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

Page Budget

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

Prerequisites

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

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:

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

• 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):

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

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

Color Scheme

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

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

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

Which States Get Which Bonuses (by day)

Day 1 bonuses:

Day 2 bonuses:

Day 4 bonuses:

Day 5 bonuses:

Day 7 bonuses:

Day 8 bonuses:

Day 9 bonuses:

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

Total: 11 variant files across 7 days.

Complete State × Day Variant Matrix

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
      topics: [ch03-05, ch03-06, ch03-07, ch03-08, ch04-01, ch04-02]
      bonus_after: [ch03-09, ch03-10, ch03-11]
    - day: 5
      file: day-05-expressions-and-two-step-equations
      topics: [ch04-03, ch04-04, ch04-05, ch04-06, ch05-01, ch05-02]
      bonus_after: [ch04-07]
    - day: 6
      file: day-06-equations-inequalities-and-scale-drawings
      topics: [ch05-03, ch05-04, ch05-05, ch05-06, ch06-01, ch06-02]
    - day: 7
      file: day-07-geometric-figures-angles-and-circles
      topics: [ch06-03, ch06-04, ch06-05, ch06-06, ch07-01, ch07-02]
      bonus_after: [ch06-07, ch06-08]
    - day: 8
      file: day-08-circles-area-volume-and-statistics
      topics: [ch07-03, ch07-04, ch07-05, ch07-06, ch08-01, ch08-02]
      bonus_after: [ch07-07]
    - day: 9
      file: day-09-comparing-populations-and-probability
      topics: [ch08-03, ch08-04, ch09-01, ch09-02]
      bonus_after: [ch08-05, ch08-06, ch08-07]
    - day: 10
      file: day-10-probability-models-and-compound-events
      topics: [ch09-03, ch09-04, ch09-05, ch09-06, ch09-07]

Differences from the 30-Day Book Implementation

Complete Topic Reference

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

Additional Topics Reference

Modified Topics Reference