## Academic honesty ### Can I use AI to help me write or edit my report? No. Your report must be your own work. If you are seriously asking this question, you need to re-read [JCQ's latest information for candidates about NEAs](https://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/information-for-candidates-documents/) and should (re-)read my page on [[academic honesty]] for good measure. ### Can I use AI to help me generate ideas? Do I need to cite such usage of AI? Yes and yes. See [[academic honesty#Analysis|Cambridge OCR on AI usage]] for more information on what Cambridge OCR say about using AI tools in each of the NEA sections. You must cite all usage of AI tools that affects your project. Be warned that the analysis section expects you to justify your choices (e.g., based on what your stakeholders think or your existing product research). 'ChatGPT said it' is not a strong justification. ### Can I use Google translate to help me write my report? No. Your report must be your own work, even if English isn't your first language. You may use a bilingual dictionary and do the translation yourself, but you cannot rely on any external tools (or people) to write your report for you as this is academic dishonesty—which has potentially severe consequences. ### How do I cite a conversation with an AI chatbot? See [[academic honesty#JCQ on referencing|JCQ on referencing]]: > Where computer-generated content has been used (such as an AI chatbot), your reference must show the name of the AI tool used and should show the date the content was generated. For example: `ChatGPT 3.5 (https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/), 25/01/2026`. You should also reference the sources used by the AI tool in generating the content. > > You must retain a copy of the question(s) and computer-generated content for reference and authentication purposes in a non-editable format (such as a screenshot) and provide a brief explanation of how you used it. This must be submitted with your work for final assessment so that your teacher can review the work, the AI-generated content and how it has been used[^1]. If you are following a style guide (e.g., Harvard), refer to your style guide's documentation but ensure your citation includes all the information required by JCQ, i.e., the name of the AI tool used, the date the content was generated, and any sources used by the AI tool to generate the content. ### Can I share my project online? No. Not unless you have your A-level certificates in-hand. According to JCQ, you must not "make your work available to other candidates through any medium" or "publicise your work, e.g., by posting it on social media"[^2]. ### Can I use my project in my portfolio? Yes. Just make sure that it isn't hosted anywhere publicly that other candidates would be able to access. ### Can I help my friend? No. JCQ are clear that you must not "assist other candidates to produce work"[^2]. ### Can my friend help me? No. See above. ### I used AI in my NEA. What will happen to me? Did you cite correctly? If so, you're fine. If not, until you sign your [[Academic honesty#Authentication statement|candidate authentication statement]], the outcomes depend on your school's processes. After you sign the statement, it becomes a matter for the exam board and for JCQ. For the most extreme cases, you risk being banned from entering any A-levels for life. On the 'gentler' end, you risk being banned from entering A-level Computer Science this year. ## Project ideas ### I want to make something that has a client and a server. This needs two different programs. Can I do that? Yes. However, be advised that this is probably more complicated than you think. Network code can be tricky and developing two separate programs requires a lot of design work. You need to document the design and development of everything you make. ## Notes [^1]: JCQ, “Information for Candidates: Non-Examination Assessments,” JCQ, September 2025, 3–4, https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IFC-NE_Assessments_2025_FINAL.pdf. [^2]: JCQ, “Instructions for Conducting Non-Examination Assessments (GCE & GCSE Specifications),” JCQ, September 2025, 22, https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Instructions_NEA_25-26_FINAL.pdf.