Exam Prep Framework Template

Purpose

Generic framework for creating exam preparation skills for any standardized test. Customize this template for specific exams (GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, CPA, CFA, LSAT, etc.) by filling in exam-specific details.

How to Use This Template

1. Copy this template to a new skill directory (e.g., skills/gre-prep/)
2. Replace placeholder text (marked with [BRACKETS]) with exam-specific information
3. Customize sections based on your exam's structure and requirements
4. Test the skill by triggering it with natural language

Template Sections

1. Frontmatter (YAML)

---
name: [exam-name]-prep
description: [When to use this skill]. [What inputs are needed]. [What outputs are generated].
---

Example for GRE:

---
name: gre-prep
description: When preparing for GRE, generating study plans, analyzing practice errors, or creating custom practice sets. Input: target score, test date, current level. Output: phased study plan, error analysis, practice recommendations.
---

2. Exam Overview

# [Exam Name] Preparation

## Purpose

[What this skill helps with - be specific]

## Exam Structure

- **Test sections**: [List all sections]
- **Time per section**: [Duration for each]
- **Scoring**: [How scoring works]
- **Test frequency**: [How often offered]
- **Cost**: [Registration fee]

3. Input Requirements

## Input (User Provides)

- **Target score**: [What score range]
- **Test date**: [Or days remaining]
- **Current level**: [Baseline score or self-assessment]
- **Daily study hours**: [Available time per day]
- **Weak areas**: [Specific sections/topics]
- **Resources available**: [Books, courses, question banks]

4. Execution Steps

## Execution Steps

### Phase 1: Diagnostic & Planning (Week 1-2)
- [Diagnostic test to establish baseline]
- [Identify weak areas by section]
- [Create personalized study schedule]
- [Gather resources for each section]

### Phase 2: Content Review (Weeks 3-X)
- [Section-by-section content review]
- [Topic priority: high-yield > low-yield]
- [Daily practice questions: [X] per section]
- [Weekly review sessions]

### Phase 3: Practice & Refinement (Final X weeks)
- [Full-length practice tests: [X] total]
- [Timed practice blocks]
- [Error analysis and targeted review]
- [Test-day strategy preparation]

5. Output Format

## Output Format

### Study Plan Table
| Phase | Date Range | Focus | Daily Hours | Milestone |
|-------|------------|-------|-------------|-----------|
| Diagnostic | [dates] | Baseline test | [hours] | Score: [X] |
| Content Review | [dates] | [sections] | [hours] | Complete [X] topics |
| Practice | [dates] | Full tests | [hours] | [X] practice tests |

### Section-Specific Plan
| Section | Current Score | Target Score | Priority | Resources | Daily Practice |
|---------|---------------|--------------|----------|-----------|----------------|
| [Section 1] | [score] | [score] | High/Med/Low | [books] | [X] questions |

### Weekly Schedule Template
| Day | Morning (2h) | Afternoon (2h) | Evening (1h) |
|-----|--------------|----------------|--------------|
| Mon | [topic] | [practice] | [review] |
| Tue | [topic] | [practice] | [review] |

6. Exam-Specific Strategies

## [Exam Name]-Specific Strategies

### Section 1: [Name]
- **Question types**: [List types]
- **Time management**: [Strategy]
- **Common traps**: [What to avoid]
- **High-yield topics**: [Focus areas]

### Section 2: [Name]
[Repeat for each section]

### Test-Day Tips
- [Arrival time]
- [What to bring]
- [Break strategy]
- [Mental preparation]

7. Resources

## Recommended Resources

### Essential (Must-Have)
- [Resource 1]: [Why essential]
- [Resource 2]: [Why essential]

### Supplementary (Nice-to-Have)
- [Resource 3]: [When useful]
- [Resource 4]: [When useful]

### Free Resources
- [Free resource 1]: [What it offers]
- [Free resource 2]: [What it offers]

8. Notes & Warnings

## Notes

- [Important caveat 1]
- [Important caveat 2]
- [Common mistake to avoid]
- [Realistic timeline expectations]

## Common Pitfalls

- **Pitfall 1**: [Description] → **Solution**: [How to avoid]
- **Pitfall 2**: [Description] → **Solution**: [How to avoid]

Customization Checklist

Before finalizing your exam-specific skill:

• Replaced all [BRACKET] placeholders with exam-specific info
• Verified exam structure (sections, timing, scoring)
• Listed official and popular third-party resources
• Included realistic timeline expectations
• Added exam-specific test-taking strategies
• Tested skill with sample inputs
• Updated skill name and description in frontmatter

Example: GRE Customization

# GRE Preparation

## Exam Structure
- **Verbal Reasoning**: 2 sections, 30 min each, 20 questions per section
- **Quantitative Reasoning**: 2 sections, 35 min each, 20 questions per section
- **Analytical Writing**: 1 section, 60 min, 2 essays
- **Scoring**: 130-170 per section (Verbal/Quant), 0-6 for Writing
- **Test duration**: ~3 hours 45 minutes

## Key Strategies

### Verbal Reasoning
- **Text Completion**: Look for clue words, eliminate wrong tone
- **Sentence Equivalence**: Find two words with same meaning
- **Reading Comprehension**: Identify main idea, don't get lost in details
- **High-yield**: Vocabulary (common GRE words), argument structure

### Quantitative Reasoning
- **Problem Solving**: Draw diagrams, plug in numbers
- **Quantitative Comparison**: Simplify both sides, test edge cases
- **High-yield**: Algebra, geometry, data interpretation

### Resources
- **Essential**: Manhattan Prep 5lb Book, Magoosh, GRE Official Guide
- **Practice**: ETS PowerPrep (free), Manhattan Practice Tests

Notes

• This is a template, not a complete skill
• Quality > Quantity: Better to have 3 well-customized sections than 10 generic ones
• Test your skill: Trigger it with "Help me prepare for [exam]" and see if output makes sense
• Iterate: Update skill based on real user feedback
• Share: If your exam-specific skill works well, contribute it back to kaoyan-skills