Why Oral Exams are the Future in the Age of AI for Home Exams

Having been closely affiliated with academia over the past few years, I have witnessed firsthand how AI has compromised traditional home exams.

Because of this, I believe it’s time to re-evaluate our assessment methods. We should shift towards oral exams and use other innovative techniques.

The Challenges Posed by AI in Home Exams

AI tools like advanced plagiarism checkers, automated essay writers, and problem-solving algorithms are now accessible to students. While these tools can help with learning, they also make cheating easier.

Because no one supervises home exams, students may dishonestly use AI to complete their assignments and exams. This behavior reduces the credibility of academic qualifications and hampers the true learning process.

Why Oral Exams Are a Viable Solution

I prefer oral exams because they require real-time responses. This makes it much harder for students to rely on AI tools or external help. The spontaneous nature of oral exams ensures the responses are genuine. They reflect the student’s understanding and knowledge.

Besides, oral exams let instructors explore a student’s knowledge more deeply. They can ask follow-up questions to assess critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This also checks how well students can apply concepts in different situations. Written exams often can’t achieve this level of understanding.

In addition, oral exams offer immediate feedback. Students can learn and correct their mistakes right away, improving their understanding. Instructors can see how students think and give tailored advice.

Oral exams also help develop communication skills crucial for professional success. Speaking clearly and confidently is a valuable skill that oral exams naturally promote.

In my opinion, switching to oral exams can reduce cheating and plagiarism. The face-to-face interaction and the need for spontaneous answers create a more controlled environment that discourages dishonest practices.

Complementary Assessment Methods

Moreover, educators can integrate the following methods alongside oral exams to further enhance the integrity and effectiveness of academic evaluations.

• • Project-Based Assessments

These require students to work on real-world problems over an extended period, including research papers, presentations, prototypes, or other relevant deliverables.

• • Portfolio Assessments

Students compile a collection of their work, such as essays, lab reports, artwork, or other assignments.

• • Capstone Projects

Extensive, culminating projects typically undertaken at the end of an academic program, synthesizing knowledge from various courses and showing a student’s competency.

• • Continuous Assessments

Regular, smaller assessments throughout the course, such as quizzes, assignments, class participation, and more, rather than a single final exam.

• • Peer Assessments

Students evaluate each other’s work through structured criteria and guidance from instructors.

• • Viva Voce (Oral Defense)

A viva voce is an oral defense of a thesis or major project. Students present their work and answer questions posed by a panel of experts.

Final Thouhgts

The rise of AI is changing how we assess students. We need to keep the integrity and quality of education. Oral exams are a strong solution. They ensure authenticity, promote deeper understanding, and reduce cheating. By adding other assessment methods, schools can create a more comprehensive and resilient system.