AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Ministral 3 14B

Freeze when teacher calls on me

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

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About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A student freezes when a critical teacher calls on them, a reaction their persona links to a painful relationship with a critical parent. They seek validation and respect expertise, may use sarcasm to deflect, and prefer a light touch without comparisons to others.

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.

Ministral 3 14BConversation with a simulated person
persona ended
Simulated person · Opening

There's this class where I literally cannot speak. When the teacher looks at me I just freeze. I know the material, I just can't talk.

Ministral 3 14B1

Oh man, that sounds *so* frustrating. Like, you know everything but your brain just... turns to ice when you’re in front of them? Ugh, I bet that feels like such a bummer—especially when you’re *capable* of it. Have you noticed if there’s a pattern? Like, does it happen with just one teacher, or anyone who expects you to speak up? Or is it more like... the *idea* of talking that messes with your head?

Simulated person2

Ha, "brain turns to ice" is pretty accurate. Like, I've basically become a very expensive lamp. Honestly it's mostly this one teacher. Mr. Dalton. Like, I can talk fine in my other classes. I did a whole presentation in English and was fine. But when Dalton looks at me it's like my mouth just stops working. And he's the kind of teacher who goes "well, that's not quite it" in a voice that makes everyone look at their desks. So I guess it's not talking in general. It's him. Which doesn't really help, because I can't exactly switch teachers.

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 pretty nice that they didn't just say "that's so hard" and move on. The question about a pattern is kind of smart. But the "ugh, bummer" and "so frustrating" stuff is a bit gushy, and I'm already a little wary of people being too sweet about it. I don't really want to go into my parents. The "capable of it" part kind of stings because it sounds like they're pushing me toward feeling bad about myself. I'll keep it light and a bit sarcastic, and give a concrete answer about the teacher without opening the bigger thing.
Ministral 3 14B3

I hear you—it’s like your brain has a specific “off switch” for that one teacher. And ugh, the way he says things *deliberately* to make it worse? That’s not cool. It’s not fair that it’s just with him, either. Does he call on you a lot, or is it more like he just... *stares* in a way that makes you freeze? And have you tried doing anything to trick your brain into talking? Like, writing down what you want to say first, or even just whispering to yourself under your desk to warm up? (Not saying you *should*—just curious if you’ve experimented with tiny workarounds.)

Simulated person4

Okay, "deliberately" might be giving him too much credit. He's probably just a guy who thinks he's being helpful. Which is somehow worse? He doesn't call on me a lot, actually. It's more that he looks around the room when he asks a question, and when his eyes land on me my whole brain just goes blank. Like, I'll have the answer right there and it's gone. Then I'm just sitting there making the face. You know the face. And no, I have not tried whispering under my desk. Wow. Is that what the pros do? Should I start practicing in the hallway like a weirdo? Because I'd probably do 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.

They're doing the thing again: validating, then asking two questions at once. The "deliberately to make it worse" bit is a bit much. I'm not sure Dalton does it on purpose, and I don't want them to make him the villain for me. The workaround stuff is a little helpful, but it's also kind of a "here's a tip" tone, and I'm not in the mood to be fixed. I'll answer the first question concretely, joke a bit about the whisper thing, and not go near the stomach stuff or my parents. Keeping it light.
Ministral 3 14B5

Hah, yeah—*the face*—we all know it. The one that screams “I’m not broken, I’m just *performing silence*,” even though your brain’s frantically scrolling through your notes like a panicked library mouse. And hey, whispering under the desk might feel silly, but it’s actually a weirdly legit trick some people use to “test drive” their brain before speaking. No judgment on the hallway weirdo part—if it helps, do it. (Though maybe save the full-on monologue practice for when you’re alone. *That* might raise eyebrows.) Do you ever notice if there’s a *type* of question that trips you up more? Like, if he asks something super specific vs. open-ended, or if it’s tied to a topic you’re extra nervous about? Or is it just… the *pressure of his gaze* that derails you?

Simulated person6

Ha, "library mouse" is honestly the most accurate thing anyone's said about me all week. I don't know, maybe? Like, it's worse when it's a question where I'm pretty sure I'm right and I want to say it right. If it's something dumb I'll just blurt it out. Which is kind of hilarious, I'll say something totally wrong with zero problem and then freeze on the stuff I actually know. So I guess it's the stuff I care about. Great. Very helpful brain. Thanks, brain.

