In exams held under supervision the rules are usually strictest, because a breach can be checked well there. At the same time, AI tools are changing exam practice, and many universities have published their own guidance. This guide shows how to find the rules for your exam, which approaches exist and how to ask the right questions.
Kurz beantwortet: In supervised exams, what the university or the lecturer has expressly approved is what counts. The University of Potsdam, in its guidance of 25 March 2026, considers a ban sensible only where it can be checked, for example in an exam under supervision. Where no clear rule exists, a written question is the safest route. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points
- The rules are set by the examination regulations, the department and the lecturer. There is no nationwide list of permitted aids.
- The University of Potsdam distinguishes four approaches to AI in exams, and it only conditionally recommends a ban.
- According to the guidance, a ban makes sense only for exams that can be supervised and is hardly enforceable for unsupervised work.
- At the University of Potsdam, the use of unapproved aids counts as deception.
- Even where use is allowed, labelling duties, data protection and checking of outputs still apply.
Why do stricter rules apply in exams?
In an exam under supervision, your own performance can be checked directly. The guidance of the University of Potsdam explains its position with the point that a ban only makes sense if it can be enforced. Home-written assignments lack that control. The guidance therefore expressly distinguishes between supervised and unsupervised examinations.
For you, this means the expectation of your own work is especially clear in an exam. If you are unsure whether a tool is permitted, do not bring it until the question is resolved.
Which approaches to AI exist?
The table shows the four approaches that the University of Potsdam describes in its guidance of 25 March 2026. It reflects the logic of that university, and your own regulations may differ.
| Approach (Potsdam) | Meaning according to the guidance |
|---|---|
| Everyone may | AI may be used as a tool where the content cannot, or only to a small extent, be produced by AI. Clear labelling rules are needed. |
| Everyone must | Your own work builds on AI tools. This is only possible if all students have access to these tools. |
| No one can | If AI can produce the content in good quality, the form of the exam or the content tested should be adapted. |
| No one may | A ban is only conditionally recommended and is hardly enforceable for unsupervised exams. |
An exam under supervision usually falls under the approach in which AI may not be used, because it takes place in supervised conditions. Whether this applies to your exam is shown by the announcement or the module description.
What does this mean for your exam in practice?
Read the announcement of the exam, the module description and, if available, the lecturer’s notes on aids. Pay attention to the difference between permitted aids such as a formula sheet or a dictionary and electronic devices. A phrase such as approved aids is clear, a general announcement without a list is not.
A practical example: at the University of Potsdam, the use of unapproved aids counts as deception under the examination regulations applicable there (BAMA-O). The guidance refers to the examination regulations for the assessment and names the grade not sufficient (5.0) as the consequence. This is an example from a single university and not a rule for all.
How do you ask the right question?
Asking is not a sign of uncertainty but protects you. It is important not only to ask in general but to name the tools you mean. Ask in writing so the answer is documented.
- Ask the lecturer in writing which aids are approved for the exam.
- Name the specific tools, for example a chatbot, a translation app or a spelling aid with AI functions.
- Save the answer with the date and keep it until the grades are published.
- If no answer comes, turn to the student advisory service or the examinations office.
If the lecturer has posted notes in the learning management system, a look there is worthwhile. Anyone who reads the notes early has less to improvise in exam week, and the rules apply equally to all participants. A question asked in the course forum is also a written form of clarification, provided the answer is documented in a traceable way.
Data protection and limits in exams
Even where a tool is permitted, limits remain. Do not enter personal data or unpublished research data into external services. Also check every output for accuracy, because you answer for the text, not the tool. Do not hand in content you do not understand.
Anyone who uses AI to prepare for exams should keep that separate from the exam itself. Exam rules refer to the examination situation. Our guide on learning with AI shows how to use AI sensibly for studying.
Frequently asked questions
Is AI banned in every exam?
No. Whether AI is banned depends on the exam. The guidance of the University of Potsdam considers a ban sensible only for exams that can be supervised, not as a blanket rule. The rule for your specific exam is therefore decisive.
Does merely looking at a phone count as a breach?
That depends on the exam rules. Often they distinguish between permitted and excluded devices. The rule that applies to you is in the announcement or in the supervisors’ instructions. If in doubt, put the device away in advance and ask.
What happens if I use an unapproved aid?
The consequences follow the regulations of your university. The University of Potsdam names the grade not sufficient in its guidance. Our guide on attempted deception in an exam explains how such a procedure runs.
Must I disclose that I used AI?
For permitted use, the Potsdam guidance requires clear labelling rules. Your regulations or the lecturer’s notes show how these work in your case. Without a requirement, a short note on the tool and the purpose of its use is a sensible precaution.
What if my university has no rule yet?
Then ask in writing and document the answer. Universities increasingly publish guidance, but not every department has its own rule. The student advisory service can tell you who is responsible.
What to do now
- Read the announcement and the module description of your exam for approved aids.
- Ask in writing if the information is not clear.
- Document the answer and keep it ready.
- Clarify data protection and exam rules before using a tool, not afterwards.
Related reading
- Hub on examination regulations: Understanding examination regulations
- AI in study: what is allowed (in German)
- Learning with AI: opportunities and risks (in German)
- Attempted deception in an exam: consequences for your grade
- AI deception: what the Kassel ruling means for resits
Sources: University of Potsdam, guidance “AI and examinations” (as of 25 March 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
