Smartglasses and earpieces may worsen exam cheating in schools, according to England's qualifications watchdog, Ofqual. Ian Bauckham, the head of Ofqual, warned that the next wave of wearable hi-tech devices could magnify cheating, building on recent increases enabled by smartphones.
Rising concerns over wearable tech
Speaking on an Ofqual podcast, Bauckham said the regulator must act quickly as technology evolves. "We are all familiar with mobile phones, but there are smartwatches that we are increasingly seeing on young people that are fully internet connected and present many of the same challenges as mobile phones." He added that smartglasses capable of displaying text on the inside of the lens, visible only to the student, are in development. "We are going to have to keep on top of this," he stressed.
Current cheating statistics
Last summer, Ofqual recorded 2,225 cases of mobile phone and smart device cheating associated with GCSE, AS, and A-levels, making it the largest category of exam cheating since 2018. Internet-enabled gadgets, including invisible earpieces and smartglasses, are already being advertised. Bauckham warned that unfair help from such devices could lead to grades that no longer accurately reflect a student's knowledge, undermining the trustworthiness of qualifications.
AI in coursework
Ofqual is also scrutinising GCSE and A-level courses over potential AI use in coursework. Teachers have reported that AI-generated content is becoming harder to detect. Bauckham hinted at stronger checks, such as requiring teachers to more frequently verify students' work or increasing expectations for referencing sources. "What you haven't done is just open ChatGPT and say: 'Write me 10,000 words on Henry VIII's foreign policy, please,' because that is absolutely not acceptable," he said.
Bauckham emphasised that the qualification system is a national asset that must be protected from being undermined by technology. The regulator is considering measures to ensure the authenticity of coursework, short of dropping it entirely, which he described as a "nuclear option."
