IELTS Mock Exam System - Technical Specification

System Overview

A comprehensive online IELTS mock examination platform supporting all four skills (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) with automated scoring, detailed feedback, and progress tracking.

Technology Stack

• Backend: Laravel 10+ (PHP 8.1+)
• Frontend: Nuxt 3 (Vue 3, TypeScript)
• Database: MySQL 8.0+ or PostgreSQL
• Cache: Redis
• File Storage: AWS S3 or Laravel local storage
• Real-time: Pusher or WebSockets
• Payment: Stripe/PayPal integration

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Backend Specification (Laravel)

Core Architecture

• Pattern: Repository Pattern with Service Layer
• API: RESTful API with Laravel Sanctum authentication
• Queue System: Redis-backed queues for async processing
• Caching: Redis for session data and frequently accessed content
• File Management: Laravel Storage with cloud disk support

Database Schema & Models

User Management

Users
- id, name, email, password, email_verified_at
- country, native_language, target_band_score
- subscription_type, subscription_expires_at
- profile_image, timezone, preferences (JSON)
- created_at, updated_at

UserProfiles
- user_id, date_of_birth, gender, education_level
- ielts_experience, test_date_target
- study_goals, preparation_time_per_week

UserSubscriptions
- user_id, plan_type, status, starts_at, expires_at
- payment_method, auto_renewal, features (JSON)

Exam Structure

ExamTypes
- id, name (Academic/General), description, duration_minutes
- skills_included (JSON), pricing_tier

ExamSessions
- id, user_id, exam_type_id, status, started_at, completed_at
- time_remaining, current_section, session_data (JSON)
- overall_band_score, detailed_scores (JSON)

ExamSections
- id, exam_session_id, section_type, status
- start_time, end_time, time_limit, responses (JSON)
- raw_score, band_score, feedback (JSON)

Content Management

QuestionBanks
- id, name, difficulty_level, skill_type
- description, is_active, created_by

Questions
- id, question_bank_id, type, content (JSON)
- difficulty_level, estimated_time, metadata (JSON)
- audio_file, image_files, correct_answers (JSON)
- explanation, tips, skill_focus_areas (JSON)

ReadingPassages
- id, title, content, difficulty_level, word_count
- source, topic_category, question_types (JSON)
- estimated_reading_time, academic_or_general

ListeningAudios
- id, title, audio_file_path, transcript
- duration_seconds, difficulty_level, accent_type
- number_of_speakers, context_type, question_count

WritingPrompts
- id, task_type (1 or 2), prompt_text, image_file
- minimum_words, time_limit, assessment_criteria (JSON)
- sample_responses (JSON), difficulty_level

SpeakingQuestions
- id, part_number, question_text, follow_up_questions (JSON)
- topic_category, difficulty_level, time_limit
- assessment_criteria (JSON), sample_responses (JSON)

Assessment & Scoring

Responses
- id, exam_section_id, question_id, user_response (JSON)
- time_spent, is_correct, partial_score
- ai_feedback (JSON), human_feedback (JSON)

WritingAssessments
- id, exam_section_id, response_text, word_count
- task_achievement_score, coherence_cohesion_score
- lexical_resource_score, grammar_accuracy_score
- overall_band_score, detailed_feedback (JSON)
- assessor_type (AI/Human), assessed_at

SpeakingAssessments
- id, exam_section_id, audio_file_path, transcript
- fluency_coherence_score, lexical_resource_score
- grammar_range_score, pronunciation_score
- overall_band_score, detailed_feedback (JSON)
- assessor_type (AI/Human), assessed_at

ScoreHistory
- user_id, exam_session_id, skill_type, band_score
- sub_scores (JSON), percentile_rank, improvement_rate
- weak_areas (JSON), strong_areas (JSON), created_at

Progress Tracking

UserProgress
- user_id, skill_type, current_level, target_level
- tests_completed, average_score, best_score
- time_spent_practicing, last_activity, streak_days
- improvement_areas (JSON), achievements (JSON)

StudyPlans
- id, user_id, name, target_date, target_score
- weekly_hours, focus_areas (JSON), milestones (JSON)
- current_milestone, completion_percentage, is_active

LearningAnalytics
- user_id, skill_type, question_type, accuracy_rate
- average_time_per_question, common_mistakes (JSON)
- improvement_trends (JSON), last_updated

Backend Services & Features

Authentication & Authorization

• JWT token-based authentication with refresh tokens
• Role-based access control (Student, Teacher, Admin, Super Admin)
• Social login integration (Google, Facebook)
• Password reset and email verification
• Account suspension and deactivation

Exam Engine Service

• Dynamic test generation based on difficulty and user level
• Real-time session management with automatic saving
• Timer management with warnings and auto-submission
• Question randomization and adaptive difficulty
• Pause/resume functionality for practice tests

Assessment Service

• Automated scoring for Reading and Listening
• AI-powered Writing assessment using NLP
• Speech-to-text for Speaking assessment
• Human assessor assignment for premium users
• Comparative analysis against IELTS band descriptors

Content Management Service

• Question bank management with categorization
• Audio file processing and optimization
• Image optimization and responsive delivery
• Content versioning and approval workflow
• Bulk import/export functionality

Analytics Service

• Performance tracking and trend analysis
• Detailed score breakdowns and explanations
• Weakness identification and improvement suggestions
• Progress visualization and milestone tracking
• Comparative analysis with other users

Notification Service

• Email notifications for important events
• In-app notifications for real-time updates
• SMS notifications for exam reminders
• Push notifications for mobile apps
• Customizable notification preferences

Payment & Subscription Service

• Multiple subscription tiers (Free, Premium, Pro)
• One-time purchase options for individual tests
• Coupon and discount code management
• Automatic billing and renewal handling
• Payment failure retry logic

