AI Cheating in Education and How Teachers Can Outsmart It

The Evolution of Cheating in Education

Cheating has existed as long as learning itself. But in 2025, it’s taken a new form. Students no longer need to pay for sketchy essay-writing services. Instead, they can generate assignments within seconds using free AI writing tools.

These AI tools, like ChatGPT, Grammarly, and EssayGenius, make it easy to produce essays quickly. However, professors often spot AI-generated work because it tends to have vague language and repeats the assignment prompt unnaturally.

How to Tell if It Was Written by AI

Spotting AI-written content requires looking for certain clues. Here are the most common signs:

• Repeated key terms: The essay echoes phrases directly from the prompt multiple times.
• Inaccurate facts: AI sometimes fabricates information, a phenomenon called hallucination.
• Unnatural sentences: The writing may feel robotic or awkward.
• Generic explanations: The text circles around points without deep insight.
• Inconsistent tone: The style doesn’t match the student’s usual voice.

For example, a student might input a prompt like, “In 300 words or fewer, explain how this SWOT and brand audit will inform your final pitch.” The AI spits out a response that mechanically repeats key phrases rather than offering a unique perspective.

This repetition often results in writing resembling outdated SEO copy instead of genuine analysis.

Can Teachers Use AI Tools to Catch Students Using AI?

Teachers can fight back by getting familiar with AI tools and techniques to detect AI-generated work.

Catch AI Cheaters

Here are practical steps educators can take:

1. Understand AI capabilities: Tools like GPTZero and Smodin can quickly generate essays based on prompts. Knowing what these tools produce helps in spotting AI-written assignments.
2. Do as the cheaters do: Run your own assignments through AI tools before the semester starts. This gives you examples of possible AI outputs tied to your specific prompts.
3. Collect real writing samples: Request a simple, personal writing piece at the beginning of the course. Use this to compare style and tone against suspicious submissions.
4. Ask for rewrites: If you suspect AI use, have the AI rewrite the submitted paper. AI tends to produce lazy rewrites, often just swapping synonyms without changing core ideas.

For instance, when comparing original human writing against AI output, you’ll notice AI versions lose emotional depth and add unnecessary clarifications.

Can You Always Tell if Something Was Written Using AI?

Detecting AI writing isn’t always straightforward. The key is to gather enough evidence to discuss with the student and school administration if needed. Staying alert and skeptical during grading is essential.

Familiarity with AI tools strengthens your ability to spot inconsistencies and protect academic integrity.

Teachers face a new challenge: balancing enforcement with understanding. When students submit AI-generated work, don’t take it personally. Instead, make learning more engaging and meaningful than the temptation to cheat.

For those interested in deeper insights on AI tools and their uses, resources like Complete AI Training offer courses and information tailored to current AI developments.