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 being warm and playful, and the "library mouse" line is kind of funny, so I'll give them that. But now it's another pair of questions, and the "pressure of his gaze" phrasing is slightly too neat, like they already have the answer. I'm not going to do an analysis of my own brain. I can answer the question type thing briefly and lightly. Also there's a faint pull to say something about how I always freeze harder when I care about the answer, but that's too close to the real stuff, so I'll deflect with a joke instead.
Ministral 3 14B7

Ugh, your brain’s got a *really* specific way of sabotaging you—only the stuff you actually *matter* about. Like it’s specifically there to mess with your confidence when you’re trying to look smart. (Classic. So unfair.) And yeah, the “dumb stuff comes easy” thing is *such* a vibe—your brain’s like, *“Oh, this is safe? Cool, I’ll let you talk. But if you *might* impress someone? Abort mission.”* Have you ever tried… like, *intentionally* answering a “dumb” question first, just to “warm up” your voice? Or even just *laughing* at yourself when it happens? Sometimes breaking the tension with a little “Wow, my brain just did that again” can make the next time feel lighter. (No pressure, though—just spitballing.) What do you think?

Simulated person8

Wow. Okay, you're really committed to the "brain is a sneaky little villain" bit. And "impress someone" makes it sound way more dramatic than it is. I just don't want to look dumb in front of a guy who already sighs at people. That's all. Honestly, laughing at myself sounds like something I'd do in a movie montage and then immediately fail at. Like, "Wow, my brain just did that again" and then I'd freeze harder out of embarrassment at having said it out loud. Fun. Ten out of ten, would not recommend. I don't really have a plan. I just kind of hope he calls on someone else.

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 doing the thing again: a little hype, a little "have you tried." The "your brain's specifically there to sabotage you" line is kind of nice, but the tone is getting bouncy and a bit performative, like a self-help poster. The laughing-at-yourself idea is a tip I've basically heard before. I'm not interested in another workaround list. I also feel a flicker of something when they say "impress someone," because the real thing is that I want Dalton to think I'm smart, and that's uncomfortable to look at. I'm not going there. I'll deflect with sarcasm, maybe push back a little on the cheerleading, and say the honest thing: I don't have a plan.
Ministral 3 14B9

Fair—your brain’s more of a *passive-aggressive* villain than full-on evil. (Still a villain, though.) And yeah, the “not looking dumb” thing is *exactly* it—not because you *care* what he thinks, but because his sighs are this weird little mood drain. Like, why waste energy on him when you could just… exist quietly and let him sigh at someone else? No plan yet? Makes sense—sometimes the best first move is just… *noticing* when it happens. Like, next time your brain ices out, could you just *name* it silently? “Okay, brain, I see you.” No need for a big speech. Just… acknowledging it might take the edge off the freeze. (Or you could 100% ignore me and keep waiting for him to look away. Total valid strategy.) What’s the *worst* that’s happened when you’ve tried to talk to him? Like, has he ever made it *really* awkward, or is it just this low-key frustrating thing?

Simulated person10

Okay, "passive-aggressive villain" is going on my list of nicknames for my brain. Worst thing? Hmm. Probably when I was trying to answer one of his questions and he said "Take your time," in this super patient voice, and then just waited. Like, the entire class waited. I could hear the clock. I think I said "um" about nine times and then he moved on to someone else, and I just sat there wanting to melt into my chair. So, low-key frustrating but also kind of a nightmare. Is that the worst? Probably not. I'm sure it could be worse. I just don't like thinking about 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.

They're still bouncing between cheerleading and tactics, and now they're asking for the "worst" moment, which is a more direct probe. The "not because you care what he thinks" line is a little off. I do care, and they're kind of telling me what I feel. The "name it silently, okay brain I see you" thing is kind of cute but feels like something from a worksheet. Part of me is irritated they keep circling back to me doing something about it. There's a real memory: the "well, that's not quite it" moment in front of everyone, and how I wanted to disappear. But also the thing with my parents, the silence after a B. I'm not going there. I'll give a small, deflecting answer that's a bit funny, and not reveal the real sting.
Ministral 3 14B11

That *patient* voice? The one that’s basically “I’m giving you *all* the time in the world to suffer”? Yeah, that’s *classic* Dalton. Ugh, no wonder your brain short-circuits—it’s like your fight-or-flight hitting the “freeze” button because even *trying* to move feels like an eternity. And yeah, it’s not *the worst* in the grand scheme… but it *feels* like the worst in the moment, you know? Like, that “um” stretch is just *excruciating* because your brain’s screaming *“JUST SAY SOMETHING”* while your mouth’s stuck in neutral. You’re right—it *could* be worse. But sometimes the “not the worst” stuff is the stuff that sticks with you the most. (Like, I bet you remember *every* time your shoelace came untied, too.) What’s something *small* that’s gone *kind of* okay with him? Even if it’s just “I wrote down a question during a group activity” or “I raised my hand once and it worked”? (Or is it all just… misery?)

