Mastery Criterion
Mastery is an objective measurement, not a feeling. Prometheus uses a 3-condition gate that must all be satisfied before a concept is considered mastered.
The 3 conditions
Condition 1 — Grade gate
learn-grade produces:
overall_score(0.0–1.0)misconceptions_absent(0.0 or 1.0)
Both must satisfy:
overall_score ≥ 0.7 AND misconceptions_absent == 1.0
A score of 0.8 with an unresolved misconception is not mastery.
Condition 2 — Transfer gate
Two novel transfer problems (problems the learner has never seen before, in a different context than the original learning) must be solved at ≥ 0.7 each.
Condition 3 — Retention gate
A spaced retrieval check via learn-retain must pass at ≥ 24 hours after the
initial mastery claim.
Why all three?
- Grade gate — measures explanation quality and misconception absence
- Transfer gate — measures ability to apply knowledge in new contexts (true understanding)
- Retention gate — measures durability (not just cramming)
PFA mastery update
The learner model uses the PFA (Performance Factors Analysis) update rule:
mastery_new = mastery_old + 0.3 × (score - mastery_old)
Applied at ≥ 5 observations per concept.
Sycophancy protection
learn-grade is on the critical path of the anti-sycophancy gate:
- Draft grade is produced
- Grade routes through sycophancy-correction S-02 check
- A grade claiming "no gaps" when gaps exist is rewritten before delivery
This is enforced architecturally, not as optional guidance.