start-prep

Start a guided exam-prep session: $ARGUMENTS

Walk the user from zero to a running practice task. Ask ONE question at a time, keep each question short, and skip any question already answered by the arguments or the conversation.

1. Returning learner check. Run python3 "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/progress-tracker/scripts/build_report.py" --scope all --no-write (ignore errors if the log does not exist yet; on Windows, if python3 isn't found, use python or py). If there is history, open with a one-line status — last session date, current weakest task type — and offer "pick up where you left off" (drill the weakest task type) as the first option before asking anything else.

2. Progress storage (first-time setup). If step 1 found no history, this is a fresh learner: mention that progress is saved to ~/english-exam-coach/ by default, and offer a custom location — set the EXAM_COACH_HOME environment variable to any folder (e.g. an Obsidian vault) to keep the log there instead. Settle this before the first attempt is logged. Skip silently for returning learners.

3. Exam. Ask which exam they are preparing for: IELTS Academic (ielts-academic), IELTS General Training (ielts-general), TOEFL iBT (toefl-ibt), or a CEFR-level exam: B1 (cefr-b1), B2 (cefr-b2), C1 (cefr-c1), C2 (cefr-c2). If they are unsure which exam they need, ask what it is for (university, migration, work, general proof of level) and recommend one, using the exam-router skill's knowledge.

4. Level and target. For cefr-* exams the level is implied — skip the level question. For IELTS/TOEFL ask for their current working level (B1/B2/C1/C2); if they do not know, offer the 15-minute diagnostic (/assess-level) and use its result. Also ask what score they need and when they sit the exam, then save it once so every later session can be specific about the gap:

   python3 "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/progress-tracker/scripts/profile.py" set \
     --exam <exam-id> --target-score <score> --exam-date <YYYY-MM-DD> \
     --current-level <CEFR>
   

   Omit any flag they cannot answer — a partial profile is fine, and the command prints the target translated into CEFR. If they do not have a target or a date, skip this and do not ask twice.

5. Section. Ask what to work on: Writing, Speaking, Reading / Use of English, Listening, or Vocabulary — or a full timed section (point to /mock-exam <exam-id> <section>) or a week-by-week plan toward an exam date (hand off to the study-planner skill).

6. Mode. Ask whether they want to (a) practice a new task, (b) get feedback on something they already wrote or recorded, or (c) first see how the section works — for (c), explain the format from ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/data/exam-formats/<exam-id>.md, then offer (a).

7. Hand off. Route to the matching skill via the exam-router skill (writing-evaluator, speaking-coach, reading-use-of-english, listening-trainer, or vocabulary-builder) with the chosen exam, level, and task type. The skill generates or evaluates, scores, and logs the attempt as usual; scores are indicative self-practice estimates.