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Frontend Specification (Nuxt 3)

Architecture & Structure

• Framework: Nuxt 3 with TypeScript
• State Management: Pinia stores
• UI Components: Custom component library with Tailwind CSS
• Forms: VeeValidate with Yup schemas
• HTTP Client: $fetch with interceptors
• Routing: File-based routing with middleware
• PWA: Service worker for offline capability

Core Pages & Components

Authentication Pages

• Login/Register with social auth options
• Email verification and password reset
• Profile setup wizard for new users
• Account settings and preferences
• Subscription management dashboard

Dashboard & Navigation

• Personalized dashboard with progress overview
• Sidebar navigation with skill-based organization
• Quick access to recent tests and results
• Performance metrics and goal tracking
• Notification center and activity feed

Exam Interface

• Pre-exam instructions and system check
• Full-screen exam mode with minimal distractions
• Question navigation sidebar
• Timer display with warnings
• Auto-save functionality with visual indicators
• Review mode before submission

Reading Section Interface

• Split-screen layout (passage + questions)
• Highlighting and note-taking tools
• Zoom and font size controls
• Question types: Multiple choice, True/False/Not Given, Matching, etc.
• Navigation between passages and questions

Listening Section Interface

• Audio player with play/pause/replay controls
• Volume control and playback speed options
• Note-taking area during audio playback
• Question revelation timing control
• Support for various question formats

Writing Section Interface

• Rich text editor with word count
• Grammar and spell check integration
• Task-specific instructions display
• Time management for Task 1 and Task 2
• Auto-save with version history
• Sample answer comparison tool

Speaking Section Interface

• Voice recording functionality
• Real-time audio feedback
• Question display with timing controls
• Practice mode with unlimited attempts
• Playback and re-recording options
• Speaking tips and preparation time

Results & Analytics

• Detailed score breakdown by skill
• Band score visualization with charts
• Performance comparison over time
• Weakness analysis with improvement suggestions
• Downloadable score reports
• Video explanations for incorrect answers

UI/UX Components

Exam-Specific Components

ExamTimer
- Real-time countdown display
- Warning notifications at intervals
- Auto-submission handling
- Pause/resume functionality

QuestionNavigator
- Question status indicators (answered/unanswered/flagged)
- Quick navigation between questions
- Progress tracking visualization
- Bookmarking functionality

AudioPlayer
- Custom controls for IELTS-specific needs
- Transcript display toggle
- Playback speed control
- Loop sections for difficult parts

TextEditor
- Word count with target indicators
- Basic formatting options
- Auto-save with conflict resolution
- Offline capability with sync

ScoreDisplay
- Band score visualization
- Sub-skill breakdown charts
- Historical comparison graphs
- Achievement badges and milestones

General UI Components

LoadingStates
- Skeleton screens for content loading
- Progress indicators for long operations
- Error boundaries with retry options

Forms
- Multi-step form wizard
- Real-time validation feedback
- File upload with progress tracking
- Dynamic form generation from backend schemas

DataVisualization
- Interactive charts for progress tracking
- Responsive tables for score history
- Performance comparison graphs
- Exportable reports in multiple formats

Notifications
- Toast notifications for actions
- In-app notification center
- Email notification preferences
- Push notification handling

State Management (Pinia)

User Store

• Authentication state and user profile
• Subscription status and permissions
• Preferences and settings
• Activity tracking and session management

Exam Store

• Current exam session state
• Question responses and timing data
• Navigation state and progress tracking
• Auto-save queue and conflict resolution

Results Store

• Score history and analytics data
• Performance trends and comparisons
• Achievement tracking and milestones
• Cached results for offline viewing

Content Store

• Question banks and exam content
• Cached audio and image files
• User-generated content (notes, bookmarks)
• Offline synchronization queue

Performance Optimization

Loading & Caching

• Lazy loading for exam content
• Service worker for offline functionality
• Image optimization with WebP support
• Audio compression and streaming
• CDN integration for global content delivery

Real-time Features

• WebSocket connection for live updates
• Real-time collaboration for group studies
• Live proctoring capabilities
• Instant feedback and notifications

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Integration Requirements

Third-Party Services

• Payment Processing: Stripe/PayPal for subscriptions
• Email Service: SendGrid/Mailgun for transactional emails
• SMS Service: Twilio for notifications
• Cloud Storage: AWS S3 for file storage
• CDN: CloudFlare for global content delivery
• Analytics: Google Analytics and custom tracking
• Error Monitoring: Sentry for error tracking
• Performance Monitoring: New Relic or similar

API Integration

• Speech-to-Text APIs for speaking assessment
• Grammar checking APIs for writing feedback
• Translation APIs for multi-language support
• Social media APIs for sharing achievements

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Security & Compliance

Data Protection

• GDPR compliance for EU users
• Data encryption at rest and in transit
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• User data anonymization options
• Secure file upload with virus scanning

Exam Integrity

• Browser lockdown during exams
• Screen recording detection and prevention
• Multiple device login prevention
• Plagiarism detection for writing tasks
• Secure question delivery and rotation

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Deployment & Infrastructure

Production Environment

• Docker containers for consistent deployment
• Load balancing for high availability
• Database clustering and replication
• Automated backup and disaster recovery
• CI/CD pipeline with automated testing

Monitoring & Maintenance

• Application performance monitoring
• Database query optimization
• Log aggregation and analysis
• Automated scaling based on demand
• Regular maintenance windows and updates

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Future Enhancements

Advanced Features

• AI-powered personalized study plans
• Virtual reality speaking practice environments
• Blockchain-based certificate verification
• Mobile app development (React Native/Flutter)
• Multi-language interface support
• Group study rooms and peer learning
• Live tutoring integration
• Advanced analytics with machine learning insights