TLDR: Leading education experts are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the A-levels and GCSE examination systems in the UK. The demand stems from the rapid advancements in generative artificial intelligence (AI), which is fundamentally changing how students learn and how academic integrity is maintained. Proposed changes include a greater emphasis on oral assessments, enhanced security measures during exams, and faster marking processes. The move is seen as crucial to ensure qualifications remain relevant and robust in an AI-driven educational landscape.
The United Kingdom’s foundational examination systems, A-levels and GCSEs, are facing urgent calls for significant reform from education experts. The catalyst for this proposed overhaul is the unprecedented rise and integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into students’ learning processes, necessitating a re-evaluation of traditional assessment methods.
Experts suggest that the current pen-and-paper examination model is becoming increasingly vulnerable to AI-driven academic dishonesty and may no longer adequately assess students’ true capabilities. Dr. Thomas Lancaster, a computer scientist at Imperial College London specializing in the educational use of generative AI, academic integrity, and student cheating, highlighted the inevitability of new exam types. ‘This is becoming such a core digital skill now. I think an exam of this type is inevitable,’ he stated, emphasizing the need to test students’ effective use of AI rather than just their knowledge recall .
Among the key recommendations for reform are the introduction of more oral assessments, which are less susceptible to AI-generated content, and a substantial increase in security checks during examinations. Dr. Lancaster also advocated for ‘more training for invigilators to help them to spot disallowed devices,’ noting that ‘communication devices now can be as small as concealed earpieces, and there are more dangers with AI-enabled smart glasses’ . Additionally, there is a push for speedier marking processes, potentially leveraging AI tools in combination with human judgment to provide quicker feedback and grades .
Generative AI has already begun to revolutionize exam preparation. Students are increasingly creating personal AI tutors, which are available around the clock to generate tailored learning materials. Dr. Andrew Rogoyski of the Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI observed, ‘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’ . Sandra Leaton Gray, a professor of education futures at University College London’s Institute of Education, further elaborated on the benefits: ‘So they’re able to talk to it about the marking frameworks that are in use and upload those, and then they’re able to do sample answers on their own. And then they’re able to say to the AI: ‘How would you improve the answer?’ It’s like having a tireless tutor’ .
However, this widespread adoption also presents significant challenges to academic integrity. Data reveals a dramatic increase in AI use for assessments: at the university level, student reliance on AI jumped from 53% in 2024 to 88% in 2025. Among 13- to 18-year-olds, generative AI use surged from 37% in 2023 to 77% in 2024 . Compounding the issue is the ineffectiveness of current AI detection tools, which often fail to identify AI-generated content and can even falsely flag human work as plagiarized . This renders unsupervised written assessments largely unviable, underscoring the necessity for a return to in-person exams .
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Beyond immediate reforms, the broader discussion includes a shift in educational philosophy. Experts suggest moving away from uniform syllabi towards interest-driven learning paths, focusing on personal growth, social contribution, and well-being over traditional class rankings. This could involve mixed-age studios, community projects, and assessments that evaluate the value a student creates for others, preparing them for a labor market that increasingly values collaboration over competition .
