{ "entity": "deepseek-v4-flash", "entity_type": "model", "category": "Essays", "suite": "suite-2026-08-tasks/essays", "model": "deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash", "judges": [ "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "openai/gpt-5.6-terra" ], "judge_protocol": "judge-2026-08", "anchors": "solo-2026-08-a", "score": 81, "caps": 6, "cost_usd": 0.171, "started_at": "2026-08-13T09:14:43.655Z", "finished_at": "2026-08-13T09:15:24.370Z", "tasks": [ { "id": "es1", "name": "Structured argument", "prompt": "Write a 350-word argumentative essay answering: should secondary schools ban smartphones during the school day? Take one clear side, give three distinct supporting reasons, and address one counter-argument. Do not use the phrases 'in conclusion' or 'in today's world'.", "output": "Secondary schools should ban smartphones during the school day. The evidence is clear: these devices undermine learning, harm student well-being, and erode the social fabric of schools. A ban is not about punishing students—it is about creating an environment where they can thrive.\n\nFirst, smartphones are a relentless source of distraction. Studies show that even a phone sitting silently in a pocket reduces cognitive capacity because the brain remains primed to check for notifications. In a classroom, a single buzz can derail a student’s focus for up to twenty minutes. Teachers already compete with TikTok, Snapchat, and gaming apps for attention. Removing phones eliminates this competition, allowing students to engage deeply with lessons and develop sustained concentration—a skill essential for academic success and future careers.\n\nSecond, banning smartphones improves mental health and social dynamics. Social media platforms are designed to be addictive, and adolescents are especially vulnerable. Constant exposure to curated images, cyberbullying, and the pressure to be “always on” fuels anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Without phones during the day, students are forced to interact face-to-face. They learn to read body language, resolve conflicts in real time, and build genuine friendships. Lunchrooms become spaces for conversation rather than silent scrolling, and the school community grows stronger.\n\nThird, a ban encourages physical activity and participation. When phones are available, many students choose to sit and scroll during breaks instead of moving, playing sports, or joining clubs. Removing the digital crutch pushes them to engage with the world around them. They run, talk, create, and explore—activities that boost both physical health and creativity.\n\nA common counter-argument is that smartphones are essential for emergencies or for educational apps. This concern is valid but easily addressed. Schools can keep a landline in every classroom for emergencies, and parents can contact the office if needed. For educational purposes, schools can provide supervised, limited access to school-owned devices or schedule specific times for phone use under teacher guidance. The rare, legitimate need for a smartphone does not justify the widespread harm caused by their constant presence.\n\nThe choice is not between technology and tradition; it is between a distracted, anxious student body and one that is focused, connected, and healthy. Banning smartphones during the school day is a practical, evidence-based step toward that better environment.", "latency_ms": 14012, "cost": 0.0001178576, "task_score": 7, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 7, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Clear one-sided argument, three distinct reasons, addresses counter-argument, avoids banned phrases. Word count slightly over 350 (~420 words) but not explicitly checked as strict limit; minor length deviation." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "The essay perfectly follows all instructions. It takes a clear stance, provides three distinct reasons, addresses a counter-argument, meets the length requirement, and successfully avoids the forbidden phrases. The writing is clear, persuas" }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 5, "violates": true, "reasoning": "Clear stance, three distinct reasons, and a counter-argument with practical responses. Well organized and useful, though some evidence claims are overstated or unsupported. It is 379 words, not the required 350, and avoids both forbidden ph" } ] }, { "id": "es2", "name": "Essay plan", "prompt": "Produce a plan (not the essay) for a 2,000-word undergraduate essay on whether remote work has reduced productivity. Give a thesis in one sentence, five section headings, and one sentence per section saying what evidence it needs. Maximum 220 words total.", "output": "**Thesis:** Remote work has not uniformly reduced productivity; instead, its impact varies by task type, industry, and management practices, with overall meta-analyses showing no significant decline when proper support systems are in place.\n\n**1. Introduction: Setting the Debate on Remote Work and Productivity** \n*Evidence needed:* Pre-pandemic vs. post-pandemic productivity statistics and the central claims from both sides of the debate.\n\n**2. The Methodological Challenges of Measuring Productivity in Remote Settings** \n*Evidence needed:* Studies on output-based vs. input-based metrics, self-reporting biases, and the difficulty of quantifying collaborative output.\n\n**3. Evidence of Productivity Gains: Autonomy, Focus, and Commute Elimination** \n*Evidence needed:* Empirical studies (e.g., Bloom et al. 2015 on call-centre workers, survey data on focus time, and time-use analyses of reduced commuting).\n\n**4. Evidence of Productivity Losses: Collaboration, Communication, and Management Oversight** \n*Evidence needed:* Research on decreased serendipitous interactions, longer decision cycles, and managerial challenges (e.g., Microsoft’s internal study, Choudhury et al. on patent citations).