Estimate the questions your evaluation will consume

Define the arithmetic clearly

Let sessions be the estimated number of reader conversations and questions be the average number of questions in each. Multiply those values, then add the number of evaluation questions times the number of planned test runs. The result is a planning count of question attempts. It is not a token estimate and cannot be directly substituted for a vendor’s model-weighted message or credit allowance.

Use a labelled example

A fictional pilot with100 conversations and3 questions each produces300 visitor question attempts. A20-question review repeated4 times adds80, for380 total planned attempts. These numbers are examples, not a recommended traffic forecast or required sample size. The calculator runs locally and sends no entered values. Blank fields mean the workload is unknown rather than silently assuming there will be no use.

Account for changes without hiding retries

A source correction or configuration change often needs another evaluation run. Include that work explicitly instead of treating it as free. Keep failed attempts in the log even if you decide to repeat a case. If a vendor meters longer messages, premium models or actions differently, consult its current definitions and your observed usage. Our arithmetic deliberately does not pretend those different units are interchangeable.

Prefer a range when demand is unmeasured

Calculate a modest and a higher scenario using assumptions you can explain. Then compare the range with the actual plan and the effort available for review. If the range is mostly guesswork, start with a small reversible pilot. A budget is a decision aid, not evidence of future traffic, sales or cost savings. Revisit it using real permitted observations rather than increasing the forecast to justify a preferred product.

• Keep the scenario label beside every calculation, including whether the numbers came from observed usage or a deliberately fictional planning example.