Denmark to Allow AI Use in High School English Exams from 2026

The pilot program, limited to the oral section of the high school diploma English exam, allows students one hour to prepare their topic using any tools, including generative AI. 

Students must then deliver their presentation in person before an examiner.Education Minister Mattias Tesfaye emphasized balancing digital innovation with educational standards. 

“We’re launching pilot schemes to find the right balance,” he said, noting the need to prepare students for a digital future while maintaining teaching integrity.

For the written English exam, students will shift to handwriting part of the test to prevent reliance on computers, a change from digital to non-digital, reversing the practice of allowing internet-connected computers since 2008. 

Tesfaye stated, “Non-digital exams limit cheating and help students develop their own language style.”

The initiative, voluntary for high schools, reflects ongoing global debates about AI’s role in education—whether it’s a valuable tool for a digital economy or risks undermining student learning.