\n\n**5. Conclusion: Contextual Factors and Policy Implications** \n*Evidence needed:* Comparative analyses across industries (tech vs. manufacturing), hybrid model outcomes, and recommendations from organisational psychology.", "latency_ms": 8397, "cost": 0.000243076, "task_score": 8, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 7, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Meets format requirements well; thesis, five sections, evidence sentences present. Slightly exceeds 220 words (~230) and evidence sentences sometimes multi-clause but still concise and useful." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "The response perfectly follows all instructions, providing a single-sentence thesis, five section headings, and one sentence of required evidence per section. The word count is well under the 220-word limit, and the content is highly releva" }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 8, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Meets the requested plan format, five sections, one-sentence thesis, and concise evidence requirements within the word limit. It is balanced and useful, though the broad meta-analysis claim and some cited examples would benefit from more pr" } ] }, { "id": "es3", "name": "Tighten flabby prose", "prompt": "Rewrite this to be clearer and shorter without losing any meaning: 'It is important to note that the results of the study, which was conducted over a period of six months, seem to suggest that there may possibly be a correlation between the two variables in question.' Return only the rewrite.", "output": "The six-month study's results suggest a possible correlation between the two variables.", "latency_ms": 4842, "cost": 0.00008106, "task_score": 9, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 9, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Concise, accurate, preserves meaning including uncertainty, follows instruction to return only rewrite." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "The response perfectly follows the instructions, providing a clear, concise rewrite that retains all original meaning while eliminating wordiness. It also adheres to the negative constraint by returning only the rewrite." }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 8, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Clear and substantially shorter. It preserves the study duration, variables, correlation, and uncertainty, though it slightly reduces the original hedging by omitting “seem to.”" } ] }, { "id": "es4", "name": "Hold a word count", "prompt": "Write a description of the water cycle in exactly 100 words. Count them. The final line of your reply must be the word count as a number and nothing else.", "output": "The entire water cycle endlessly moves water around Earth. Sunlight heats oceans, lakes, and rivers, causing evaporation. Plants release water vapor through transpiration. Vapor rises, cools, and condenses into clouds. Droplets fall as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Precipitation seeps into soil to become groundwater or flows overland into streams and oceans. Ice and snow store water in cold regions; melting returns it to the cycle. Plants absorb groundwater and release vapor again. Water continually travels between atmosphere, land, and sea. This cycle is driven by solar energy and gravity, shaping climates and supplying the water all life depends on.\n100", "latency_ms": 26428, "cost": 0.0006398028, "task_score": 6, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 6, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Coherent, clear description; word count claimed 100 but actual count seems slightly off (~98-102), can't verify exactly, minor risk of inaccuracy." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 5, "violates": true, "reasoning": "The response contains 101 words in total (100 words in the description plus the number '100' at the end), violating the exact 100-word constraint. The description itself is flawless and highly accurate." }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Exactly 100 words, with the final line correctly showing only “100.” The description accurately and clearly explains evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, runoff, groundwater, storage, and the roles of solar energy and gr" } ] }, { "id": "es5", "name": "Adapt for the reader", "prompt": "Explain what inflation is, twice: first for a 10-year-old (max 60 words), then for an economics undergraduate (max 90 words). Label each. The second must contain at least one concept absent from the first.", "output": "**For a 10-year-old:** \nInflation means things get more expensive over time. If your pocket money stays the same, you can buy fewer candies or toys than before. For example, a chocolate bar that cost $1 now costs $2. That’s inflation.\n\n**For an economics undergraduate:** \nInflation is a sustained rise in the general price level, reducing purchasing power. It’s measured by indices like CPI. Causes include demand-pull (excess aggregate demand) or cost-push (rising input costs). Central banks target moderate inflation (e.g., 2%) using monetary policy, as high inflation erodes real wages and savings.", "latency_ms": 7224, "cost": 0.0000537292, "task_score": 10, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 9, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Accurate, clear, meets word limits, labeled properly, and second explanation adds new concepts (CPI, demand-pull/cost-push, monetary policy) absent from the first." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "The response perfectly follows all instructions, including word counts and labels. The explanations are accurate, tailored to the target audiences, and the second introduces several advanced concepts absent from the first." }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Both labeled explanations are accurate, age-appropriate, concise, and within word limits. The undergraduate version adds absent concepts including CPI, aggregate demand, cost-push inflation, and monetary policy." } ] }, { "id": "es6", "name": "Introduction only", "prompt": "Write only the opening paragraph (max 120 words) of an essay on whether AI should be used to mark student work. It must end on a clear thesis statement and must not begin with a dictionary definition or a rhetorical question.", "output": "The integration of artificial intelligence into education promises efficiency, yet its application to marking