diff --git a/backend/app/tasks/quiz_tasks.py b/backend/app/tasks/quiz_tasks.py
index 00218cf..63ae57d 100644
--- a/backend/app/tasks/quiz_tasks.py
+++ b/backend/app/tasks/quiz_tasks.py
@@ -95,17 +95,28 @@ def extract_quiz(
         if n_chunks > 1:
             _push_step(r, job_id, "text", f"Large section: splitting into {n_chunks} chunks of up to {CHUNK_PAGES} pages each.")
 
+        def _normalize_ocr(text: str) -> str:
+            """Normalize common OCR artifacts in PREP PDFs."""
+            return (text
+                    .replace("Pref erred", "Preferred")
+                    .replace("Pre ferred", "Preferred")
+                    .replace("Prefer red", "Preferred")
+                    .replace("ltem", "Item")
+                    .replace("ltcm", "Item"))
+
         # --- Detect separate answer key section (e.g. PREP 2013) ---
         # Scan document in 10-page steps to find where "Preferred Response:" first appears
         answer_section_start = None
         scan_step = 10
         for scan_p in range(section.start_page, section.end_page, scan_step):
             scan_end = min(scan_p + scan_step - 1, section.end_page)
-            scan_chunk = vector_service.get_pages_text(
+            raw_chunk = vector_service.get_pages_text(
                 document_id=section.document_id, start_page=scan_p, end_page=scan_end,
             )
-            if scan_chunk and ("Preferred Response:" in scan_chunk or "preferred response:" in scan_chunk.lower()):
-                # Found it — but go back a few pages to be safe
+            if not raw_chunk:
+                continue
+            scan_chunk = _normalize_ocr(raw_chunk)
+            if "Preferred Response:" in scan_chunk or "preferred response:" in scan_chunk.lower():
                 answer_section_start = max(section.start_page, scan_p - 5)
                 break
 
@@ -113,10 +124,12 @@ def extract_quiz(
 
         if has_end_answer_key:
             _push_step(r, job_id, "ai", f"Detected separate answer key section starting around page {answer_section_start}. Using two-phase extraction.")
-            # Restrict question chunks to BEFORE the answer section
-            chunks = [(s, e) for s, e in chunks if s < answer_section_start]
+            # Restrict question chunks to pages strictly BEFORE the answer section
+            # Cap the end page so no chunk bleeds into the answer section
+            q_end = answer_section_start - 1
+            chunks = [(s, min(e, q_end)) for s, e in chunks if s <= q_end]
             if not chunks:
-                chunks = [(section.start_page, answer_section_start - 1)]
+                chunks = [(section.start_page, q_end)]
 
         all_valid_questions = []
         all_skipped = []
@@ -133,7 +146,7 @@ def extract_quiz(
                     continue
                 try:
                     chunk_qs = ai_service.extract_questions_no_answers(
-                        chunk_content, page_info=f"{start_p}-{end_p}",
+                        _normalize_ocr(chunk_content), page_info=f"{start_p}-{end_p}",
                         page_ref=start_p, model_id=model_id, api_key=api_key,
                     )
                     raw_questions.extend(chunk_qs)
@@ -155,7 +168,7 @@ def extract_quiz(
                 if not answer_content:
                     continue
                 chunk_key = ai_service.extract_answer_key(
-                    answer_content, page_info=f"{ans_start}-{ans_end}",
+                    _normalize_ocr(answer_content), page_info=f"{ans_start}-{ans_end}",
                     model_id=model_id, api_key=api_key,
                 )
                 answer_key.update(chunk_key)
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/DocumentDetailPage.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/DocumentDetailPage.jsx
index 2f0494a..24ef5b3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DocumentDetailPage.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DocumentDetailPage.jsx
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ export default function DocumentDetailPage() {
   const [availableModels, setAvailableModels] = useState([])
   const [questionCategories, setQuestionCategories] = useState([])
   const [selectedQuestionCategoryId, setSelectedQuestionCategoryId] = useState('')
+  const [newCatInline, setNewCatInline] = useState('')
+  const [showNewCat, setShowNewCat] = useState(false)
   const [error, setError] = useState('')
 
   const isModerator = user?.role === 'admin' || user?.role === 'moderator'
@@ -217,12 +219,15 @@ export default function DocumentDetailPage() {
     } finally { setDeletingSection(null) }
   }
 
-  const createCategoryAndSelect = async (name) => {
-    if (!name.trim()) return
+  const createCategoryAndSelect = async () => {
+    const name = newCatInline.trim()
+    if (!name) return
     try {
-      const res = await api.post('/question-categories/', { name: name.trim() })
+      const res = await api.post('/question-categories/', { name })
       setQuestionCategories(prev => [...prev, res.data])
       setSelectedQuestionCategoryId(String(res.data.id))
+      setNewCatInline('')
+      setShowNewCat(false)
     } catch (err) {
       setError(err.response?.data?.detail || 'Failed to create category')
     }
@@ -369,20 +374,33 @@ export default function DocumentDetailPage() {
                     <div className="form-group">
                       <label>Add Questions to Bank Category <span style={{ fontWeight: 400, color: 'var(--text-muted)' }}>(optional)</span></label>
                       <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 8 }}>
-                        <select value={selectedQuestionCategoryId} onChange={e => setSelectedQuestionCategoryId(e.target.value)} style={{ flex: 1 }}>
+                        <select value={selectedQuestionCategoryId}
+                          onChange={e => setSelectedQuestionCategoryId(e.target.value)}
+                          style={{ flex: 1 }}>
                           <option value="">— No category —</option>
                           {questionCategories.map(c => (
-                            <option key={c.id} value={c.id}>{c.name}{c.question_count > 0 ? ` (${c.question_count})` : ''}</option>
+                            <option key={c.id} value={String(c.id)}>
+                              {c.name}{c.question_count > 0 ? ` (${c.question_count})` : ''}
+                            </option>
                           ))}
                         </select>
                         <button type="button" className="btn btn-secondary btn-sm" style={{ whiteSpace: 'nowrap' }}
-                          onClick={() => {
-                            const name = prompt('New category name:')
-                            if (name) createCategoryAndSelect(name)
-                          }}>
+                          onClick={() => setShowNewCat(v => !v)}>
                           + New
                         </button>
                       </div>
+                      {showNewCat && (
+                        <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 6, marginTop: 6 }}>
+                          <input type="text" value={newCatInline}
+                            onChange={e => setNewCatInline(e.target.value)}
+                            onKeyDown={e => e.key === 'Enter' && createCategoryAndSelect()}
+                            placeholder="Category name…"
+                            style={{ flex: 1, padding: '6px 10px', border: '1px solid var(--border)', borderRadius: 6, fontSize: '0.85rem', background: 'var(--input-bg)', color: 'var(--text)' }}
+                            autoFocus />
+                          <button type="button" className="btn btn-primary btn-sm" onClick={createCategoryAndSelect}>Add</button>
+                          <button type="button" className="btn btn-secondary btn-sm" onClick={() => { setShowNewCat(false); setNewCatInline('') }}>✕</button>
+                        </div>
+                      )}
                       <p style={{ fontSize: '0.75rem', color: 'var(--text-subtle)', marginTop: 4 }}>
                         Extracted questions will be tagged with this category in the Question Bank.
                       </p>