On 2 March, the Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, wrote to the Chief Executives/Managing Directors of the largest UK awarding organisations asking them to implement stronger measures to prevent students from bringing mobile phones and other unauthorised devices into exams or using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to cheat in non-examination assessments (NEAs) and coursework.
The unverified use of AI in NEAs and coursework
The NAEO supports efforts to highlight the use of AI tools by students, as many centres report difficulties in detecting AI use in NEAs and coursework. We agree that further support is needed to help teaching staff uphold the fairness and integrity of assessments and prevent any disadvantage to other candidates.
To address this, the NAEO is encouraging centres to develop a clear strategy or procedure for identifying the use of AI tools, and to share this with students - and with parents, where appropriate. This strategy may include taking the following action:
- Step 1 – Teaching staff identifying the possible use of AI when completing NEA/coursework tasks based upon their knowledge of the student’s writing style
- Step 2 – Using technology – such as an AI and plagiarism tool – to support the teacher’s judgement. However, these tools can be very costly for centres to purchase.
- Step 3 – Using departmental colleagues to share their knowledge/expertise to reach a conclusion
The use of mobile phones in the exam room
The scale of the problem
Although the NAEO agrees with Ofqual that mobile phone possession remains one of the most common breaches of exam regulations, it is important to note that the thorough training provided by exams managers/officers ensures invigilators are well‑prepared in JCQ regulations. As a result, Ofqual statistics show that centres are successfully managing attempts to use unauthorised materials - particularly mobile phones - within the exam room, with the number of proven cases of malpractice involving candidates decreased in summer 2025 compared with summer 2024 (There were 5,025 cases of malpractice involving candidates in summer 2025, down 2.5% from 5,155 cases in summer 2024).
Ofqual are correct to highlight the use of mobile phones as the main cause of student malpractice. 44.3% of all malpractice cases in summer 2025 involved the use of a mobile phone and other communication device offences with 2,225 cases resulting in penalties for this type of offence in summer 2025, compared with 2,140 (41.5% of all student malpractice cases) in summer 2024.
However, these statistics must be considered within the context of the number of candidates sitting examinations. These include:
- 17.5 and 17.6 million GCSE, AS and A level entries (at component level) in summer 2025 and summer 2024 respectively.
- In summer 2025, although 4,735 individual candidates had at least one penalty issued as a result of malpractice, this represents 0.3% of the overall 1,376,480 GCSE, AS and A level candidates with results issued (or pending at the time of data collection) in summer 2025. This is similar to summer 2024 where 0.4% of the overall 1,349,260 GCSE, AS and A level candidates had at least one penalty issued as a result of malpractice (4,975 individual candidates).
Mobile phones use outside the exam room
Centres are, in practice, well‑equipped to identify and manage the use of mobile phones within the exam room. Candidates are warned about the rules before the exam series begins through JCQ documentation and dedicated exam‑related assemblies or briefing sessions. In addition, the JCQ Unauthorised Items poster is displayed prominently outside each exam room, and invigilators issue a final reminder before the examination starts.
However, one of the main concerns regarding mobile phone use arises not inside, but outside, the exam room. This risk emerges when candidates are permitted to visit the toilet during an examination. Although they are supervised to the entrance of the toilet, there is no way to confirm that they are not using a mobile phone once inside. Candidates may be asked to turn out their pockets, but this can be challenging if a candidate refuses to comply.
The threat posed by AI glasses
The NAEO believes that centres should be encouraged to recognise the rapid advancement of technology as a significant challenge to maintaining the integrity and security of examinations. As such, AI‑enabled glasses may pose a greater threat to the exam system than mobile phones in the coming years.
AI glasses pose a threat as they possess technology including:
- Hands‑free functionality - Users can take photos, record videos, and receive notifications without touching a device. Some models respond to simple voice commands to capture moments or perform actions.
- Real‑time translation - Many AI glasses can instantly translate spoken or written languages, making them especially useful for travel or multilingual environments.
- Augmented reality (AR) - Certain models project digital information directly into the user's field of view - for example, navigation directions or contextual data overlaid on real‑world objects.
- Integrated audio - Built‑in speakers and microphones allow users to take calls, listen to music, or receive spoken notifications while still hearing the environment around them. Features such as Whisper Mode help to keep sound private with minimal audio leakage.
- Object recognition - Advanced versions can identify objects and provide additional information, helping users better understand or interact with their surroundings.
To help centres understand the types of AI‑enabled glasses currently available and how to manage their use, the NAEO has published the following article- AI/Smart glasses – What are they and training invigilators in identifying them in the examination room
The actions to be taken by the NAEO
The NAEO agrees with Ofqual that further action is needed to support centres in preventing the use of mobile phones (and other technologies) and in curbing the unauthorised use of AI in NEAs and coursework.
Therefore, in partnership with The Exams Office, we will be introducing the following initiatives from September 2027:
AI and plagiarism detection tool
All member centres of The Exams Office (over 5,500 centres) will receive complimentary access to an AI and plagiarism detection tool, including an allocation of 50,000 ‘free words’, with the option to purchase additional words at a heavily discounted rate.
Online training and assessment on unauthorised items
A certificated online training and assessment module on unauthorised items will be available on The Exams Office Hub for centre staff involved in invigilating examinations.
Mobile phone detector tool
Subject to acquiring a suitable, high-quality model, The Exams Office has agreed to provide an exam‑room mobile phone detection tool/wand to all delegates attending their training events during the 2026/27 academic year, with the option to purchase additional detection wands at a heavily discounted rate.
As a mobile phone must be switched on and not in airplane mode for the device to detect it, these wands will not identify every mobile phone within the exam room. However, they will act as a useful deterrent and support centres in reinforcing exam‑room regulations relating to mobile phones.