Content production
EA Part 1 Content Production Master Specification
Authoring standards for turning the completed 52-chapter curriculum blueprint into textbook chapters, examples, case studies, decision trees, questions, flashcards, illustrations, IRS form guides, and AI tutor knowledge.
Production status
Production specification. Actual chapter authoring begins with Chapter 1: Tax Return Preparation Fundamentals.
Last reviewed: June 5, 2026. Tax law through: December 31, 2025.
Next authoring chapter: Chapter 1: Tax Return Preparation Fundamentals
Content hierarchy
Every asset should be produced inside this hierarchy so textbook content, questions, flashcards, case studies, form references, and AI tutor context stay aligned.
- EA Part 1
- Section
- Chapter
- Lesson
- Topic
- Example
- Illustration
- Decision Tree
- Case Study
- Exam Alert
- Practitioner Note
- Flashcard
- Review Question
- Exam Simulation
Chapter production standards
5-15 objectives per chapter
Learning Objectives
- Objectives must be measurable.
- Objectives must map to EA Part 1 exam skills.
- Objectives must guide lesson, question, and flashcard production.
30-40 pages per chapter
Core Textbook Content
- Professional textbook style.
- Practitioner focused.
- EA exam focused.
- Plain U.S. English.
- Avoid outline-style notes, filler, and robotic phrasing.
Minimum 10 examples per chapter
Examples
- Basic examples.
- Intermediate examples.
- Advanced examples.
- EA exam-style examples.
Minimum 4 case studies per chapter
Case Studies
- Case Study 1: Basic.
- Case Study 2: Intermediate.
- Case Study 3: Advanced.
- Case Study 4: Multi-issue exam simulation.
Minimum 3 decision trees per chapter
Decision Trees
- Decision trees must show rule sequence.
- Decision trees must help students choose between similar tax treatments.
- Decision trees must be usable in exam review and practitioner reference.
Minimum 5 practitioner notes per chapter
Practitioner Notes
- Notes must teach real tax-preparation judgment.
- Notes should flag documentation problems.
- Notes should connect exam rules to practical return-preparation workflow.
Minimum 5 exam alerts per chapter
EA Exam Alerts
- Alerts must highlight commonly tested distinctions.
- Alerts should warn about wording traps.
- Alerts should connect to review questions and flashcards.
Question bank standards
Every question must include the correct answer explanation, wrong-answer explanations, topic tag, chapter tag, difficulty, IRS concept reference, exam trap, and review metadata.
Basic questions
25
Intermediate questions
15
Advanced questions
10
Total per chapter
50
Chapter total
2,600 questions
Cumulative reviews
1,500 additional questions after sections
Final target
4,100+ questions
Flashcards
100 flashcards per chapter. Final target: 5,200+ flashcards.
- Definitions
- Thresholds
- Forms
- Deadlines
- Calculations
- Exceptions
- Common Traps
Illustrations
5-10 illustrations per chapter. Final target: 350+ illustrations.
- Flowcharts
- Tax computations
- Form maps
- Decision trees
- Comparison tables
IRS form library
Each form guide must include overview, purpose, filing requirements, line-by-line walkthrough, common errors, and exam relevance.
- Overview
- Purpose
- Filing Requirements
- Line-by-Line Walkthrough
- Common Errors
- Exam Relevance
Major form coverage
Form 1040
Form 1040-SR
Form 1040-NR
Schedule A
Schedule B
Schedule C
Schedule D
Schedule E
Schedule SE
Form 2441
Form 2555
Form 6251
Form 709
Form 706
Form 8615
Form 8863
Form 8867
Form 8960
Form 8962
EA AI tutor specification
The AI tutor must support exam study only. It must not provide personal tax advice, invent current-year thresholds, or publish generated questions without review.
Knowledge sources
- Textbook
- Questions
- Flashcards
- Case Studies
- IRS Forms
- Decision Trees
Capabilities
- Explain Concepts
- Walk Through Problems
- Generate Quizzes
- Grade Answers
- Simulate EA Exam
Example prompts
- What is Head of Household?
- Calculate the Kiddie Tax.
- Give me 20 questions on EIC.
- Review my response.
- Create a 100-question exam.
Textbook size projection
Core textbook
52 chapters x 35 pages average = 1,820 pages
Question bank
4,100 questions = about 900 pages
Flashcards
5,200 cards = about 500 pages
Case studies
250+ cases = about 300 pages
Form library
About 400 pages
Total Part 1 asset
3,900-4,500+ pages equivalent
Next production step
The next stage is actual chapter authoring, beginning with Chapter 1: Tax Return Preparation Fundamentals. Authoring should follow these standards and should not skip source mapping, examples, case studies, questions, flashcards, and review metadata.