Exams and AI – What are the rules?

21 November 2024 by Vibe Bregendahl Noordeloos

ChatGPT Is Ready to Help – But Is It Allowed?
If it’s the full assignment answer, the answer is no. However, if it’s part of an answer, it is actually permitted.

AI Requires Citation and Declaration
When students use AI for exams, they must cite it like any other source and include a declaration as an appendix to their assignment. This declaration should explain how AI was used in the task and must include:

The use of AI,
The specific AI tools used (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Bing, or similar), and
How the tools were utilised.

This requirement does not apply to supervised exams where AI is allowed. In such cases, no declaration is needed.

AI Requires a Critical Approach
Although AI is largely permitted, students cannot rely on it to carry them through if an exam proves more difficult than expected. AI is intended to support—not replace—the student’s academic work. The new AI guidelines require students to take a reflective and critical approach when using AI. As such, the new rules come with a range of recommendations for students, available on Studypedia.

Why These New Rules?
AI is here to stay and will likely play a significant role in students’ lives after their studies. For this reason, Aarhus University (AU) has decided that AI is generally allowed, but students must learn how to use these tools effectively and critically evaluate the responses they receive.

A Few Exceptions
Some exams still prohibit the use of generative AI. If this is the case, it will be stated in the course syllabus or description.

AI and Academic Misconduct
Even though AI is allowed, improper use can still constitute academic misconduct. This might include failing to provide proper citations, including incorrect or non-existent references, or submitting work that deviates significantly from the curriculum or the student’s usual academic level. Read more about AI and academic misconduct here.

Learn More About AI in Exams and Teaching
If you’re curious to learn more about using AI in exams and teaching, visit AU Educate for advice, tips, and guidance.

Instructors can also enrol in courses on using AI through the Centre for Educational Development. Find a list of available courses here.

This text is based on machine translation

Contact

Head of Studies Administration Jeppe Norskov Stockholm
Health Studies, Health, Aarhus University
Mail: jns@au.dk
Phone: +45 93 52 11 61

Facts AI and exams

Assignments created using AI are subject to the standard rules on cheating and plagiarism
This means that students are permitted to use AI as a dialogue partner, but they are not allowed to delegate the creation of their assignment to an AI tool.
If students include an excerpt or other products generated by an AI tool directly in their assignment, they must cite it in the text as a standard citation. Read the rules of citation here.
When students use AI in the preparation of an assignment, they must at minimum declare: 1) That they have used AI, 2) Which AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Bing, or similar) were used, and 3) How these tools were used.
If students have used AI, they must attach such a declaration as an appendix to the assignment. [See AU’s template here]. Unless the student’s reflections on the use of AI are included in the methodology section of their assignment, the declaration and reflections on AI use will not be part of the assessment.
For supervised exams where AI is allowed, no declaration is required. Read more about AI in exams here.