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arXiv · 2610.31066

Dual Exam: Controlled Evaluation of Multimodal Agents and World Models

Zhefan Rao·Meng Chu·Xuan Zhang·Jingfan Chen·Guohao Cai·Runyi Li·Shiyi Du·Ning Lu·Xu Huang·Zhixuan Chen·Feng Nie·Harold Haodong Chen·Hanwen Wang·Wen-Jie Shu·Yajing Bai·Xianfeng Wu·Xuanhua He·Shuhan Guo·Ziyue Ma·Ruichuan An·Long Bai·Miaosen Chai·Wenhao Chai·Jingye Chen·Qi Chen·Xuhang Chen·Wei Chow·Minghao Fu·Yunhao Gou·Haokun Gui·Dong Huang·Wei Huang·Zi Cheng Huang·Haibo Jin·Lingdong Kong·Leung Chun Ho·Tianqin Li·Yanheng Li·Jiayuan Liu·Jiyang Liu·Mingyu Liu·Shaoteng Liu·Xiaocheng Lu·Yawen Luo·Zeyu Qin·Tiancheng Shen·Yueqi Song·Zhaolong Su·Hengkai Tan·Tianhao Tang·Yiran Tao·Juncheng Wang·Qinghe Wang·Shangshang Wang·Yingying Wang·Fang Wu·Tiange Xiang·Qiushi Yang·Weicai Ye·Weichen Yu·Jiarui Zhang·Jize Zhang·Liuzhou Zhang·Renrui Zhang·Sheng Zhang·Wenhu Zhang·Junru Zhao·Lingting Zhu·Yuxin Zuo·Yutong Bai·Long Chen·Yang Deng·Ziqi Huang·Yeying Jin·Weijia Li·Kevin Qinghong Lin·Quande Liu·See-Kiong Ng·Hongliang Ren·Hongru Wang·Shujun Wang·Qifeng Chen·Haoxuan Che
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Abstract

World Models (WMs) can support Multimodal Agents (MAs) through simulated experience, while Agent trajectories can inform World Model refinement. Evaluating this interaction requires separate evidence about action selection and state evolution. We introduce Dual Exam, which tests Agents under fixed environment response mechanisms and World Models under fixed action interventions across physical, digital, social, and scientific domains. The Agent track compares 10 configurations on 1,088 items in 15 reporting categories. The World Model track contains 400 cases across eight scenarios; 15 configurations have full coverage and one covers six scenarios. GPT 6 Astra leads the case-weighted Agent Index at 31.3, and GPT-Image-2 leads the full-coverage WM Overall at 21.7. These scores use different tasks and metrics and are not directly comparable. A 150-case pilot of one coupled pairing records zero task successes and motivates component-level diagnosis. Results reveal uneven task performance and failures to preserve task-relevant state. Their value for predicting coupled success or sustained reciprocal learning remains to be established.

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Zhefan Rao, Meng Chu, Xuan Zhang, Jingfan Chen, Guohao Cai, Runyi Li, Shiyi Du, Ning Lu, Xu Huang, Zhixuan Chen, Feng Nie, Harold Haodong Chen, Hanwen Wang, Wen-Jie Shu, Yajing Bai, Xianfeng Wu, Xuanhua He, Shuhan Guo, Ziyue Ma, Ruichuan An, Long Bai, Miaosen Chai, Wenhao Chai, Jingye Chen, Qi Chen, Xuhang Chen, Wei Chow, Minghao Fu, Yunhao Gou, Haokun Gui, Dong Huang, Wei Huang, Zi Cheng Huang, Haibo Jin, Lingdong Kong, Leung Chun Ho, Tianqin Li, Yanheng Li, Jiayuan Liu, Jiyang Liu, Mingyu Liu, Shaoteng Liu, Xiaocheng Lu, Yawen Luo, Zeyu Qin, Tiancheng Shen, Yueqi Song, Zhaolong Su, Hengkai Tan, Tianhao Tang, Yiran Tao, Juncheng Wang, Qinghe Wang, Shangshang Wang, Yingying Wang, Fang Wu, Tiange Xiang, Qiushi Yang, Weicai Ye, Weichen Yu, Jiarui Zhang, Jize Zhang, Liuzhou Zhang, Renrui Zhang, Sheng Zhang, Wenhu Zhang, Junru Zhao, Lingting Zhu, Yuxin Zuo, Yutong Bai, Long Chen, Yang Deng, Ziqi Huang, Yeying Jin, Weijia Li, Kevin Qinghong Lin, Quande Liu, See-Kiong Ng, Hongliang Ren, Hongru Wang, Shujun Wang, Qifeng Chen, Haoxuan Che. 2026-10-22. Dual Exam: Controlled Evaluation of Multimodal Agents and World Models. https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.31066

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