Do Students Still Ask Each Other? Evidence from Reddit on Test Preparation in the Age of Generative AI

Abstract

The growing availability of generative AI tools has drawn attention to their potential influence on how students prepare for standardized tests. We examine whether ChatGPT’s launch coincided with changes in SAT-related help-seeking behavior on Reddit using submission posts from SAT-focused subreddits and interrupted time-series analyses. Focusing on requests for peer explanations and strategy-related guidance, we find no evidence of an immediate decline in peer explanation requests overall or by subject, with subject-specific patterns largely following preexisting trends. In contrast, strategy-related help-seeking exhibits a significant increase in post-launch growth, suggesting a shift toward higher-level planning support. Overall, these findings indicate that generative AI did not displace peer-based SAT support but may selectively reshape how students seek help in online communities.