Pat Coates on the Future of AI in Assessment: It’s Time to Embrace, Not Block, the Opportunity

In a thought-provoking appearance during the recent Graide webinar “From Policy to Practice: What the Department for Education and EU AI Act Mean for Assessment” , Pat Coates, CEO of the e-Assessment Association, made a compelling and timely case for embracing AI in assessment.

As policymakers, regulators and education providers examine the implications of the DfE’s AI guidance and the EU AI Act, much of the conversation is focused on risk, misuse and regulation. But Pat urged the sector not to let caution become inertia. If the education and assessment community waits for perfect conditions before taking action, we risk falling dangerously behind.

From Policy to Practice: AI’s Role in Modern Assessment

The webinar tackled the critical question of how regulatory frameworks are shaping the use of AI in assessment. Much of the focus was on whether certain applications should be classified as “high risk,” particularly in summative assessment, marking and online proctoring.

Pat was clear that AI is not a future challenge but a present reality. It is already being used by students and teachers alike. Pretending otherwise, or delaying progress in favour of endlessly refining policy, is both unrealistic and counterproductive.

He also challenged a prevailing mindset in parts of the sector, the idea that current systems are good enough. They’re not. Teachers are overburdened, marking is inconsistent, and many assessments fail to reflect the skills needed in the real world. AI alone won’t solve these problems, but it offers tools to make meaningful improvements now.

Learner Scripts Have Always Been Used – So Let’s Not Reinvent the Rules Out of Fear

A particularly pointed part of the discussion centred on the use of student work to train AI models for marking and feedback. Pat was unequivocal: this is not a new idea. For decades, real learner scripts have been used to train and quality-assure human markers.

Yet with the rise of AI, suddenly there are calls to restrict or reclassify this practice as problematic. Pat challenged that notion. There is no reason why AI tools should not use anonymised scripts to enable teachers and student to benefit from the same practices that have always underpinned high-quality assessment.

Trying to hold AI to a higher standard than human practice, simply because it’s digital, risks not only hypocrisy but represents a missed opportunity.

AI’s Power to Improve the Assessment Lifecycle

AI has transformative potential across the entire assessment journey, not just in final scoring. AI tools can:

• Support exam and question design, helping generate content aligned with learning objectives and standards.

• Power formative assessment, enabling personalised feedback and insight that supports learner progression.

• Take on marking and moderation, especially repetitive tasks that drain teacher time and reduce capacity for meaningful student support.

He argued persuasively that teachers should not be spending hours marking scripts. Their time is far better spent engaging with students and interpreting their learning. AI can and should support this shift.

Perfectionism is Paralysis: We Must Act Now

One of the most urgent takeaways from Pat’s appearance was his warning against a drive for perfectionism. In a fast moving environment, the risk is that we spend years planning and reviewing, only to find that the moment has passed.

AI is evolving fast. So are the expectations of learners, educators and employers. Sitting back and waiting for ideal policy conditions or flawless implementation plans is no longer a responsible option.

Pat called for experimentation, iteration and bold thinking. He acknowledged that not everything will work perfectly the first time but argued that the sector must move forward. Above all, we must stop using the limitations of current regulation as a reason to stall. If we wait until everything is settled, we may never start.

Final Thought

The message is clear and urgent. AI is already transforming the world of work and learning. If the assessment community fails to keep pace, we risk being left behind and being seen as irrelevant, outdated and unable to meet learners’ real needs.

AI is not a threat. It is a toolkit for progress. Used well, it can help us build fairer, faster and more flexible assessment systems. The question is not whether to use AI, but how fast we can responsibly and meaningfully integrate it.

And the time to start is not tomorrow. It’s now.

Watch the Graide webinar, What DfE Guidance & the EU AI Act Mean for Assessment, here.

Find out more about the eAA’s AI Special Interest Group and watch previous recordings here.

About the eAA 

The e-Assessment Association plays a vital role in bringing together a global community of awarding organisations, assessment providers, technology experts, academics, and educational institutions dedicated to advancing the field of digital assessment. By fostering collaboration across these diverse stakeholders, we create a unique platform to share expertise, insights, and best practices that drive innovation and address the evolving needs of the assessment landscape.

This extensive network of professionals equips the eAA with a deep understanding of assessment technologies and their applications, enabling us to address complex challenges such as ethical considerations, accessibility, and the rapid pace of technological evolution. As digital assessment becomes more central to education and professional qualifications, our role in shaping this transformation ensures that it remains inclusive, equitable, and aligned with the highest standards of integrity.

Central to our mission is the eAA’s unwavering commitment to fostering confidence and trust in digital assessments. This includes addressing critical issues like data security, ensuring assessments are accessible to all learners, and building frameworks that inspire trust among stakeholders. By creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration, we help guide the global assessment community toward solutions that not only meet today’s demands but also anticipate future challenges, ensuring that digital assessments are secure, fair, and impactful for learners worldwide.

Individuals can join the eAA for free – find out more here.