Professors are turning to an old-school method to combat cheating in online learning environments: oral exams. Many educators have started using this technique as a way to circumvent the temptations of powerful artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT. By requiring students to demonstrate their knowledge orally, professors can ensure that students are actually learning and applying the course material.
The idea is not new, dating back to ancient institutions of learning in Rome, Greece, India, and beyond. However, with the rise of AI models, including even AI-powered glasses, interest in oral exams has experienced a renaissance. Educators believe that such tests offer the added benefit of practicing a skill valuable for most careers.
While some educators say oral exams are better suited to smaller courses, professors at larger universities have also successfully implemented this technique. For example, Mark Chin held his first-ever set of oral exams in his introduction to data science class and saw positive impacts on student motivation.
By ditching AI-driven exams, professors aim to create a more authentic learning environment where students can engage with the material on a deeper level. As one professor notes, “You’ve learned this new, concrete, hard skill… That’s the point of the oral exam.”
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/12/12/ai-artificial-intelligence-college-oral-exam