Smartglasses and earpieces may worsen exam cheating in schools, says Ofqual

Ian Bauckham warned that recent increases in cheating enabled by smartphones may be made worse by the next wave of wearable devices. Photograph: Trish Gant/Alamy

Cheating in exams could be magnified by the new generation of wearable hi-tech devices such as smartglasses or invisible earpieces, according to England’s qualifications watchdog.

Ian Bauckham, the head of the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), also revealed that GCSEs and A-level courses in England were being scrutinised over potential AI use in students’ coursework, after teachers said they were struggling to detect it.