Melbourne school reduces marks after Year 12 students caught cheating with AI

Mazenod College, an all-boys school in Melbourne, has taken action after several Year 12 students were caught using AI to cheat on an English exam. The school confirmed that some students had employed AI tools during an oral English assessment.

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The matter was thoroughly investigated, and all appropriate processes were followed in submitting results to the [Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority].

School principal Paul Shannon stated that the matter was thoroughly investigated and all appropriate processes were followed in submitting results to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). He confirmed that the students involved were spoken to and their overall marks for the affected assessment were reduced.

"Written and oral assessment tasks, especially exams, are designed to measure a student's own understanding and independent thinking," Shannon said. He emphasized that while AI use is a growing challenge, it has no place in assessments where students must demonstrate their knowledge independently and fairly.

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Written and oral assessment tasks, especially exams, are designed to measure a student's own understanding and independent thinking.

The VCAA provides guidance to schools on AI use, noting that it can breach academic integrity. Schools are responsible for investigating suspected misuse to ensure VCAA rules are upheld. These rules require students to submit their own work, acknowledge all resources, and refrain from plagiarism or cheating.

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While the use of AI tools is a growing challenge within all schools, they have no place in assessments and examinations, where every student must be able to demonstrate their own knowledge, independently and fairly.