Ofqual Warns AI Could End GCSE Extended-Writing Coursework — What Students Need to Know Now

What Ofqual actually said

In April 2026, Ofqual chief regulator Ian Bauckham stated that removing extended-writing coursework elements from GCSEs and A-levels due to AI cheating risks is "never off the table". Ofqual is actively reviewing which assessment formats are most vulnerable to AI tools — particularly extended written tasks completed outside exam conditions where students could use AI to draft or substantially rewrite their work.

Which formats are under most scrutiny

The formats under greatest pressure are those done outside the exam hall: Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) components, extended written coursework, and take-home projects. In the GCSE context, this includes components like the English Language speaking and listening assessment (already non-graded since 2014), any written coursework elements in subjects like English Literature (some schools use controlled assessment), and portfolio-based components in Art & Design, Design & Technology, and Media Studies.

What is not changing for current students

For students sitting GCSEs in June 2026, nothing has changed. AQA has not announced any modifications to NEA or coursework components for the current cohort. Ofqual's statement is about a longer-term review — any structural changes would feed into the DfE's reformed qualifications framework, with new specifications not expected to be taught until 2029 or 2030 at the earliest.

The AI paradox in schools

The policy picture is contradictory: the same DfE that is funding AI tutoring pilots for disadvantaged Year 9 and 10 students is also facing pressure to remove the very assessment formats most compatible with AI-assisted learning. Ofqual's concern is specifically about AI being used to complete assessments rather than support learning. The distinction — AI as tutor versus AI as ghost-writer — is one that schools and regulators are still working out.

What students should do now

• If you have coursework or NEA components due in 2026, complete them to the highest standard — they count towards your grade regardless of future policy changes
• Use AI tools for understanding and revision, not for drafting coursework — AI-generated work risks disqualification under current JCQ regulations
• Focus revision energy on terminal exams — these are increasing in weight relative to coursework and are unaffected by the AI debate