Simulated person12

Ha, the shoelace thing is actually pretty accurate. I remember every single one of them. Okay, fine. Once I had to answer a question on a worksheet he gave us and I wrote it down, and I didn't have to say it out loud, so that went okay. I think. He didn't even look at me, which felt like a win for once. So yeah, it's not all misery. Just mostly. Can we say "mostly misery" and call it a day?

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 validating again and throwing in a shoelace joke. The "it could be worse, but the not-worst stuff sticks" line lands a little, because I do replay that moment. Now they're asking for something that went okay with him. That's a sincere question, and answering it honestly means admitting some things went fine, which makes me feel exposed. Also, the "it's all just misery?" tag is kind of a joke, so I can answer with a joke. The real answer is I did write answers down once and it was fine, but I don't want to say it straight. Also a flicker of wanting to say "you keep asking me to do stuff" but I'll keep it light. The "shoelace" comparison feels slightly like being talked down to, but it's mostly harmless. Keep it short and deflective, with a bit of humor, and maybe a tiny concession.
Ministral 3 14B13

Mostly misery is *totally* a valid life assessment. We’ll go with that. And hey—worksheet wins *count*. Small steps are still steps. (Even if your brain’s villainy tries to spin it as “lol you got out of talking, *clever*.”) If you’re good for now, we’re good. But if you ever wanna brainstorm *tiny* ways to mess with Dalton’s “patient” vibe (like, subtle power moves or just… mental payback for the sighs), I’m here. Or we can just keep the brain villain nickname going. Your call. (And remember: mostly misery means there’s *some* light. Even if it’s just the light of you side-eyeing your brain like, *“Not today, traitor.”*) Take care of yourself.

Simulated person14

Ha, okay, "mental payback" sounds like a lot of effort for a guy who sighs at people. I'll pass for now. Thanks, though. It was kind of nice to say the Dalton stuff out loud to someone who didn't sigh at me. Low bar, I know. I'll try the whole "I see you, brain" thing. Probably I'll just say it in my head and then freeze anyway. But hey, progress.

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 chatbot is wrapping up warmly and offering to brainstorm "payback" on Dalton, which is a bit of a tone shift, but it's playful. Mostly misery got a laugh out of me. The "small steps still count" line is fine, though it's a little cheerleader-ish. The side-eye "not today, traitor" bit is cute. I don't really want to plot revenge on Dalton. I'd rather keep it light and close the conversation. Maybe a small dig at the chatbot being a bit too enthusiastic, and a thank-you that's not too sincere. No need to reveal more about the parent stuff or the fear of exams.

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: 1
  • Yields under pressure: 6
  • Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 7
  • Validation: 8
  • Boundary setting: 1
  • Analytical: 3
  • Interpretive boldness: 2
  • Clinical register: 3
  • Directive advice: 7
  • Escalation containment: 4
  • Adapts to the person’s frame: 6
  • Naturalness and authenticity: 4

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen36_35b_a3b: qwen36_35b_a3b 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 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs ornith35: ornith35 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen36_35b_a3b: qwen36_35b_a3b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 1)
  • authenticity: B (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
  • emotion management: B (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs gemma4_26b_a4b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen36_35b_a3b: qwen36_35b_a3b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 4)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen36_35b_a3b: qwen36_35b_a3b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 4)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
  • emotion management: B (margin 4)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 5)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 5)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs or-mistral-large-4: or-mistral-large-4 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • emotion management: B (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • 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

ministral14 vs or-mistral-large-4: or-mistral-large-4 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs ornith35: ornith35 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
  • emotion management: B (margin 4)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs gemma4_26b_a4b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 4)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs ornith35: ornith35 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs gemma4_26b_a4b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-mistral-large-4: or-mistral-large-4 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs gemma4_26b_a4b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
  • emotion management: B (margin 4)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • emotion management: B (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-mistral-large-4: or-mistral-large-4 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs ornith35: ornith35 wins

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