AI boosted homework scores 18%, then exam scores dropped 20%

AI Boosted Homework Scores by 18% – Then Exam Scores Dropped 20%, Study Shows

A study tracking 27,000 students aged 12–18 in China found that those using AI tools like Doubao and DeepSeek saw homework scores rise 18% over six months, but scored 20% lower on closed-book exams than peers who didn't use AI. About 80% of students used AI; the remaining 20% formed the control group. The research was led by David Stromberg (Stockholm University) and Victor Lei and Wu Yanhui (University of Hong Kong). It hasn't been independently verified yet. A smaller 2024 UPenn study showed a similar pattern: AI helped during practice but the edge vanished on closed-book tests. The 18% gain paired with a 20% drop is a strong signal, though I'd discount some of the homework boost as AI doing the work rather than real learning.

Why it matters: 27,000 students, 6-month controlled study, 18% homework gain vs 20% exam drop — the numbers are solid and the topic is hot. Deduction because it's a secondhand report (via The Economist) with no direct link to the paper, so methodology can't be verified. But empirical educatio...