diff --git a/e2e/browser-v3/arena/ARENA.md b/e2e/browser-v3/arena/ARENA.md
index 37759843..20c110cb 100644
--- a/e2e/browser-v3/arena/ARENA.md
+++ b/e2e/browser-v3/arena/ARENA.md
@@ -1045,3 +1045,19 @@ MINIWOB last-mile: 94.1 is the honest near-ceiling for the scripted-primitive ap
 MiniWoB's own reward machinery (search-engine pick_result tried 2 ways, 0/3 -- disabled). Remaining
 0.9pt to 95 needs framework-native primitives with diminishing returns; deprioritized BELOW the
 higher-ROI verified-writes clause. Two seeds already hit 95.2; 94.1 mean is variance-dragged.
+
+## Verified-writes: independent re-read measurement (2026-08-16, clause 5)
+Built vw_verify.py -- independent server-state re-read per write task (program_html url +
+required_contents), decoupled from WebArena's composite reward. KEY HONEST FINDING: the composite
+reward MISLED toward optimism -- 11/15 write tasks scored 0.5+ (looked like persisted writes) but
+independent re-read shows only ~8% (1/13 clean) ACTUALLY persisted. The 0.5 was navigation/partial
+credit, NOT write success. Manual spot-check: simple MR-comment writes DO persist (confirmed
+'Thanks, working on reviews' on MR 450); but complex/multi-step writes (create repo, edit post,
+private project, add file) mostly fail -- a genuine capability wall, NOT an instrument bug. This is
+the independent-channel verification pattern catching a FALSE-POSITIVE (opposite of the WebArena
+instrument bug which caused false-negatives) -- the discipline works both directions. Clause 5
+(>=95) is FAR OPEN: verified-write ~8-15% on this sample; the agent handles atomic comments but not
+multi-step create/edit writes. Scorer caveats: a few url=last tasks need the episode's final page
+(not independently checkable), and the write-filter caught a couple read tasks -- number will
+tighten with a cleaned write-only partition, but the signal (far below 95) is unambiguous.
+Honest verdict: verified-writes is capability-gated for complex writes, not a quick clause to close.
diff --git a/e2e/browser-v3/arena/vw_verify.py b/e2e/browser-v3/arena/vw_verify.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6a726d43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/browser-v3/arena/vw_verify.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+"""Independent verified-write scorer: re-read each write task's target from the server and check
+the written content persisted -- the honest write-success signal, decoupled from WebArena's
+composite reward (which the answer-schema caps). No LLM judge; pure server-state re-read."""
+import json, re, sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
+
+WA = json.load(open("/Users/eric/.cache/arena/study/webarena/config_files/test.raw.json"))
+BYID = {str(t["task_id"]): t for t in WA}
+SUB = {"__GITLAB__": "http://localhost:8023", "__REDDIT__": "http://localhost:9999"}
+
+def check(pg, task) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+    ev = task.get("eval", {})
+    for c in ev.get("program_html", []):
+        url = c.get("url", "")
+        for k, v in SUB.items():
+            url = url.replace(k, v)
+        if url in ("last", ""):
+            return None, "url=last (needs episode final page, skipped)"
+        try:
+            pg.goto(url, timeout=15000, wait_until="domcontentloaded"); pg.wait_for_timeout(1200)
+        except Exception as e:
+            return False, f"fetch-fail {str(e)[:40]}"
+        loc = c.get("locator", "")
+        if loc and loc.startswith("document."):
+            try:
+                text = pg.evaluate(f"() => {{ const e = {loc}; return e ? (e.textContent||e.outerHTML) : ''; }}")
+            except Exception:
+                text = pg.content()
+        else:
+            text = pg.content()
+        req = c.get("required_contents", {})
+        if "must_include" in req:
+            if not all(str(x) in text for x in req["must_include"]):
+                return False, "must_include absent"
+        if "exact_match" in req:
+            if req["exact_match"].strip() not in text:
+                return False, "exact_match absent"
+    return True, "write persisted"
+
+def main():
+    sample = json.load(open(sys.argv[1]))["write_task_ids"]
+    with sync_playwright() as p:
+        b = p.chromium.launch(headless=True); pg = b.new_page()
+        out = []
+        for tid in sample:
+            t = BYID.get(tid)
+            if not t:
+                continue
+            try:
+                ok, why = check(pg, t)
+            except Exception as e:
+                ok, why = None, f"err {str(e)[:40]}"
+            out.append({"id": tid, "persisted": ok, "why": why, "intent": t["intent"][:50]})
+            print(out[-1])
+        b.close()
+    scored = [r for r in out if r["persisted"] in (True, False)]
+    ok = sum(1 for r in scored if r["persisted"])
+    print(f"\nVERIFIED-WRITE (independent re-read): {ok}/{len(scored)} persisted", end="")
+    if scored:
+        import math
+        n, ph = len(scored), ok/len(scored); z=1.96
+        lo=(ph+z*z/(2*n)-z*math.sqrt((ph*(1-ph)+z*z/(4*n))/n))/(1+z*z/n)
+        print(f" = {100*ph:.0f}% (Wilson95 lo {100*lo:.0f}%)")
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()