Is AI marking allowed for IGCSE? What the exam boards and regulators say in 2026

By The Learning Mate team · Updated · 5 min read

Yes. Teachers can use AI to mark IGCSE mocks, homework and classroom assessments. The exam boards' and regulators' rules on AI marking cover work that counts towards a final qualification grade, such as coursework, where a teacher must decide the final mark.

This page summarises each source side by side, with links, so a head of department or exams officer can check the wording directly. It reflects guidance available on 8 October 2026. Guidance in this area changes often, so check the linked documents before you write school policy.

The short answer by type of work

Type of workCan AI mark it?Main sources
Homework and classworkYes. No exam board marking rules apply; your school's own AI policy does.DfE, Ofqual
Mock examsYes. No exam board marking rules apply; your school's own AI policy does.DfE, Ofqual
Coursework / NEA that counts towards the final gradeAI can assist, but a teacher must decide the final mark.Cambridge Handbook 3.2.4(c), JCQ, Ofqual, Pearson
Live external examsNot applicable. These are marked by the exam board.—

What Cambridge International says

Cambridge Handbook 2026: coursework marking, section 3.2.4(c)

New in 2026: teachers must not use AI as the sole or primary means of marking candidates' coursework. A human assessor must review all of the work and decide the mark. This applies to internally assessed components, such as 0500 Component 3 Coursework Portfolio or Geography 0460 Component 3. It does not cover mocks or homework.

The 2026 Handbook also adds a general section on AI (Section V). It says Cambridge's intellectual property rights apply to AI use of its materials, and that centres need Cambridge's permission to use Cambridge materials for AI use.

What Pearson says (Edexcel International GCSE)

Pearson's guidance on artificial intelligence says AI should not be the sole method of marking assessments. Pearson's International GCSE specifications note that these qualifications are not regulated by a UK regulator, so check Pearson's own guidance rather than assuming JCQ rules apply automatically.

What the JCQ says

The JCQ document AI Use in Assessments (Revision Two, April 2025) says schools may decide whether their teachers use AI tools to help mark student work, after careful consideration of data privacy. For assessments that count towards a qualification, an AI tool cannot be the sole marker. The JCQ covers UK qualifications such as GCSE and A level. Cambridge's coursework AI policy says it was developed in light of the JCQ guidance.

What Ofqual says

Ofqual's approach to regulating AI in the qualifications sector (updated July 2026) says AI may not be used as a sole marker in assessments that are part of a regulated qualification. Ofqual's January 2026 blog post on AI in marking supports AI for lower-stakes classroom marking, stressing fairness and transparency.

What the Department for Education says (England)

The DfE guidance Generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education, last updated August 2025, lists tailored feedback as a valid use of AI. It sets two conditions that matter when choosing a marking tool:

  1. Personal data. The guidance recommends that personal data is not used in generative AI tools.
  2. Pupils' work and training. Schools must not allow students' original work to be used to train generative AI models without permission.

The DfE's 2026 leadership toolkit adds that schools need a lawful basis under UK GDPR and an approved list of AI tools.

A four-point checklist for your department

  1. Start with mocks, homework and classroom assessments. That's where AI marking saves the most time, and no exam board marking rules apply.
  2. Follow the coursework rules for coursework. A teacher decides the final mark on work that counts towards the qualification.
  3. Check data handling. Confirm where scripts are stored, who processes them, and that student work is not used to train models. See our GDPR checklist for AI marking.
  4. Write it down. A one-page department note on what AI is used for answers parents' and inspectors' questions before they're asked.

How The Learning Mate fits these rules

The Learning Mate marks mocks, homework and classroom assessments against the mark scheme you provide. It's more accurate than manual marking in our data. You can change any mark or comment, and results reach students when you publish them. Our terms state that customer data is not used to train general-purpose AI models.

FAQ

Can I use AI to mark IGCSE mock exams?

Yes. The exam boards' AI marking rules cover coursework and other work that counts towards a final qualification grade, not mock exams or classwork.

Can AI mark IGCSE coursework?

It can assist. Cambridge's 2026 Handbook says AI must not be the sole or primary means of marking coursework, and a teacher must decide the mark. The JCQ, Ofqual and Pearson have similar rules for assessments that count towards a qualification.

Does the JCQ AI guidance apply to Cambridge IGCSE?

The JCQ covers UK qualifications such as GCSE and A level, not Cambridge International qualifications. Cambridge's coursework AI policy was developed in light of the JCQ guidance, and the Cambridge Handbook has its own AI section.

Do I need parental consent to use AI marking?

It depends on your country's data protection law and your school's lawful basis for processing. UK DfE guidance recommends not putting personal data into generative AI tools and requires permission before student work is used to train models.

Sources