Denmark is set to break new ground in education by allowing the use of artificial intelligence during English language exams in selected high schools from 2026. The Education Ministry announced on Friday that the initiative, which will be experimental in nature, will apply specifically to the oral component of the high school diploma exam. Students will be permitted to use AI tools, alongside other resources, during the one-hour preparation period before delivering their oral presentation in front of an examiner.
The decision comes amid global debates on the role of AI in education—whether it should be embraced as a valuable learning aid in an increasingly digital economy, or restricted over fears it may weaken students’ independent skills. Education Minister Mattias Tesfaye stressed that the pilot scheme is intended to strike a balance between fostering digital literacy and maintaining strong academic standards. “With students growing up in both analogue and digital worlds, we need to ready them in the best way possible for the reality they will encounter after their schooling,” he said.
While the oral exam will welcome AI assistance, the written portion of the English test will take a different direction. Authorities plan to reintroduce handwritten sections, breaking from recent years where students typed answers on internet-connected computers. Tesfaye explained that handwritten tasks would not only reduce opportunities for cheating but also help learners develop personal writing styles. “For certain linguistic aspects, it is prudent to have exams that are totally non-digital,” he noted.
Denmark has long been a pioneer in integrating technology into assessments, having first allowed internet access during exams in 2008. However, the AI trial will only involve schools that volunteer to participate, making it a cautious step rather than a wholesale shift. The government sees the move as part of a broader effort to modernize education without losing sight of traditional learning values.
Across Europe, many education systems still rely on handwritten exams to uphold integrity, but Denmark’s AI experiment highlights the country’s willingness to test innovative methods in preparing students for the future. The results of this pilot scheme could influence wider reforms in how digital tools are incorporated into classrooms and examinations in the years ahead.
