1 min lesson
The pre-loop readiness checklist
Connect "Five capabilities carry this loop" to the decision you would make.
Step 1 of 3
The pre-loop readiness checklistCoverage map
Five capabilities carry this loop. Rate each honestly before you continue - the rest of this module is where you'll exercise them, but you need a baseline now.
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Advanced table
Reference table
- Capability
- TypeScript fluency
- Tested in
- No-AI coding screen
- You're ready if
- You can write correct editor-flavored TS at speed with only autocomplete
- Capability
- Editor primitives
- Tested in
- Coding screen, design round
- You're ready if
- You can reason about buffers, diffs and multi-file edits without notes
- Capability
- AI-systems design
- Tested in
- Design round
- You're ready if
- You can scope tab-prediction or context-retrieval with latency and eval baked in
- Capability
- Build playbook
- Tested in
- Mini build-on-a-codebase
- You're ready if
- You have a repeatable orient → scope → ship → demo loop for unfamiliar code
- Capability
- Values stories
- Tested in
- Recruiter + values round
- You're ready if
- Why-Cursor, a project and a failure all land in first person and sound true
| Capability | Tested in | You're ready if |
|---|---|---|
| TypeScript fluency | No-AI coding screen | You can write correct editor-flavored TS at speed with only autocomplete |
| Editor primitives | Coding screen, design round | You can reason about buffers, diffs and multi-file edits without notes |
| AI-systems design | Design round | You can scope tab-prediction or context-retrieval with latency and eval baked in |
| Build playbook | Mini build-on-a-codebase | You have a repeatable orient → scope → ship → demo loop for unfamiliar code |
| Values stories | Recruiter + values round | Why-Cursor, a project and a failure all land in first person and sound true |
Each row is one capability, the round that tests it and the bar that says you're ready.
Watch out
The instinct is to prep your strongest stage hardest because it feels good. The loop is graded on your floor. Find your weakest of the five above and put the most reps there, even though it's the least pleasant work this week.
QA recruiter asks how you use Cursor day to day. Which answer signals authentic daily use?