ch02-04	Markups, Discounts, and Sales Tax	50
2	ch02-05	Tips, Commissions, and Fees	46
2	ch02-06	Simple Interest: Earning and Paying Interest	52
3	ch02-07	Percent Error: How Close Are Your Estimates?	46
3	ch03-01	Integers and Their Opposites	53
3	ch03-02	Adding Integers	55
3	ch03-03f	Subtracting Integers	59
3	ch03-04	Adding and Subtracting Rational Numbers	52
4	ch03-05	Multiplying Integers and Rational Numbers	56
4	ch03-06	Dividing Integers and Rational Numbers	51
4	ch03-07	Converting Rational Numbers to Decimals	49
4	ch03-08	Solving Real-World Problems with Rational Numbers	51
4

Additional Topics Reference

ID	Topic Name	Chapter	States	Lines
ch01-07	Proportional Reasoning with Scale Models	1	OK	48
ch02-08	Personal Financial Literacy	2	MN, OK, TX	52
ch02-09	Financial Literacy — Budgeting, Saving, and Investing	2	TX	52
ch02-10	Compound Interest Introduction	2	TX	57
ch03-09	Introduction to Square Roots	3	VA	50
ch03-10	Rational Number Operations in Extended Contexts	3	AK	51
ch03-11	Introduction to Scientific Notation	3	VA	52
ch04-07	Laws of Exponents	4	FL, VA	51
ch06-07	Transformations on the Coordinate Plane	6	IN, VA	51
ch06-08	Similar Figures and Proportions	6	TX, VA	49
ch07-07	Cylinder Surface Area and Volume	7	FL, VA	55
ch08-05	Stem-and-Leaf Plots	8	FL, OK, TX, VA	55
ch08-06	Circle Graphs	8	FL, MN, TX, VA	52
ch08-07	Data Displays Extended	8	AK, IN, OK	51

Modified Topics Reference

Core ID	Modified File	States	Change Description	Lines
ch01-06	ch01-06-applying-proportional-reasoning	OK	Estimation emphasis, reasonableness checking	66
ch02-01	ch02-01-solving-percent-problems	MN	Financial contexts (discount, markup, tax, tip)	54
ch02-06	ch02-06-simple-interest	FL, TX	Extended financial contexts (savings, loans)	57
ch03-01	ch03-01-integers-and-their-opposites	VA	Rational number ordering/comparison emphasis	56
ch03-08	ch03-08-solving-real-world-problems-with-rational-numbers	AK	Alaskan contexts (temperatures, fisheries, elevation)	56
ch06-03	ch06-03-drawing-geometric-figures	IN	Construction justification emphasis	55
ch06-06	ch06-06-angle-relationships	VA	Congruence/similarity connections, complex problems	54
ch08-01	ch08-01-populations-and-samples	OK, TX	Experimental design emphasis	60
ch08-03	ch08-03-comparing-two-populations-visually	FL, IN, MN, VA	Multiple display types (stem-leaf, circle, frequency)	65
ch08-04	ch08-04-comparing-populations-with-measures	AK, OK, TX	IQR/range emphasis over MAD	61
ch09-03	ch09-03-experimental-probability	FL, TX	Simulation design emphasis	63