Study shows thousands of students see test score gains in just 25 minutes with eSelf's AI avatar tutors
TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- eSelf, a global leader in face-to-face, natural-feeling conversational AI avatars, announced today the successful completion of a national pilot in partnership with the Center for Educational Technology (CET), Israel's largest K-12 textbook publisher. The entire initiative, conducted with participation from Harvard University and MIT Media Lab, helped thousands of students improve scores while studying for Israel's National English Oral Matriculation Exam (Bagrut).
Data from over 8,000 simulated exams showed an average score increase of four percent between students' first and most recent practice sessions, based on official Ministry of Education assessment rubrics. Additionally, the study found that students who spent more than 25 minutes with the AI avatar experienced even greater improvement.
A key component of the pilot's credibility is supported by Harvard University's involvement as an academic advisor and an independent evaluation conducted by MIT Media Lab, led by Dr. Abel Sanchez, Director of MIT's Geospatial Data Center. Dr. Sanchez and his team validated learning outcomes, analyzed student improvement trends, and assessed the AI system's pedagogical alignment.
"AI tutors mark the next evolution in teaching," said Dr. Abel Sanchez, Director at MIT Media Lab. "Our analysis reveals that students not only engaged consistently with the AI avatar tutor, but also demonstrated measurable learning gains. eSelf is illustrating the profound impact that well-designed AI systems can have on student learning, and I'm proud to contribute to that effort."
"Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed in school, and private tutoring has been proven to help make that possible," said Tzahi Langer, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at CET. "Partnering with eSelf lets us offer every Israeli student an AI-based personal tutor for the English oral exam. Thousands of learners nationwide have already embraced the tool, marking a major milestone in applied AI for education. This pilot is only the first step—we intend to continue scaling and refining the service to promote equity and empower students across the country."
eSelf's avatar tutors use lifelike agents that engage and motivate students in natural, face-to-face conversations. The system provides instant personalized feedback, guides improvement strategies, and grades performance using official rubrics, all at no cost to learners. Through classroom trials with teachers and students, the AI tutor was further refined to align precisely with Israel's English curriculum and exam format, ensuring each practice session authentically replicates real exam conditions.
"The numbers reveal a clear trend: practice with a smart digital tutor delivers measurable and targeted improvement," said Dr. Alan Becker, Co-Founder and CEO of eSelf. "This goes beyond test scores; we're seeing genuine improvements in student confidence as well. Our mission is to make high-quality learning tools accessible to everyone, using real-time insights to create more effective educational experiences for all learners."
Key Results:
- The pilot involved 2,031 Israeli high school students, with 1,841(90.6%)completing at least two sessions on the AI tutor.
- Across all active users, average scores rose from 78.23 to 82.17, a gain of 3.94 points (p < 0.001, medium effect size).
- Gains increased with more practice time: +2.0 points for under 15 minutes, +3.4 points for 15–30 minutes, and +6.1 points for over 30 minutes.
- The system was accessible via mobile and desktop without special training, enabling over 8,000 simulated oral exams in just one month.
About eSelf
eSelf develops multilingual AI-agent technology that enables natural, face-to-face style interactions through cloud-based avatars. The platform supports more than 30 languages and is used in education, training, and customer-service environments worldwide.
About CET
CET (Center for Educational Technology) is Israel's leading non-profit EdTech organization. It creates innovative digital solutions that enhance teaching and learning while reducing educational disparities.
About MIT Media Lab
The MIT Media Lab is an interdisciplinary research laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, known for pioneering work at the intersection of technology, media, science, and design. Its researchers explore bold ideas that advance the boundaries of human-machine interaction, including educational technologies that promote personalized, inclusive learning at a global scale.
Contact
Ali Goldberg
Concrete Media for eSelf
SOURCE eSelf
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