The head of England's exams regulator has warned there is significant "cause for anxiety" over students using artificial intelligence to cheat in their coursework, particularly for A-levels in subjects like history and English.
Regulator Flags AI Misuse in Key Subjects
Sir Ian Bauckham, the chief regulator of Ofqual, delivered his stark assessment to the House of Commons Education Select Committee on Tuesday 13 January 2026. He highlighted that the problem is most acute where extended writing tasks form a major part of the final grade.
Coursework in history and English A-levels can contribute up to 20% of the overall qualification, making them vulnerable to AI-assisted malpractice. Sir Ian stated he had personally expressed his concerns to the Department for Education following visits to schools and colleges across the country.
AI Not Yet Fit to Mark High-Stakes Exams
Alongside the cheating warnings, Sir Ian Bauckham was clear that AI technology is not yet sufficiently reliable to mark GCSE and A-level papers. He pointed out that the software "still makes mistakes," ruling it out as a primary assessor for the foreseeable future.
Transparency was another key issue he raised. Sir Ian argued that students sitting crucial exams must retain the right to understand why they received a specific mark. He warned that the existing appeals process, which allows for a human review, would become "complex and difficult" to manage if AI were the main marker.
Ofqual's Response and the Potential of AI
In response to the growing threat, Ofqual is commissioning further research. This work aims to gauge the current scale of the cheating risk and explore future measures to protect the integrity of qualifications.
The regulator has suggested several countermeasures, including:
- Asking students to present the same information in different formats.
- Requiring detailed, teacher-signed disclosures on how coursework was completed.
However, Sir Ian conceded that no single measure could completely eliminate the risk of AI-enabled cheating.
Despite the dangers, Sir Ian Bauckham struck a balanced note, acknowledging AI's potential benefits for the exam system. He cited "lots and lots of opportunities" for the technology to aid exam boards before students sit their tests.
This could include enhancing exam paper quality assurance and comparing questions year-on-year to maintain standards. "That work can make qualifications more secure and less error-prone," he told MPs, suggesting AI could improve efficiency and cut costs within the system.
