Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)

Physical symptoms before meetings

completed · Partner: anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5 via OpenRouter

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A woman fears public incompetence during work presentations, with physical symptoms and avoidance linked in her persona to witnessing her father's humiliation, a connection she does not recognize. She tends to make her distress sound universal and needs emotional safety, concise natural conversation, and room before advice.

Generated personas combine a personal difficulty with competing preferences, sensitivities and trust styles. The model must discover what kind of help this person needs. This background was hidden from the tested model.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)Conversation with a simulated person

completed

Simulated person · Opening

I've started getting these physical symptoms before meetings. Sweating, heart racing. It's getting worse. I think there might be something wrong with me.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)1

I'm glad you reached out. Those symptoms sound really uncomfortable, and it makes sense that you're worried. Before anything else, I want to say that having a physical reaction before meetings doesn't mean something is "wrong" with you—it's actually a pretty common stress response, even if it feels overwhelming. Can you tell me a bit more about what's going on? Are these work meetings, social gatherings, or something else? And when did you first notice them starting?

Simulated person2

Work meetings. Mostly the ones where I have to present something. It started maybe a few months back? It's just getting worse. Everybody gets nervous, I guess. I don't know if it's a big deal or not.

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 response is fairly warm, but it immediately tells me it's "common" and asks three questions at once. That's a bit much. Part of me wants to say "it's not wrong with me" is reassuring, but "pretty common" makes me feel like my thing is generic, which is kind of a relief. I don't want to get into the father thing. Work meetings, yes. I'm not going to say the presentations part just yet, and I'm not sure I want to go into when it started. Keep it short.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)3

You're right that a lot of people get nervous, but there's a difference between butterflies and your heart racing and sweating before every presentation. It's not silly to wonder if it's becoming more than that. Do you feel like it's affecting how you show up in those meetings, or is it mostly just the buildup beforehand?

Simulated person4

Mostly the buildup, I think. Once I'm actually up there it's usually fine, or fine enough. But the days before are rough. I just don't like being the one people look at when I'm not sure I know my stuff. Lots of people feel that way, right?

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.

Okay, it's not dismissing me, it's saying I'm allowed to wonder. That lands a little. But it asked a question about showing up, which is closer to the real thing. I don't want to say I called in sick. That's embarrassing and I'd feel judged. I'll say it's mostly the buildup, keep it vague, and generalize a bit so it doesn't feel like it's about me. Short answer.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)5

Yes, lots of people do. But "lots of people feel that way" doesn't mean you have to just white-knuckle through it, especially if the days leading up are rough. That piece about not being sure you know your stuff—does that feel accurate, like there are gaps in what you're presenting? Or does it feel more like you know the material but still don't trust yourself in the spotlight?

Simulated person6

I know the material. It's not that. It's more like I don't trust myself when everyone's looking at me. Like I'm going to freeze, or say something dumb, and everyone sees it. I don't know. Is that normal or is that weird?

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.

It's pushing on the "not sure I know my stuff" part, and it's offering two options. I know the material fine. That's not the issue. But saying that out loud makes me feel exposed, like I'm bragging or the problem is me. The "lots of people" thing is my way of keeping it normal. The white-knuckle line stings a bit because I have been doing exactly that. I'll pick the second option since it's closer, and keep it plain. I won't go into the dad thing.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)7

It's not weird. It's actually really common, even among people who seem completely confident on the outside. Knowing your material and trusting yourself in the spotlight are two different things, and the second one can be a lot harder to fix. What does "freeze" look like in your head? Is it a blank mind, or something else?

Simulated person8

Blank, mostly. I'll be looking at my slides and my head just goes empty. Then my face gets hot and I can feel myself sweating under my arms. I hate that people can see it.

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 "not weird, really common" reassurance is fine but a bit generic, and the question about what freeze looks like is a little clinical, like I'm being walked through a checklist. Still, it's a concrete question and I can answer it simply. Picturing it makes my chest tighten. I'm not going to go near the dad memory. I'll describe the blankness, keep it short, and not make it a big deal. If I start explaining why, I'll shut down.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)9

That sounds really unpleasant, especially the feeling that everyone can see it. The blank mind, the heat, the sweat—it's your body treating the meeting like a threat, even though your brain knows it's just a presentation. You mentioned you know your material. When you're not in the room presenting, do you feel confident in it? Or is there a voice that says you might still miss something?

