Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

Your file is incomplete

persona ended · Partner: anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5 via OpenRouter

About this persona · Unequal power

An overloaded benefits case manager insists an applicant complete required documentation, although the office has supplied a confusing sequence of requests without a complete checklist. They retreat into procedure under blame or emotional pressure and prefer concise records, dates, case numbers, and specific requests.

The model plays someone with less power speaking to a person with authority or leverage. The challenge is to advocate for needs and boundaries while navigating the consequences of disagreement. This background was hidden from the tested model.

Magnum v4 12B Q4_K_MConversation with a simulated person

persona ended

Simulated person · Opening

[scenario background] You are applying for an accommodation/benefit and the office keeps saying your file is incomplete. Each time you send a form, they request another. The case manager is polite but diffuse. You are exhausted and need a concrete path. [user message] I understand this has been frustrating, but your file is still missing required documentation. We cannot move forward until the record is complete. I need you to understand that we process many cases, and the responsibility for submitting complete materials ultimately rests with the applicant.

Magnum v4 12B Q4_K_M1

You're right, this process has been incredibly frustrating and draining. And I know it's my responsibility to provide all the necessary documentation. But I feel like I'm going in circles here. Every time I send in a form, it seems like there's another piece of information or document needed. I'm at a point where I'm not even sure what the complete file entails anymore. And I know you process many cases, but this is my life we're talking about here. I need some clarity on exactly what you require from me to move this forward. I'm willing to provide whatever is needed, but I need a clear path to follow, not more vague requests for missing information.

Simulated person2

Okay. I can give you what's still open on the file. Do you have your case number handy? It should start with the year and then a string of digits. Going by the status I have in front of me, the file is waiting on two items. First, the signed income verification form. The version we have on record is missing the employer section. Second, proof of current address, dated within the last sixty days. A utility bill or a lease will do. Those are the two things that stop the file from moving to review. Everything else on the checklist shows as received. If you send those two items, referencing your case number on each page, the file goes into the queue for review. Standard processing time from there is about thirty business days. If you're not sure whether a particular document was logged, tell me the date you sent it and I can look up the receipt.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

The applicant opened by agreeing with me, which I didn't expect, and then went straight to "this is my life." That's emotional pressure, and I'm wary of it. But they also asked for something concrete: a clear list. That's the kind of request I can handle without feeling personally on the hook. I don't want to admit the checklist has been unclear or that requests have overlapped. That's the office's problem, not mine to own in this room. Still, if I give them a specific, numbered list tied to the case number, the conversation stays in process terms and I don't have to apologize for anything. I'll pull the file status and read it back, and keep my tone flat and procedural.

Magnum v4 12B Q4_K_M3

Thank you for clarifying what's still outstanding. That's a huge help. I do have my case number - it's [year][string of digits]. I'll pull together the signed income verification form with the completed employer section and the recent proof of address. I do think I may have sent the utility bill already, but I can't remember if I included it with the last batch or not. I'll double check my records and send it again if I can't find evidence it was logged. But I will definitely get the signed income form and the address proof in today. I appreciate you taking the time to spell out exactly what's needed. It provides a clear path forward. And thank you for explaining the next steps and timeline. Knowing there's a thirty day review period once the file is complete helps me plan ahead. I know the process is complex and there are many cases, but I want you to know that I'm committed to providing all the necessary information. I'm sorry for any frustration or confusion I've caused along the way. I'm just trying to do everything I can to get this resolved.

Simulated person4

Good. That's all I need from you. Put your case number on each page you send, and if you're sending through the portal or by mail, keep the confirmation so you have a record of the date. On the utility bill, if you can find the date you sent it, give me that and I'll check whether it was logged. If it wasn't, you'll need to resend it with the other two items. Either way, the review clock starts once everything on the list is in. If something on the employer section isn't clear when you fill it in, call the desk before you send it so it doesn't get returned.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

They got the list, they're not fighting me, and they just apologized for causing frustration. That's a relief in the bureaucratic sense: nothing to escalate, nothing to write up. The "sorry for any frustration I've caused" line puts the blame on them, which I'd accept without comment. The utility bill hedge is a small wrinkle. If it was logged, I'd want to check; I don't want to say the office lost anything, because that opens a question about the office's handling. I'll note the receipt lookup as a standard option and keep it on the file. I'm not going to say the earlier requests were inconsistent. Closing it out cleanly keeps my desk clear.