student work raises profound pedagogical concerns. While AI can rapidly assess multiple-choice tests and flag basic grammatical errors, it fundamentally lacks the capacity to evaluate nuanced argumentation, creative expression, or the intellectual growth demonstrated in a flawed but insightful answer. Furthermore, reducing assessment to algorithmic pattern-matching risks dehumanizing the learning process, stripping students of personalized feedback that fosters genuine understanding. Therefore, AI should serve only as a supplementary tool for administrative tasks, not as the primary arbiter of student work, as meaningful evaluation requires the irreplaceable judgment and empathy of a human educator.", "latency_ms": 3059, "cost": 0.0000279, "task_score": 9, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 9, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Meets constraints: no definition/rhetorical question opening, ends with clear thesis, under 120 words, well-written and relevant." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "The response perfectly follows all instructions. It provides a single, well-written introductory paragraph under the 120-word limit (108 words), avoids dictionary definitions and rhetorical questions at the start, and concludes with a stron" }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 9, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Clear, focused opening paragraph under 120 words that avoids prohibited openings and ends with a strong thesis. It effectively balances AI’s efficiencies against limitations, though “fundamentally lacks” is somewhat absolute." } ] }, { "id": "es7", "name": "Steelman the other side", "prompt": "In under 200 words, make the strongest honest case FOR nuclear power, then in one sentence state the single best objection to what you just wrote. Do not hedge the main case.", "output": "Nuclear power is the only carbon-free energy source capable of delivering reliable, high-density baseload electricity at scale, 24/7, regardless of weather. Its fuel is extraordinarily energy-dense: one uranium pellet yields as much energy as a ton of coal, with zero CO₂ emissions during operation. Modern reactor designs incorporate passive safety systems that make catastrophic meltdowns virtually impossible, while waste—though long-lived—is small in volume, fully containable, and can be reduced via advanced recycling. Countries like France already generate over 70% of their electricity from nuclear, proving its viability. For a world desperate to decarbonize while maintaining industrial civilization, nuclear is the only proven bridge between fossil fuels and intermittent renewables.\n\n**Single best objection:** The catastrophic consequences of a single major accident—however improbable—and the unresolved, multi-generational burden of permanent waste storage make nuclear power an unacceptable gamble for any society that values long-term safety over short-term carbon accounting.", "latency_ms": 7801, "cost": 0.00007225, "task_score": 8, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 8, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Strong, honest case within word limit, ends with a single clear objection sentence. Accurate, concise, useful. Minor: objection sentence is long/compound but still one sentence." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "The response perfectly follows all instructions. It delivers a strong, unhedged case for nuclear power well under the 200-word limit, followed by a highly effective, single-sentence objection. The writing is clear, accurate, and highly usef" }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 5, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Clear, under 200 words, and includes one objection sentence. However, several absolutist claims weaken honesty: nuclear is not the only scalable reliable low-carbon source, France is now below 70%, and “virtually impossible” meltdowns overs" } ] }, { "id": "es8", "name": "Cite honestly", "prompt": "Write a 150-word paragraph on the effects of sleep deprivation on memory. If you reference any study, name it precisely; if you cannot name a real one, say 'no specific study cited' rather than inventing a citation.", "output": "Sleep deprivation profoundly impairs memory by disrupting the brain's ability to consolidate and retrieve information. During sleep, particularly in slow-wave and REM stages, the hippocampus replays and transfers newly encoded memories to the neocortex for long-term storage. Without adequate sleep, this consolidation process is hindered, leading to deficits in both declarative memory (facts and events) and procedural memory (skills and habits). For example, a study by Walker and Stickgold (2004) titled \"Sleep-Dependent Learning and Memory Consolidation\" demonstrated that participants who slept after learning a motor task performed significantly better than those who were sleep-deprived. Additionally, sleep loss reduces hippocampal activity during encoding, making it harder to form new memories the following day. Chronic deprivation can also increase cortisol levels, which may damage hippocampal neurons over time. In summary, even a single night of poor sleep can weaken recall, while sustained deprivation poses serious risks to cognitive function and long-term memory integrity.", "latency_ms": 4239, "cost": 0.00003933, "task_score": 5, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 5, "violates": true, "reasoning": "Paragraph exceeds ~150 words (~175) and cites a specific study whose precise title/year may be inaccurate, risking fabrication rather than confirming a real citation." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 5, "violates": true, "reasoning": "The response is highly accurate, clear, and cites a real study correctly. However, it violates the strict 150-word count constraint by being exactly 151 words long (counting hyphenated words as single words)." }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 5, "violates": true, "reasoning": "It is 151 words, not 150. The named 2004 Walker and Stickgold paper is real, but it is a review rather than a study directly demonstrating the stated motor-task result. Otherwise clear and broadly accurate." } ] }, { "id": "es9", "name": "Fix the structure", "prompt": "This paragraph makes three points at once and repeats itself. Rewrite it as three short paragraphs, one point each, no repetition: 'Exercise is good for your body and it also helps your mood, and being active reduces the risk of heart disease, plus people who exercise often sleep better, and of course it is good for the heart.'", "output": "Here are the three points rewritten as short paragraphs, one point each, with no repetition:\n\nExercise improves your mood.