Overview
For Cambridge Cambridge exams 2026, aI tools are in every student's pocket. Cambridge and schools are still catching policy wording up to reality — but the principle is stable: your exam work must be yours alone. Here is how to use AI without risking your certificate.
What policies generally say
For Cambridge Cambridge exams 2026, always read your centre's academic integrity statement — it overrides generic advice.
| Context | Typical stance |
|---|---|
| In the exam room | No devices, no AI — absolute ban |
| Coursework / NEA | Disclose AI use per centre rules; undisclosed generation = malpractice |
| Homework | Varies — follow school policy |
| Private revision | Usually allowed with limits (see below) |
Allowed vs not allowed — revision edition
For Cambridge Cambridge exams 2026, > Key takeaway: AI is a tutor substitute for understanding, not a substitute for writing answers under time.
Generally OK (with caution)
- Explaining a concept you already studied
- Generating practice questions you then answer closed-book
- Summarising your own notes
- Checking grammar on your original essay draft (if school allows)
High risk / often prohibited
- Pasting live exam questions or mock papers marked “confidential”
- Submitting AI text as your homework without citation
- Using AI during supervised assessments
- “Solve this past paper” with no subsequent self-attempt
AI for revision vs exam misconduct
Use [MarkScheme](/mark) or [self-marking guides](/blog/how-to-mark-cambridge-past-papers-yourself) for exam-style feedback tied to real mark schemes — not generic chat text.
| Revision use | Misconduct if… |
|---|---|
| “Explain ECF in mark schemes” | You bring AI notes into the exam |
| “Give me a mnemonic for Krebs cycle” | You cannot reproduce without AI in timed conditions |
| “Mark my paragraph” | You paste the real exam paper before sitting |
Why AI breaks exam prep if misused
For Cambridge Cambridge exams 2026, read [AI marking guide](/blog/ai-marking-cambridge-past-papers-guide) for product-specific boundaries.
- False fluency — polished chat answers hide gaps that past papers expose
- Hallucinated mark points — schemes are precise; AI paraphrases lose marks
- Integrity investigations — unusual vocabulary or identical errors across a cohort trigger reviews
A safe AI revision workflow
This section covers A safe AI revision workflow — ranked by what Cambridge examiners return to most often in past papers.
- Study topic from textbook / teacher
- Attempt a past paper question closed book
- Mark with official scheme
- Only then ask AI to explain errors — compare to scheme wording
- Rewrite the answer by hand without AI open
What to do if your school bans AI entirely
For Cambridge Cambridge exams 2026, respect the rule. Substitute:
- Teacher office hours
- Examiner reports
- Peer study groups with self-written answers only
FAQ
For Cambridge Cambridge exams 2026, spell-check tools sit in a grey zone — ask your centre. In exams: no.
Can I use Grammarly?
Does Cambridge detect AI in scripts?
Investigations use multiple signals — similarity, seating, timing, centre reports. Do not test the system.
Is Photomath / Wolfram cheating?
In revision: learning aid. In supervised work: follow school rules. In exams: malpractice.
What to read next
This section covers What to read next — ranked by what Cambridge examiners return to most often in past papers.