Oral assessments, tighter security and faster marking are on the horizon as generative artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the UK exam system, according to education experts. As the 2025 exam season concludes with GCSE students receiving results after traditional pen-and-paper tests, AI is already reshaping exam preparation and assessment.
Students are increasingly using AI as personal tutors, available around the clock to generate tailored learning materials. Dr Andrew Rogoyski of the Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI said: “Using AI can give a student a much better understanding of a subject because they can ask those questions they wouldn’t ask in class, or at odd hours, without being judged.” Professor Sandra Leaton Gray of University College London’s Institute of Education noted that AI use “really took off this summer,” with students uploading marking frameworks and requesting sample answer improvements.
Experts warn that AI’s rapid development necessitates new exam formats. Dr Thomas Lancaster of Imperial College London, a specialist in educational AI and academic integrity, said: “This is becoming such a core digital skill now. I think an exam of this type is inevitable.” He also highlighted new cheating risks, including concealed earpieces and AI-enabled smart glasses, calling for increased security checks and invigilator training.
Sir Ian Bauckham, chief regulator of Ofqual, expressed concerns about AI’s impact on extended writing coursework, particularly the extended project qualification. He warned: “I think anybody that wants to say we should move the exam system wholesale away from exams … to a space where it’s much harder to do that, which is extended writing coursework, should probably do a reality check.” Dr Rogoyski added that essays written unsupervised may no longer reliably assess mastery, suggesting a shift toward viva-style discussions to test understanding.
Jill Duffy, chair of the Joint Council for Qualifications, said exam boards are exploring AI to speed up marking, potentially delivering GCSE and A-level results within a month instead of two. OCR is trialling AI to convert handwritten answers into digital text, which could reduce delays and allow university offers based on actual results rather than predicted grades. Duffy noted that oral assessments are already more common in higher education, and this trend may extend to school exams.
