No essays, no homework: ChatGPT transforms how students are assessed in Spain

By Christina Thykjaer Published on 27/05/2026 - 6:00 GMT+2 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp

Artificial intelligence has changed the way people study and is now forcing exams to be redesigned. Universities and schools are seeking new ways to test what students really know.

The scene is playing out with increasing frequency in universities and educational centres: a student hands in an impeccable piece of work, well written, well structured and error-free. Yet when the lecturer asks them about the content, doubts arise. Did they do it themselves… or was it an artificial intelligence?

ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT

The arrival of tools such as ChatGPT has radically changed the way students study and, in turn, is transforming how they are assessed.

Far from being a passing trend, AI has become part of everyday academic life. According to a recent report by the CYD Foundation, 89% of Spanish university students use AI tools in their studies.

And it is not just an occasional resource. Most use it regularly, in some cases every day. From clearing up doubts to drafting entire assignments, AI has become a permanent academic assistant.

This shift has created an unprecedented situation: work done outside the classroom no longer guarantees that the student has actually learned.

Assessment in the age of AI

Universities are well aware of this new reality. The same report notes that most institutions have detected students inserting AI-generated answers, even in exams.

The challenge is clear: how do you assess knowledge when a machine can produce correct answers in a matter of seconds?

On top of that comes another concern: plagiarism and the difficulty of spotting the use of these tools. Many AI-detection systems are far from foolproof, which makes oversight even more complicated.

Are oral exams the way forward?

In response to this landscape, assessment methods are changing in some educational institutions. Although not all universities have yet overhauled their systems, more and more institutions are opting for formats that require students to demonstrate their knowledge in real time.

Oral exams, all but forgotten for years, are making a strong comeback. In them, students have to explain concepts, argue their case and answer questions without any external support.

The defence of assignments is also becoming more widespread: it is no longer enough just to hand in a document; students must justify it, explain it and answer questions about it. In addition, many universities are increasing the weight of in‑person tests to reduce their reliance on work done at home.

The concern has even reached university ombuds offices, bodies responsible for protecting the rights of students and staff. On 21 May, the University of Almería hosted a conference on artificial intelligence after receiving a “flood of enquiries” about conflicts caused by its use.

During the meeting, Vice-Rector Maribel Ramírez warned that AI “is rapidly transforming multiple areas of university life” and pointed to challenges that “cannot be ignored”, such as data protection, transparency and bias.

For his part, university ombudsman Bernardo Claros explained that universities are already receiving “many requests for intervention” related to AI in assessment and other academic areas, which makes it necessary to look for “a common response”.

These statements show that the debate no longer centres solely on academic cheating: it also extends to ethical, legal and community issues.

Related

• International Fact-Checking Day: How to spot AI-generated disinformation
• What will AI never be able to do and what can it do? Tech executives in Spain weigh in

It is not all about risks: AI also offers advantages

Despite the misgivings, artificial intelligence is not seen only as a threat. Students themselves recognise its benefits: a majority believe it can improve their academic performance, according to the CYD Foundation report.

Universities also see its potential to personalise teaching, facilitate research and improve lesson preparation. However, this progress has a darker side. There is a risk that students will become overly dependent on technology, cut back on effort or develop only a superficial kind of learning.

A profound shift in education

What is happening goes far beyond a simple adjustment to exams. It amounts to a structural shift in how we understand learning. For years, the education system has valued memorisation and the ability to write assignments. Today, many of those tasks can be carried out by an artificial intelligence.

That is why skills such as critical thinking, the ability to explain ideas and solving problems in real time are gaining in importance.

Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments

Read more

Tech News

Malta gives citizens a paid version of ChatGPT Plus for free