TLDR : Suspected of cheating with AI, high school student Nina V. is eventually cleared and earns her diploma after media pressure reveals a clerical error.
At a time when AI is disrupting learning and assessment methods, the story of 18-year-old Nina V. raises serious questions about control procedures in national exams.
On June 16, Nina takes the philosophy exam. Suffering from an attention disorder, she uses a computer without internet access, an accommodation provided by the national education system. On July 3, the day before the baccalaureate results, she receives an email with a report of suspected fraud established on July 3 by the examiner. Last Monday, a few hours after an article was published in Le Parisien, the academic board sent her a summons to the academic disciplinary committee, scheduled for August 22.
But an unexpected turn occurs: a new email informs her that the charges have been dropped after reviewing her school record and grades. The board cites a "data entry error that led to the issuance of a summons," and Nina is officially declared admitted to the baccalaureate with honors and can finally confirm her choices on Parcoursup.
Her mother, Emmanuelle V., who has relentlessly advocated for her daughter's innocence, says she is relieved but remains concerned about the system's malfunctions. She told Le Parisien:
"It was an emotional rollercoaster. But I'm not naive, and I'm convinced that media pressure and testifying openly helped move Nina's case forward."
This case questions the ability of institutions to detect the abusive use of AI without compromising students' rights. Nina could just as easily have been reprimanded or banned from enrolling in any public institution offering post-baccalaureate training for the next five years...