diff --git a/backend/app/services/assessment/prefilter/pipeline.py b/backend/app/services/assessment/prefilter/pipeline.py
index 55bfb4f71..a298b64ce 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/assessment/prefilter/pipeline.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/assessment/prefilter/pipeline.py
@@ -9,14 +9,15 @@ def resolve_prefilter_settings(prefilter_config: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, An
     dup_config = prefilter_config.get("duplicate_detection") or {}
 
     tr_columns = tr_config.get("columns") or []
+    tr_attachment_columns = tr_config.get("attachment_columns")
     tr_prompt = tr_config.get("prompt") or ""
     dup_columns = dup_config.get("columns") or []
 
     return {
         "tr_columns": tr_columns,
         "tr_prompt": tr_prompt,
-        "tr_attachment_columns": tr_config.get("attachment_columns"),
+        "tr_attachment_columns": tr_attachment_columns,
         "dup_columns": dup_columns,
-        "tr_enabled": bool(tr_columns and tr_prompt),
+        "tr_enabled": bool((tr_columns or tr_attachment_columns) and tr_prompt),
         "dup_enabled": bool(dup_columns),
     }
diff --git a/backend/app/tests/assessment/test_pipeline.py b/backend/app/tests/assessment/test_pipeline.py
index c807d415d..35056ece0 100644
--- a/backend/app/tests/assessment/test_pipeline.py
+++ b/backend/app/tests/assessment/test_pipeline.py
@@ -33,6 +33,24 @@ def test_disabled_when_empty(self) -> None:
         assert cfg["tr_enabled"] is False
         assert cfg["dup_enabled"] is False
 
+    def test_tr_enabled_with_attachment_columns_only(self) -> None:
+        cfg = resolve_prefilter_settings(
+            {
+                "topic_relevance": {
+                    "columns": [],
+                    "attachment_columns": ["Answer Sheet"],
+                    "prompt": "rubric",
+                }
+            }
+        )
+        assert cfg["tr_enabled"] is True
+
+    def test_tr_disabled_when_columns_empty_and_no_prompt(self) -> None:
+        cfg = resolve_prefilter_settings(
+            {"topic_relevance": {"attachment_columns": ["Answer Sheet"]}}
+        )
+        assert cfg["tr_enabled"] is False
+
 
 class TestPipeline:
     def test_full_pipeline_order(self) -> None: