Ofqual's updated approach to regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the qualifications sector in England represents an important milestone for the qualifications sector. More importantly, it signals that the conversation is moving on.
The challenge is no longer deciding whether AI has a place in assessment. Around the world, awarding organisations are already demonstrating how AI can improve assessment design, strengthen quality assurance, support examiners, increase accessibility and make assessment more consistent. The challenge now is building the evidence, governance and confidence needed to adopt these innovations responsibly and at scale.
The e-Assessment Association (eAA) welcomes Ofqual's commitment to enabling safe AI-driven innovation and its recognition that the evidence base will continue to evolve. That is exactly the approach the sector needs. Innovation should be encouraged, evaluated and shared, with regulation evolving alongside robust evidence rather than acting as a barrier to progress.
AI is already changing assessment
Much of the public discussion around AI in assessment continues to focus on future possibilities. Yet across education, professional certification and workforce assessment, organisations are already demonstrating how AI can strengthen assessment when implemented within robust governance frameworks.
The International e-Assessment Awards showcase projects using AI to support assessment with AI used to support assessment professionals with AI used to support question development, improving accessibility, strengthening assessment quality assurance and identifying patterns that would otherwise be difficult for humans to detect consistently.
One project demonstrated more than 91% agreement with moderated benchmark marking across tens of thousands of responses. Responses where confidence was lower were automatically referred for human review, while comprehensive audit trails ensured every decision could be scrutinised. Rather than replacing examiners, AI enabled them to focus their expertise where it added the greatest value.
These are not theoretical examples. They demonstrate that responsible AI deployment is already improving assessment practice.
Better assessment, not simply faster assessment
Assessment has never relied on a single human judgement. Double marking, moderation, standardisation, statistical monitoring and quality assurance all exist because experienced assessment professionals recognise that human decision making, while essential, is not perfectly consistent. Fatigue, inconsistency and marker drift are well understood challenges within assessment.
The question therefore should never be whether AI is perfect.
The question is whether AI, deployed responsibly within established assessment processes, can help make assessment more accurate, more consistent, more accessible and fairer for learners.
Human oversight remains fundamental, but it should be viewed as an essential part of responsible AI implementation rather than a reason to avoid innovation.
An international direction of travel
The same themes emerged during the eAA's 2026 National Examinations Roundtable, where senior representatives from national examination authorities and ministries from around the world discussed the future of digital assessment.
There was widespread recognition that AI has significant potential to improve assessment quality, resilience and accessibility if supported by robust evidence and appropriate governance. The discussion was no longer centred on whether AI should be explored, but on how organisations can evaluate, implement and govern it responsibly.
Building the evidence together
Ofqual has made clear that it wants to continue engaging with awarding organisations and stakeholders as the evidence base develops. The eAA strongly supports that commitment.
The assessment community has an opportunity to work together to understand where AI adds genuine value, where further evidence is needed and where safeguards should continue to evolve. That evidence should come from real operational experience, rigorous evaluation and open collaboration between regulators, awarding organisations, researchers and technology providers. The eAA has seen first-hand both the pace of innovation and the care with which organisations are approaching AI adoption.
Ofqual's updated approach provides an important platform for that next stage. The challenge now is to continue building the evidence and sharing the practical experience that will enable the sector to realise AI's potential responsibly.
The eAA looks forward to continuing to support that conversation, bringing together industry experts together to ensure AI is adopted where it genuinely delivers better assessment for learners, educators and employers.
About the eAA
The e-Assessment Association (eAA) is the global professional membership body dedicated to advancing the use of technology in assessment. Bringing together awarding organisations, educational institutions, professional bodies, employers, technology providers, researchers and independent experts, the eAA provides a trusted forum for collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation across education, professional certification and workplace assessment.
The Association supports the development of high-quality, fair and accessible digital assessment through research, best practice, Special Interest Groups, international conferences, webinars and the annual International e-Assessment Awards. By connecting expertise from across the sector, the eAA helps shape the future of assessment and promotes the responsible adoption of technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve outcomes for learners and assessment providers worldwide.
Individuals can join the eAA for free. Find out more here: www.e-assessment.com/membership
Join the global community advancing e-assessment through innovation, research, and collaboration.
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