The world of e-assessment is poised for groundbreaking innovation in 2025, following a year of remarkable progress in 2024. From AI-powered advancements to transformative shifts in high-stakes exams, the e-assessment landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. With the UK government’s review of the curriculum and assessment system sparking widespread debate, and awarding bodies committing to digital transitions for GCSEs and A-levels, the upcoming year is set to redefine assessment on a global scale. We spoke with three leading experts—Patrick Coates, Tim Burnett, and Dr. Mariano Felice—to gather their predictions for 2025.
Patrick Coates, CEO of the e-Assessment Association
“When asked about my prediction for 2025, my answer is simple: AI Agents,” begins Pat Coates, the eAA’s CEO. Coates envisions AI agents as transformative tools that will revolutionize assessment content creation and test development. Unlike traditional software, these agents possess the capability to perform tasks autonomously and validate their own output, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
“AI agents will enable rapid, cost-effective generation of high-quality exams while still requiring human oversight,” Coates explains. On the other side of the assessment process, these agents will play a pivotal role in digitizing handwritten essays for automated marking, even without extensive pre-training.
These advancements are poised to redefine both the creation and evaluation of assessments, making them faster, cheaper and more accurate.
Tim Burnett, eAA Board Member and Assessment Consultant
Tim Burnett predicts 2025 will bring a surge in AI-powered formative assessment tools, alongside growing scrutiny over their transparency.
“By the end of 2025, the education sector will have seen widespread adoption of a variety of AI-powered tools,” says Burnett. Whilst these solutions will largely prove beneficial, he warns of challenges ahead: “The lack of transparency and explainability in ‘black box’ AI solutions will lead to increased calls for regulation.”
He foresees the emergence of pilot programs for generative AI in regulated assessments, but with close monitoring by regulators. Burnett also highlights the rise of “Assessment Agents” as the next industry buzzword, predicting that providers will promote autonomous or semi-autonomous solutions capable of handling various aspects of the assessment cycle.
Perhaps most importantly, Burnett anticipates a fundamental shift in assessment design. “The challenge of maintaining qualification integrity in the age of chatbots will drive fundamental changes in assessment design. This could potentially signal the end of traditional terminal assessment approaches for some programmes, pushing the industry towards more innovative evaluation methods.”
Dr. Mariano Felice, Senior Researcher and Data Scientist at the British Council
Dr. Mariano Felice offers a global perspective, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in e-assessment in 2025.
“AI has changed the assessment landscape by automating scoring processes as well as speeding up test design. Technologies such as automated speech recognition and generative AI are being increasingly used to expedite test creation and delivery, making tests faster and available on demand,” says Dr. Felice. AI can also enable adaptive testing by adjusting questions “on the fly” based on the test taker’s responses and so provide an accurate score using fewer but more precise questions. In addition, many products now incorporate interactive assessment tools, such as chatbots, and offer automated personalised feedback. As AI becomes more capable and widely available, these trends will become commonplace in digital assessments.
Looking ahead, he predicts that paper-based testing will become obsolete except for very specific purposes and contexts. This means that test security and scoring accuracy will become of paramount importance “traditional testing organisations must move with the times or risk becoming irrelevant. AI will play an increasingly bigger role in assessment, so testing organisations, governments and educational institutions must work together to find optimal ways to meet new demands.” He sees promising AI solutions such as remote proctoring, automated identity verification and hybrid human-machine scoring have the potential to make assessments secure and scalable.
Dr. Felice highlights AI-powered tools’ potential to improve accessibility through natural interactions, like speech input. He also notes that chatbots, avatars, and AI-generated content enable realistic simulations, making assessments more engaging and practical. Additionally, AI delivers personalized feedback, offering tailored insights and fostering deeper learning. “These innovations create more inclusive, engaging, and effective assessments,” he concludes.
The role of the e-Assessment Association
As these predictions take shape, the eAA remains at the forefront, fostering collaboration among regulators, awarding organizations, technology experts, and educational institutions. By highlighting best practice and discussing key challenges and considerations, the eAA enables organizations to ensure that digital assessments are secure, equitable, and impactful. The eAA continues to guide the assessment community through rapid transformation.
Conclusion
2025 promises to be a pivotal year for e-assessment, marked by innovations in AI, transformative shifts in assessment design, and a continued focus on equity and security. As these trends unfold, the eAA and its members are uniquely positioned to inspire others to benefit from technology to enhance learning and assessment. Individuals can join the eAA for free to be part of this exciting journey.
About the eAA
The e-Assessment Association plays a vital role in bringing together a global community of awarding organisations, assessment providers, technology experts, academics, and educational institutions dedicated to advancing the field of digital assessment. By fostering collaboration across these diverse stakeholders, we create a unique platform to share expertise, insights, and best practices that drive innovation and address the evolving needs of the assessment landscape.
This extensive network of professionals equips the eAA with a deep understanding of assessment technologies and their applications, enabling us to address complex challenges such as ethical considerations, accessibility, and the rapid pace of technological evolution. As digital assessment becomes more central to education and professional qualifications, our role in shaping this transformation ensures that it remains inclusive, equitable, and aligned with the highest standards of integrity.
Central to our mission is the eAA’s unwavering commitment to fostering confidence and trust in digital assessments. This includes addressing critical issues like data security, ensuring assessments are accessible to all learners, and building frameworks that inspire trust among stakeholders. By creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration, we help guide the global assessment community toward solutions that not only meet today’s demands but also anticipate future challenges, ensuring that digital assessments are secure, fair, and impactful for learners worldwide.
Individuals can join the eAA for free – find out more here.
Join the global community advancing e-assessment through innovation, research, and collaboration.
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