Smart glasses are the next cheating threat in exams, says chief regulator

By ELEANOR HARDING, EDUCATION EDITOR Published: 00:01, 4 June 2026 | Updated: 00:01, 4 June 2026 It used to be as simple as checking that pupils hadn't written on their hands. But now examiners are having to look out for exam cheats wearing smart glasses, regulators warn. The threat of computerised spectacles to boost their scores in A-level and GCSEs 'should not be underestimated', examinations watchdog Ofqual said. Chief regulator Sir Ian Bauckham said the days of pupils simply looking at their phones or writing on their hands in order to cheat are over. Speaking on his podcast, he said: 'There are of course other devices, there are smart watches and smart all sorts of things. There might be smart spectacles next ... that will play text across the inside of the lens that only the student can see.' He added that Ofqual had to 'move really fast, because technology is moving fast'. Asked about the reality of pupils avoiding detection and taking their devices into exam halls, he said: 'We shouldn't underestimate the challenge involved here.' Smart glasses are already on the commercial market, featuring cameras, headphones and lenses acting as a computer screen display.  There have been cases of people being filmed without their consent by those wearing smart glasses, which are almost undetectable from regular ones.  The threat of computerised spectacles to boost their scores in A-level and GCSEs 'should not be underestimated', examinations watchdog Ofqual said. Pictured: smart glasses designed by Meta (there is no suggestion anyone has cheated using these) Sir Ian added that a new legal ban on use of mobiles during the school day should reduce the threat of cheating, with pupils now required to keep them in lockers. He said: 'It is then much easier for invigilators to enforce that rule. While students are allowed to have mobile phones in school but not in the exam, you have a point of tension, a point of conflict.' Ofqual data shows mobile phone and smart device offences accounted for 2,225 malpractice cases in exams last summer. This represented 44.3 per cent of all student malpractice, up from 41 per cent in 2024. It has been the most common category of student cheating every summer since 2018. Students who take their phones or devices into exam halls risk losing marks or disqualification, preventing them from obtaining a qualification, Sir Ian warned. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.