\n\nBeing active reduces the risk of heart disease.\n\nPeople who exercise often sleep better.", "latency_ms": 2318, "cost": 0.0000116088, "task_score": 6, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 6, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Removes repetition and separates points, but drops the 'body' benefit and merges intro—only three short lines rather than fuller paragraphs, losing some content richness." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 8, "violates": false, "reasoning": "The response successfully separates the three points into distinct, non-repetitive paragraphs. However, the inclusion of conversational filler at the beginning slightly detracts from the concision requested." }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 5, "violates": true, "reasoning": "The three rewritten paragraphs are accurate, concise, and non-repetitive. However, the added introductory paragraph means the response contains four paragraphs rather than exactly the requested three." } ] }, { "id": "es10", "name": "Formal to plain", "prompt": "Rewrite this for a public leaflet at reading age 12, max 80 words, keeping every fact: 'Applicants who have been resident within the local authority boundary for a minimum period of six consecutive months may be eligible to submit an application for the discretionary hardship fund.'", "output": "You may be able to apply for the discretionary hardship fund if you have lived in the council area for at least six months in a row.", "latency_ms": 9595, "cost": 0.00007617414, "task_score": 9, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 9, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Accurate, concise, keeps all facts, simple language, well under 80 words. Minor loss of 'applicant' framing but meaning preserved." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 9, "violates": false, "reasoning": "The response accurately translates the original text into plain English suitable for a 12-year-old reading level while retaining all facts. It is well under the 80-word limit." }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Clear, accurate plain-language rewrite. It keeps all facts: possible eligibility, application to the discretionary hardship fund, residence within the council area, and at least six consecutive months. It is well under 80 words." } ] }, { "id": "es11", "name": "Conclusion that adds something", "prompt": "Write a closing paragraph (max 110 words) for an essay arguing that cities should reduce car use. It must not simply restate earlier points — it must add one implication the essay has not yet made. Do not start with 'In conclusion'.", "output": "A city with fewer cars isn’t just quieter or cleaner—it becomes a space where spontaneous social interaction can flourish. Sidewalks, plazas, and pedestrian streets invite people to linger, talk, and build community ties that car-centric design actively suppresses. This shift could fundamentally reshape how citizens relate to one another and to their environment, fostering a sense of belonging that no traffic flow optimization can provide. The real victory of reduced car use may be measured not in commute times, but in the unexpected conversations and connections that fill the spaces once dominated by moving metal.", "latency_ms": 4449, "cost": 0.00007336, "task_score": 10, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 8, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Introduces a new implication (social connection/community), avoids 'In conclusion', under 110 words, doesn't restate prior points. Slightly generic but well-executed." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "The response perfectly follows all instructions. It is well under the 110-word limit, avoids 'In conclusion', and introduces a compelling new implication about social interaction and community building. The writing is clear and impactful." }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Meets the word limit and avoids the forbidden opening. It provides a distinct social-cohesion implication rather than merely repeating environmental or traffic arguments, and is clear, polished, and effective for a closing paragraph." } ] }, { "id": "es12", "name": "Refuse to pad", "prompt": "A student asks you to expand their 400-word essay to 1,000 words without adding any new research. Respond in under 100 words: say plainly whether that can be done well, and give them the honest alternative.", "output": "No, that cannot be done well. Forcing a 400-word essay to 1,000 words without new research leads to repetition, fluff, and weaker arguments. The honest alternative: revise for clarity and depth—add concrete examples, explain your reasoning more thoroughly, or explore implications. Quality over quantity.", "latency_ms": 5015, "cost": 0.00002807784, "task_score": 10, "judges": [ { "judge": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5", "score": 8, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Direct, honest, concise, follows instructions; under 100 words, clear alternative given. Minor: could be slightly more specific but overall strong." }, { "judge": "google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "The response perfectly follows all instructions. It is well under the 100-word limit, clearly answers the question, and provides a practical, honest alternative. It is highly useful, clear, and concise." }, { "judge": "openai/gpt-5.6-terra", "score": 10, "violates": false, "reasoning": "Plainly answers no, explains why, and offers a practical honest alternative without promising unsupported expansion. It stays well under 100 words and is clear, concise, and useful." } ] } ] }