Quest-Genius: An AI-Driven Personalised Learning Platform Bridging Educational Gaps for Secondary Students - A Quasi-Experimental Study on Academic Performance, Engagement, and Equity

This study investigates the efficacy of Quest-Genius, an AI-powered personalised learning platform, to bridge the after-school achievement gap among secondary school students in Punjab, India. Despite high smartphone penetration (93.5\% as per ASER, 2024), access to quality after-school tutoring remains limited for students from low-income households. Quest-Genius leverages GPT-4 fine-tuned with NCERT curriculum content to offer personalised academic support, including board exam practice tests, OCR-based handwritten answer evaluation, and open digital access. The platform aims to provide an equitable, scalable alternative to traditional tuition, particularly in rural and under-resourced settings. Through a proposed quasi-experimental study design comparing different student groups, the paper aims to assess the effectiveness and accessibility of AI-driven solutions in improving academic outcomes and reducing educational inequity.