Test and live modes

Every key works in one mode. The mode decides whether marking is real and which balance pays for it.

	Test mode	Live mode
Key prefix	aide_sk_test_	aide_sk_live_
Base URL	https://api.learningaide.ai	https://api.learningaide.ai
Marking	Simulated: no AI runs, and you get realistic sample results within seconds	Real AI marking
Credits	Charged from a separate test balance that we top up automatically. Test credits have no value.	Charged from your balance, as described in Credits and billing
Data	Visible only to test keys	Visible only to live keys
Review links	Open a sample paper, so you can try the review flow	Open your paper
Webhooks	Sent to endpoints created with a test key	Sent to endpoints created with a live key

Test and live data never mix. A test key cannot read a live object, and a live key cannot read a test object; both get 404 resource_missing.

Simulating outcomes in test mode

To exercise your error handling, add test_outcome to a create request. The field is accepted only with a test key; a live key gets 400 parameter_unknown.

Request	test_outcome	What happens
POST /v1/papers	awaiting_review (default)	The paper becomes awaiting_review with sample questions.
POST /v1/papers	with_warnings	The paper becomes awaiting_review with every paper warning set.
POST /v1/papers	file_unreadable	The paper becomes failed with file_unreadable.
POST /v1/papers	no_questions_found	The paper becomes failed with no_questions_found.
POST /v1/papers	insufficient_credits	The paper becomes failed with insufficient_credits.
POST /v1/submissions	graded (default)	The submission is marked with sample marks, and sample feedback at the paper’s grading.feedback level, then released unless the paper uses after_review.
POST /v1/submissions	no_readable_answers	The submission is marked 0 and stays graded with no_readable_answers: true.
POST /v1/submissions	file_unreadable	The submission becomes failed with file_unreadable.
POST /v1/submissions	insufficient_credits	The submission becomes failed with insufficient_credits.
POST /v1/submissions	grading_failed	The submission becomes failed with grading_failed.