Test six AI homework tutors on one maths problem with a 14-year-old and pick ChatGPT Study Mode

Posted

Sep 10, 2025 by Laura Cioffi (LinkedIn)

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Last checked

Oct 17, 2026

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Method:

How we verify

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Context: In a comparison test: from a head-to-head chatbot review, not a standalone agent test. A single-problem test by a parent, not a formal review.

Beginner-friendlyNo logins, payments or coding needed. Low risk: paste the prompt and you should get something useful.

Outcome

During back-to-school prep, Laura Cioffi and their 14-year-old daughter gave the same cone surface-area problem to ChatGPT Study Mode, Photomath, Socratic by Google, Claude, Brainly AI and Duolingo Math. Photomath got it wrong; Claude and Socratic were right but too academic; Brainly gave clear steps; Duolingo felt like a game. ChatGPT Study Mode asked her for the values, walked her through the formula and checked her understanding; she said it didn't make her feel 'thick'.

Agent

ChatGPT, Claude, Photomath, Socratic, Brainly AI, Duolingo Math

The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote this from what it describes.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about anything important that's missing below. Keep them quick. Then do the task, checking in with me at the key points.

Goal: Tutor my teenager through a homework problem step by step without giving away the answer.

What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing):
- The problem, typed or as a photo
- My child's age and year
- What they already tried

Rules:
- Ask one question at a time and wait for my child to answer.
- Use short, plain sentences suitable for their age; no long blocks of text.
- Check understanding with a quick question before moving on.
- Only show the full answer after they've had a real try, and double-check the maths.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.

Output: A short back-and-forth that ends with my child solving the problem and a one-line recap of the method.

You'll know it worked when: my child gets the right answer and can explain how.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about anything important that's missing below. Keep them quick. Then do the task, checking in with me at the key points.

Goal: Tutor my teenager through a homework problem step by step without giving away the answer.

What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing):
- The problem, typed or as a photo
- My child's age and year
- What they already tried

Rules:
- Ask one question at a time and wait for my child to answer.
- Use short, plain sentences suitable for their age; no long blocks of text.
- Check understanding with a quick question before moving on.
- Only show the full answer after they've had a real try, and double-check the maths.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.

Output: A short back-and-forth that ends with my child solving the problem and a one-line recap of the method.

You'll know it worked when: my child gets the right answer and can explain how.

Before you finish: re-read my goal and constraints, check your answer against each one, and list anything you assumed or couldn't confirm.

Source

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lauracioffi_ai-education-parenting-activity-7371576560027582464-eqWm