A study by ifo, BIBB and the Technical University of Munich finds that aspiring IT specialists using ChatGPT scored about 70 percent of possible points on university-level tasks, compared with 41 percent without AI. Researchers tested 673 apprentices at twelve vocational schools in six German states.
Researchers from ifo, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, the Technical University of Munich and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg tested 673 apprentices training as IT specialists in their final year, at twelve vocational schools in six German states, between October 2025 and January 2026. One randomly assigned group worked with ChatGPT Pro and internet access, the other without internet, as is standard in exams today. On university-level tasks the AI group scored about 70 percent of possible points, versus 41 percent for the comparison group. On exam-level tasks the share rose from 22 to 66 percent. Comprehension did not suffer: in follow-up tests without any tools, the AI group never performed worse, and often better.
The results point to substantial productivity gains when apprentices use AI tools deliberately. Those who rate their own AI skills highly benefit the most, yet most apprentices currently teach themselves these skills. While 84 percent of surveyed apprentices already use AI in vocational school, only 16 percent say they are taught how to use it properly. That gap is an opportunity for training companies: systematic instruction on AI use could significantly amplify the learning effect.
The study authors leave open whether the measured performance gains hold up over time without loss of understanding. The scores recorded immediately afterward are an early signal but no substitute for long-term observation. Further research is meant to clarify whether knowledge gained with AI support remains accessible months later.
What this means for decision-makers
- Add structured training on proper AI use to apprenticeships, since only 16 percent of apprentices currently learn this in vocational school.
- Use the observed skill jump to introduce apprentices to more demanding tasks earlier in their training.
- Watch for follow-up research on long-term knowledge retention before permanently changing exam formats.
This story was produced automatically from the source named above and checked by software before publication. The image is symbolic and shows neither the event nor a real person. How this paper is made