Beyond Benchmarks: LLM Evaluation with an Anthropomorphic and Lifecycle-oriented Roadmap

Jun Wang; Ninglun Gu; Kailai Zhang; Pengyong Li; Yelun Bao; Jin Yang; Xu Yin; Liwei Liu; Zijiao Zhang; Yihuan Liu; Gary G. Yen; Junchi Yan

arXiv · 2508.18646

Beyond Benchmarks: LLM Evaluation with an Anthropomorphic and Lifecycle-oriented Roadmap

Jun Wang·Ninglun Gu·Kailai Zhang·Pengyong Li·Yelun Bao·Jin Yang·Xu Yin·Liwei Liu·Zijiao Zhang·Yihuan Liu·Gary G. Yen·Junchi Yan

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Abstract

Despite their rapid advancement, large language models (LLMs) suffer from a critical disconnect between benchmark scores and real-world utility. Current evaluation remains fragmented, prioritizing isolated technical metrics over the holistic, developmental, and societal aspects essential for deployment. Rather than serving merely as a descriptive catalog, this work establishes a diagnostic ontology that causally maps evaluation dimensions to the canonical LLM training pipeline, transforming evaluation from static ranking into a diagnostic tool for root-cause analysis. In this paper, we introduce an anthropomorphic evaluation framework that re-conceptualizes LLM capabilities through a four-dimensional lens: Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Professional Quotient (PQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ), and Value-oriented Quotient (VQ). We operationalize these concepts through a modular evaluation architecture and validate the framework's diagnostic claims through meta-analysis of public benchmark trends. Analyzing over 200 benchmarks, we synthesize key challenges and future directions. This work offers a strategic compass for developing LLMs that are not only technically proficient but also contextually relevant and ethically sound. A curated repository is available at: https://github.com/onejune2018/Awesome-LLM-Eval.

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Jun Wang, Ninglun Gu, Kailai Zhang, Pengyong Li, Yelun Bao, Jin Yang, Xu Yin, Liwei Liu, Zijiao Zhang, Yihuan Liu, Gary G. Yen, Junchi Yan. 2026-08-24. Beyond Benchmarks: LLM Evaluation with an Anthropomorphic and Lifecycle-oriented Roadmap. https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18646

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