Colleges Turn to Oral Exams to Combat AI-Powered Cheating

Educators worry students are losing critical thinking skills as AI tools become more sophisticated

Mar. 25, 2026 at 11:18pm

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Colleges across the U.S. are increasingly turning to oral exams and other in-person assessments to combat the rise of AI-powered cheating. Professors say they are noticing troubling trends, such as students submitting perfect written assignments but struggling to explain the material when questioned directly. The shift toward oral exams is seen as a way to ensure students are actually learning the course material and not simply outsourcing their work to AI chatbots.

Why it matters

The growing use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has raised concerns among educators about the impact on student learning and critical thinking skills. Oral exams are seen as a way to combat cheating and ensure students are developing the necessary skills to succeed in upper-level courses and their future careers.

The details

Professors at universities like Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania, and New York University are implementing various forms of oral assessments, including Socratic-style questioning, mock interviews, and even AI-powered chatbot exams. The goal is to force students to demonstrate their understanding of the material rather than simply regurgitating information. Some professors are also pairing oral exams with written assignments to get a more comprehensive view of student learning.

  • In 2022, the launch of ChatGPT sparked increased interest in oral exams among educators.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, some colleges started using oral exams to address concerns about online cheating.
  • Cornell University's Center for Teaching Innovation now offers an 'Oral Assessment Workshop' to help faculty implement the practice.

The players

Chris Schaffer

A biomedical engineering professor at Cornell University who introduced oral defenses in his class last semester.

Emily Hammer

An associate professor of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of Pennsylvania who pairs oral exams with written papers in her seminar classes.

Panos Ipeirotis

A professor at NYU's Stern School of Business who unveiled an AI-powered oral exam for the final exam in his AI product management class.

Andrea Liu

A 21-year-old business major at NYU who provided feedback on Ipeirotis' AI-powered oral exam.

Olivia Piserchia

A Cornell junior and biomedical engineering major who says she initially found Schaffer's oral defense nerve-wracking but came to value the one-on-one time with instructors.

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What they’re saying

“You won't be able to AI your way through an oral exam.”

— Chris Schaffer, Biomedical engineering professor, Cornell University

“It comes across as if we're trying to prevent cheating. That's not why we're doing this. We're doing this because students are actually losing skills, losing cognitive capacity and creativity.”

— Emily Hammer, Associate professor of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, University of Pennsylvania

“I want oral exams everywhere now. I want to pair it with every single written assignment. I don't trust written assignments anymore to be the result of actual thinking.”

— Panos Ipeirotis, Professor, NYU Stern School of Business

“It felt kind of awkward to be talking to what was pretty much a blank screen.”

— Andrea Liu, Business major, NYU

“Having that live check-in holds you accountable. It's a lot harder to look people in the eyes and say out loud, 'I don't know this.' And, that makes you realize, 'I should study this.'”

— Olivia Piserchia, Biomedical engineering major, Cornell University

What’s next

Several universities, including Cornell and NYU, are expanding their use of oral exams and offering faculty workshops on implementing the practice. Professors like Panos Ipeirotis are also continuing to experiment with AI-powered oral assessments.

The takeaway

The rise of AI-powered cheating has prompted a shift toward in-person assessments in higher education, with oral exams emerging as a key tool to ensure students are developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. While the format can be challenging for some students, educators see it as a necessary step to combat the growing threat of AI-assisted academic dishonesty.