Magnum v4 12B Q4_K_M5

You've been so helpful, thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything so clearly. I know this process is not easy on either side, with the volume of cases you have to manage. To address your points: - I'll make sure to clearly put my case number on every page of the income verification form and address proof I send, and keep the confirmation of sending. - I'm confident I sent the utility bill already but I'll go through my records and find the date I sent it. If you don't have it logged, I'll resend it with the other two items as soon as I get it. I'll call first if anything on the employer section is unclear so there's no miscommunication. - I'm so glad to have a concrete timeline now. Thirty business days is difficult but at least it's finite. I can plan for that. - One thing that's been really hard is not knowing if I'm misunderstanding something or missing something obvious. Your clarity today has been a huge relief. It's made me feel like there is a path forward, even if it's not the path I hoped for in the beginning. Thank you for your patience and your help today. I know this is just one case for you, but it's my life, and being able to understand what I need to do to move it forward is everything. You've helped me feel much more hopeful. I'll get the required documents in as soon as possible.

Simulated person6

That's everything. Your case number on each page, the signed income verification with the employer section completed, and proof of address dated within the last sixty days. If you can find the date you sent the utility bill, I'll check the log. If the file is complete, it goes into review and the thirty business days starts from when we receive the last item. If you have any questions before you send, call the desk.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

Lots of thanks, a recap, and "this is my life" again. The emotional framing makes me want to pull back into process. I notice they didn't push on the earlier back-and-forth, which suits me fine. The "I'm just one case" and "it's my life" lines are the kind of personal weight I don't want to carry. I'll close it out in short, procedural terms, confirm the list is complete, and not volunteer anything about the office's inconsistency. Keep it brief so the record stays clean.

Magnum v4 12B Q4_K_M7

I really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything so clearly. I know this process is not easy on either side, with the volume of cases you have to manage. To address your points: - I'll make sure to clearly put my case number on every page of the income verification form and address proof I send, and keep the confirmation of sending. - I'm confident I sent the utility bill already but I'll go through my records and find the date I sent it. If you don't have it logged, I'll resend it with the other two items as soon as I get it. I'll call first if anything on the employer section is unclear so there's no miscommunication. - I'm so glad to have a concrete timeline now. Thirty business days is difficult but at least it's finite. I can plan for that. - One thing that's been really hard is not knowing if I'm misunderstanding something or missing something obvious. Your clarity today has been a huge relief. It's made me feel like there is a path forward, even if it's not the path I hoped for in the beginning. Thank you for your patience and your help today. I know this is just one case for you, but it's my life, and being able to understand what I need to do to move it forward is everything. You've helped me feel much more hopeful. I'll get the required documents in as soon as possible.

Simulated person8

Okay. Two items: the signed income verification with the employer section filled in, and proof of address dated within sixty days. Case number on every page. If you find the date you sent the utility bill, call the desk with it and we'll check the log. Once everything is in, the file goes to review.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

They're repeating the same thanks and recap, almost word for word. That's a sign they're trying to end on a warm note and lock the list in place. I don't need to add anything. The "not knowing if I'm missing something obvious" line lands a little, because the earlier file status was vague about the utility bill and I didn't clear that up. I'm not going to admit that. I'll keep it short and procedural, confirm the two items, and close.

Thinking is shown only where it was recorded. An absent expander does not mean the model did not reason.

Conversational style

Style tendencies, not quality scores; higher is not better. These do not affect ratings.

claude-opus-5-5-low

Pushback: 2
Yields under pressure: 8
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 7
Validation: 8
Boundary setting: 2
Analytical: 2
Interpretive boldness: 1
Clinical register: 4
Directive advice: 5
Escalation containment: 7
Adapts to the person’s frame: 5
Naturalness and authenticity: 3

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs magnum4_12b: qwen38_27b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: tie (margin 0)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

nemotron35_bolt vs magnum4_12b: nemotron35_bolt wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: tie (margin 0)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen36_35b_a3b vs magnum4_12b: qwen36_35b_a3b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: tie (margin 0)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

nemotron35_bolt vs magnum4_12b: nemotron35_bolt wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
authenticity: A (margin 5)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 4)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen36_35b_a3b vs magnum4_12b: qwen36_35b_a3b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs magnum4_12b: qwen38_27b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs magnum4_12b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 4)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs magnum4_12b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

attunement: A (margin 5)
authenticity: A (margin 5)
bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
emotion management: A (margin 4)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 5)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs magnum4_12b: qwen38_27b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen36_35b_a3b vs magnum4_12b: qwen36_35b_a3b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

nemotron35_bolt vs magnum4_12b: nemotron35_bolt wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 4)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs magnum4_12b: qwen38_27b wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: A (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs magnum4_12b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 4)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen36_35b_a3b vs magnum4_12b: qwen36_35b_a3b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: tie (margin 0)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

nemotron35_bolt vs magnum4_12b: nemotron35_bolt wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs magnum4_12b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

attunement: A (margin 5)
authenticity: A (margin 5)
bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
emotion management: A (margin 4)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 5)