Denmark Adds Oral Defenses to Curb AI Cheating in High Schools

Denmark is implementing new measures to combat AI-assisted cheating in upper secondary schools, including oral defenses and stricter exam controls. Education Minister Magnus Heunicke announced the changes, stating that AI has become a growing concern for both teaching and exams. Students will now be required to orally defend major written assignments completed at home, allowing teachers to assess their understanding of the work.

The move aims to shift the focus from merely evaluating the final document to assessing the student's knowledge and ability to explain their ideas. Additionally, schools will be encouraged to conduct more written assignments on campus under controlled conditions, and computer monitoring tools will be used during exams to restrict access to unauthorized content.

These measures aim to give schools more visibility into students' technology use while creating clearer boundaries around AI use. Denmark's decision follows a study that found a 688% increase in suspensions or warnings for unauthorized AI use from 2023 to 2025 in neighboring Sweden. The government is preparing a broader national strategy for AI use across schools and the wider education sector, acknowledging AI as both a challenge and a technology requiring long-term rules.

While the new rules may reduce the value of using AI to complete assignments that cannot be explained, they also raise concerns about student privacy and increased pressure on students who may struggle with oral exams.