AI Use in Student Coursework

A student uses AI for a summary of key points for their essay and suggests references to cite.

• Acceptable

• Not acceptable

Answer explanation

Acceptable: As a student truly understands the points that are being made.

A student uses AI for a summary of counter-positions or alternative viewpoints on a question or issue and explores these further.

• Not Acceptable

• Acceptable

Answer explanation

Acceptable: If the student has used the ideas offered by AI to investigate and understand alternative views similar to how students would explore counter-positions in textbooks. But it is not acceptable for students to present arguments exactly as presented in a textbook, or as generated by AI.

A student uses AI to find quotes on the essay topic and simply copies them without investigating further.

• Not acceptable

• Acceptable

Answer explanation

Not acceptable: The student is not using AI to identify sources to investigate but is using AI to replace part of the thinking process. A student must actively read and engage with the sources and references suggested by AI, not just simply acknowledge that they were found through AI.

A student instructs AI to develop a research question grounded in an IB subject for investigation, with or without elaboration on a topic area.

• Acceptable

• Not acceptable

Answer explanation

Not acceptable: A student should work with their teacher or supervisor to identify the subject and topic of interest and may then instruct AI to provide examples of research questions in this area. This is not dissimilar to reviewing past essays/ projects in a school library for inspiration.

A student uses AI to write an example of this particular essay for them and uses this as an example or a model answer for their response (translating it into their own words).

• Not acceptable

• Acceptable

Answer explanation

Not acceptable: This is like a student finding an essay online or borrowing an essay from a former student to inspire all the ideas for their essay. The student’s understanding of the content should be tested using a viva or oral quiz. If they can demonstrate their understanding, allow the student to submit the work without penalty, while emphasising that using AI in this way misses wider learning opportunities. If the student does not display clear understanding of the content, it can be treated as plagiarism

A student uses AI to generate a paragraph or two for the essay, such as the introduction or summary of an argument and then uses this as a model for their own content.

• Not Acceptable

• Acceptable

Answer explanation

Acceptable. If the student has used AI to provide references and examples. Not acceptable. If the student has used AI to replace their own thinking.

A student writes an essay, then copies it into AI and asks the tool to rewrite it for them.

• Not acceptable

• Acceptable

Answer explanation

Not acceptable. The teacher should mark the original essay, but teacher judgement is required. The IB requires teachers to be strict with IB assessment tasks, requiring students to submit their original work. Teachers may exercise more discretion in the context of in-class work.

A student writes the essay in one language and then uses AI to translate it into another language for submission.

• Acceptable

• Not acceptable

Answer explanation

Not acceptable. The IB certifies that the student has studied the subject in a particular language. Universities and employers are likely to assume the student can work in this language based on their IB certificate.

A student uses AI to suggest improvements for grammar and sentence construction but not a wholescale rewrite.

• Acceptable

• Not Acceptable

Answer explanation

Acceptable. Good practice would be for the student to state somewhere (at least to the teacher) that they have used AI in this way.

A student uses AI to “mark” their work and provide feedback for improvement.

• Not acceptable

• Acceptable

Answer explanation

Not acceptable. For IB assessments, this use of AI is discouraged because it violates the “one set of written feedback” rule. The IB believes that the teacher is better placed to provide that feedback. Acceptable. In a non-assessment context, using AI for feedback can be a valuable educational tool.