Strengthen Your Essays. Master the Art of Argumentation
Symbai’s Student Revision tool helps you build persuasive arguments, structure clearer essays, and sharpen critical thinking through AI‑guided practice — like a gym for your mind.”
Symbai is a Totally New Take On Revision
Most revision tools drill facts or tidy up your wording. Symbai shows you how to build a strong argument — the heart of any good essay.
Where other platforms focus on memorising quotes or polishing sentences, Symbai teaches you to organise your ideas and defend them. A clear argument is what impresses teachers in subjects like English, history or social studies — style and facts matter, but without a persuasive line of reasoning, even a well‑written essay falls flat.
How it Works
1
Choose A Topic
Our AI creates a debating activity to match the topic that you are revising.
2
Select Difficulty
From 'Easy' for junior highschool to 'Expert' for university-level.
3
Launch Debate
AI argues the opposite side, pushing you to think critically.
4
Review & Reflect
Identify ways to improve your critical thinking based on performance data and AI feedback.
Designed by World-Class Educators
In Connors Words
“Symbai exists to make strong thinking and confident writing accessible to every student.”
As a teacher, I grew increasingly frustrated by the way essays were being taught and marked, so I dedicated six years of my life to solving the problem. Too much class time was spent teaching facts that students could easily find on Google — yet when it came to assessment, teachers were marking a skill that had barely been taught: argumentation.
In my first year of teaching, I noticed that my debaters were consistently outperforming my other students. They were transferring the argumentation skills from debate into their written subjects. That was the light-bulb moment. I resolved to build an app that would give every student access to the same kind of structured argumentation practice my debaters enjoyed.
More About Connor
Co-taught Baradene’s History Scholarship Program — producing 13 scholarship winners and 4 outstanding scholars, all trained to argue with clarity and evidence.
- Represented the University of Auckland at national and international debate championships, inspiring Symbai’s focus on clear, reasoned argument.
- Winner and finalist in senior Auckland Schools Debating competitions.
- Coached multiple championship teams and doubled student participation in debating & mooting as Head Coach at Baradene College.
- Microsoft Innovative Educator 2022 & 2024
- Holds a BA in Political Science and History
In Shar's Words
“What sets Symbai apart is its ability to model how the best debaters think, prepare cases, and strategically respond to opponents. It doesn’t just generate text. It demonstrates strong argumentation, models how to respond effectively, and provides targeted feedback to help students sharpen their reasoning.”
- Winner of both the New Zealand University Prepared Debating Championship and the New Zealand Impromptu Debating Championship representing the University of Auckland.
- Semi-finalist and top 10 speaker at the Australasian Debating Championship and semifinalist at the World Universities Debate Championship in 2021 representing the University of Auckland.
- Coached the National School Debate team for New Zealand in 2022 and for Sri Lanka in 2025.
- Chair of the judging panel of the Grand Finals of the Australasian Debate Championship in 2023 and of a Quarterfinal of the World University Debate Championship in 2024.
- Holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics and a Bachelor of Laws.
Why Investing in Critical Thinking Pays Off
60% of managers say critical thinking is the
#1 SKILL
missing in graduates.
say critical thinking is essential to their business.
Only 9%
of university instructors say they regularly teach critical thinking, even though 89% say it is vital.
Training with debate frameworks improves reasoning scores by
than those using passive methods.
Of former debaters
say that debate experience has been extremely valuable in their careers.
Data shows that
1 IN 4 DEBATERS
will earn a master's degree.
Chatbots reply. Symbai trains.
Thinking → Enhanced with Symbai
Without Symbai
- Thinking feels scattered and hard to track.
- No clear structure for arguments or ideas.
- Reflection happens by accident, not by design.
With Symbai
- Visual debatetrees help you organise thoughts into clear arguments and counter-arguments.
- The AI Challenger pushes you to test assumptions and think more deeply.
- Built-in reflection tools let you track how your reasoning evolves over time.
Result - Symbai gives structure and feedback to the way you think — transforming ideas into a visible, repeatable reasoning process.
Thought Organisation → Enhanced with Symbai
Without Symbai
- Notes, essays, and reflections are scattered across apps.
- It’s hard to revisit old ideas or measure growth.
- You waste time re-formatting and rewriting.
With Symbai
- All debates, notes, and maps are saved in one clean, searchable workspace.
- Essays and summaries can be exported instantly from your debatetrees.
- Progress dashboards visualise improvement across topics and sessions.
Result - Symbai turns your study notes into structured insight — helping you revise smarter, track progress, and move smoothly from learning to mastery.
Learn to Think, Argue, and Reason — Even on Your Own.
Symbai gives every learner the structure and challenge of real debate — anytime, anywhere.
Gamified Learning
Launch debates at Easy, Medium, Hard, or Expert level — tailored to each learner’s ability in seconds.
Build Independent Thinking
Explore both sides of an issue, strengthen arguments, and gain confidence in reasoning.
Always Have an Opponent
Whether learning solo or prepping in your own time, Symbai’s AI is always ready to engage.
Ask the Student TutorBot
Get help mid-debate — from tips on rebuttals to understanding argument structure.
Distraction-Free Debates
Full-screen mode builds real focus — reduce cognitive load by removing distractions.
Track Your Progress
See how you improve over time with automated scoring and performance feedback.
Go beyond memorisation — learn to think like a top student.
Master the skill teachers value most: clear, persuasive reasoning.
Try Symbai for free and start thinking stronger.
What others are saying
“I believe Symbai has the potential through its unique multi-AI approach to become ubiquitous in the field of critical thinking in the way that Grammarly is associated with writing or Quizlet is with flash cards.”
Nick Hanne
Education Partnerships Manager at the Free Speech Union NZ
“Symbai fills a major gap in education — it equips students to think logically, independently, and critically. Unlike other tools, it offers a neutral, AI-driven platform where students can genuinely practise debating and refine their thinking. It’s like having a 24/7 mentor that challenges without bias. A powerful solution for those seeking depth over group think in today’s education landscape.”
Todd Roughton
Former Principal, HSNZ