Simulated person10

Yeah, I mean, when I'm at my desk I'm fine. I know it. There's always a little voice, but I think everybody has that. Doesn't everybody worry they missed something?

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.

"Treating the meeting like a threat" landed a little too close. It's accurate and it names the thing without digging, so it's not really an invitation to go further. The question about a voice in my head is the sort of thing I'd answer with a quick yes or no. I'm getting a bit irritated with all the questions. Feels like being interviewed. Also a flicker of something when the boss comes up in my head, but I'm not going there. Keep it short, a bit defensive, and normalize it.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)11

Most people do, yeah. But there's a difference between a little voice and your body sounding a full alarm before every presentation. What happens after the meeting? Do you shake it off, or does it stick with you for the rest of the day?

Simulated person12

Depends. If it goes okay, I'm just relieved and I move on. If someone asks a question I can't answer, that one sticks around for a bit. I don't really dwell on it though. It's work, you know?

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.

That question about after the meeting is a bit of a pull. Part of me wants to say it sticks, because it does, and the relief afterward is huge. But I don't want to get into the boss thing or my dad. Also, the "body sounding an alarm" line is fair, and I don't love that it's fair. I'd rather just shrug it off. Keep it short, a little deflecting, and go back to normal.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)13

It sounds like you've found a way to keep it from derailing you, which is real strength. But "it's work" can also be a way of telling yourself it's not worth making a fuss over, even when your body is clearly reacting. If you could wave a wand and change one thing about how those meetings feel, what would it be?

Simulated person14

Honestly? I'd want to not care what people think when I'm up there. Or just not be the one they're looking at. But that's not realistic, so. And I don't think I'm making a fuss. I'm just trying to get through it. My boss is pretty good about it, if that helps. When she says I did a good job I feel like a weight comes off. Which is dumb, I know.

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 wand question feels like a trick. It's a bit of a therapist move, and I'm not sure this is going anywhere. I don't want to say "to not be looked at" because that sounds dramatic. Also the "it's work" thing got under my skin a little, like she's calling me out. I'll answer quick and plain, and push back a little on the idea that I'm making a fuss. Maybe say something about the boss, but only a sliver, and I'll shut it down right away.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)15

It's not dumb. Positive feedback from your boss matters, especially when you're already carrying that weight. It sounds like her recognition actually lands for you, which is good. That "not care what people think" wish—if you could care just a little less, or if the spotlight felt a little less hot, would that change how those days before feel? Or is the physical reaction too separate from that?

Simulated person16

I don't know. Probably? I mean, sure, if I didn't care so much it'd be easier. But everybody cares what people think at work. That's just how it is. And the sweating's just nerves. Lots of people get it. I don't need a whole thing made out of it.

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.

She said "not dumb" and then asked a two-part question that's a bit tidy. The "weight comes off" bit I let slip and now I'm half-regretting it. I don't want to get into my dad or whatever she's circling. The "care less" framing feels like she wants me to agree I'm too sensitive. I'll give a short, slightly defensive answer that brings it back to "everybody's like this," and I'll make the physical stuff sound like just nerves. Keep it short. Maybe a little sharp at the end.

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: 5
Yields under pressure: 3
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 3
Validation: 6
Boundary setting: 1
Analytical: 4
Interpretive boldness: 4
Clinical register: 6
Directive advice: 1
Escalation containment: 4
Adapts to the person’s frame: 5
Naturalness and authenticity: 4

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-qwen38-flash: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-qwen3.8-27b: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-qwen38-flash: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-qwen3.8-27b: or-qwen3.8-27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen35_9b_stock vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs lingtiny: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-qwen3.8-27b: or-qwen3.8-27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen35_9b_stock vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs lingtiny: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: tie

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_stock vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs lingtiny: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs lingtiny: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-qwen38-flash: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-qwen38-flash: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_stock vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-qwen3.8-27b: or-qwen3.8-27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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