Secondary students studying music can use artificial intelligence to write the lyrics for the composition element of National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher assessment, says new guidance from the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
This is because no marks are awarded for the creation of the lyrics.
However, using generative AI, or GenAI, to write the composing review - which also counts towards the final grade and where students explain their main decisions, how they developed their ideas and identify areas of improvement - would not be acceptable.
Subject-specific guidance on AI
The example is one of several in new guidance produced by the SQA that is designed to provide further clarity on the use of AI in assessment for teachers in the 2025-26 session.
It follows calls from the profession for subject-specific guidance setting out what is acceptable so school staff feel better equipped to prevent cheating.
Other subject-specific examples of acceptable and unacceptable use of AI cover English, computing science, business education and physics.
However, the SQA says “it is impossible to create an exhaustive list of acceptable and unacceptable uses, and the appropriateness of GenAI use will depend on specific assessment context”.
The SQA says its examples are designed to be “thought provoking” and to help teachers “reflect”.
It suggests that teachers should use three questions to make decisions about possible use of GenAI in the assessment:
1. Will the use of GenAI tools substitute for the acquisition of key skills, knowledge and understanding by learners?
2. Will the use of GenAI tools undermine the need for learners to demonstrate genuine evidence of their skills, knowledge and understanding?
3. Are marks awarded for the activity which will be undertaken by GenAI?
The SQA guidance says that if the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, then the use of GenAI for that purpose would be unacceptable.
But even here there is a caveat: “This may be different where assessment arrangements have been agreed in advance”.
‘No new responsibilities’ for teachers
Donna Stewart, director of qualifications development at the SQA and Scotland’s chief examiner, said the 2025-26 guidance had been developed with teachers in recognition of the challenges regarding GenAI use among learners.
She said that the guidance is designed to provide further clarity - not add new responsibilities for educators.
“SQA is not endorsing or mandating the use of GenAI, and it is crucial for both learners and educators to recognise that GenAI tools have limitations and may not always produce reliable outputs,” she said.
“However, given the accessibility and speed at which the technology is developing, it is important we provide a framework and guidance.”
Online question-and-answer sessions will be arranged in time for the new school year in August so that teachers can ask questions and feed back their views on the guidance.
However, the SQA says “this current stance will be in place for at least the 2025-26 academic year”.
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