AI in Education Statistics 2026: Insights from 1,500+ UK Students

To understand how students are using AI, Save My Exams surveyed 1,533 UK students taking GCSE, IGCSE, A Level, and IB qualifications.

This report combines our exclusive primary research with wider education trends to provide journalists, educators and policymakers with the most up-to-date AI in education statistics for 2026.

Key Takeaways: Top AI in Education Statistics

1. 93% of students have used AI tools for schoolwork or revision.

2. 7 out of 10 students use AI at least weekly.

3. 87% of students use ChatGPT, making it the dominant study AI tool.

4. 82% of students say AI helps them understand topics better.

5. 71% of students believe AI improves their grades at least slightly.

6. 6 out of 10 students believe AI is helpful for learning, with only 7% believing it is harmful.

7. 55% of students find AI more helpful than textbooks or classroom teaching.

8. 65% of students feel confident spotting incorrect AI information.

AI Use Among UK Students (Primary Data)

Let’s take a look at the demographic profiles of the respondents of our AI in education survey.

Who We Surveyed: Student Demographics

In 2026, Save My Exams surveyed 1,533 UK-based students preparing for national and international qualifications.

Gender breakdown

• Male - 40%

• Female - 58%

• Non-binary - 1%

• Other - 1%

Age breakdown

The majority of respondents were of secondary school or sixth-form age:

• 13-14 years old - 6%

• 15-16 years old - 60%

• 17-18 years old  - 31%

• 19+ years old  - 3%

Qualification breakdown

• GCSE: 48%

• A Level: 41%

• IGCSE: 10%

• IB: 1%

AI Adoption Rates in UK Schools

UK adoption appears particularly rapid among secondary school students. Our survey shows:

• 93% of UK students have used AI tools for schoolwork or homework.

• Only 7% report never using AI as part of their education.

This level of adoption suggests AI is already functioning as an informal learning companion, alongside teachers, tutors and textbooks.

AI Tool Usage & Frequency

AI adoption among students is widespread.

Of the 93% of students who use AI for schoolwork and homework, their current usage frequency is as follows:

• Daily - 29%

• Weekly - 45%

• Monthly - 10%

• Rarely - 16%

In total, 74% of students use AI at least weekly, indicating AI has become part of normal study routines rather than occasional experimentation.

Perceived Impact of AI on Learning & Grades

The following data includes only students who reported using AI tools for schoolwork or homework.

Do students believe AI improves grades?

• Over 7 in 10 students believe AI improves academic performance.

• Only 6% of students think that AI doesn’t improve their grades at all.

Students who use AI overwhelmingly associate AI use with improved learning outcomes.

Does AI help students understand topics better?

• Overall, 79% of students say AI improves their understanding of learning topics.

• 15% think AI is effective in helping them work faster.

• 2% of students don’t believe AI to be useful for improving their learning speed or topic understanding.

Textbooks & Classroom Learning vs AI

Students who use AI were asked how helpful it is compared to traditional learning methods.

• More than half of UK students who use AI find it more helpful than textbooks or classroom teaching.

• A quarter of students believe AI is just as helpful as traditional learning methods.

• Only 1 in 50 students think AI is much less helpful than textbooks or classroom teaching.

Student Awareness of School AI Policies

Despite widespread use, AI guidance remains inconsistent.

• Over half of students surveyed have received clear guidance on acceptable AI usage from their teachers. 

• 27% of students have received AI guidance, but say the rules still aren’t clear.

• 11% of students receive no guidance at all about acceptable AI use.

Ability to Identify Incorrect or Misleading Information

• 65% of students are confident spotting incorrect AI information.

• But, over one-third remain uncertain, highlighting a growing need for support.

AI Tools Students Are Using

The following data includes only students who reported using AI tools for schoolwork or homework.

Most Popular AI Tools Among Students

Students reported using multiple tools. Below is the percentage of students who use specific AI tools:

• ChatGPT - 87%

• Google Gemini - 38%

• Microsoft Copilot - 26%

• Grammarly - 12%

• Claude - 6%

• Other AI tools - 20%

ChatGPT is the most common AI tool used by students

How Students Use AI Beyond Homework

Students are using AI in many different ways to enhance their learning.

Common uses include:

• Explaining difficult concepts - 69%

• Finding information quickly - 67%

• Getting feedback on work - 59%

• Brainstorming ideas - 51%

• Writing practice answers - 46%

• Checking spelling and grammar - 24%

• Creating images - 20%

• Coding support - 12%

How Students Perceive AI

We asked all UK students whether they view AI as a helpful or harmful tool overall. Attitudes towards AI are generally positive:

• 6 in 10 students find AI quite helpful or very helpful.

• 32% are unsure of how to assess the value of AI.

• Only 7% of students see AI as harmful.

Academic Integrity & AI

AI-Generated Work & Plagiarism Concerns

Public debate around AI in schools has focused heavily on cheating risks (Forbes). One study involved submitting AI-written submissions to a university examination system - a huge 94% went undetected (Plos One). 

However, students’ ability to think, reason, and solve problems has also become a major concern (Fortune). 1 in 4 secondary students believe AI makes it too easy for them to find answers and complete work (Oxford University Press).

But the willingness to use AI seems to be growing. Between 2024 and 2025, the percentage of university students that considers it acceptable to include AI text in assignments after editing has grown from 17% to 25% (HEPI). 

The State of AI in Education in 2026

Artificial intelligence has become one of the most significant technological shifts in education since the rise of online learning platforms. Let’s take a look at the global trends.

Global AI in Education Trends

• The global AI in education market is projected to exceed $32 billion by 2023 (Grand View Research).

• Our research suggests that UK students use AI no more or less than those globally, with 92% of students worldwide reportedly using generative AI tools for academic purposes (HEPI Student Generative AI Survey).

• In 2024, North America held the largest share of revenue in the AI in education market at 39% (Mordor Intelligence).

• Investments in AI-related businesses in Southeast Asia is expected to hit US$110 billion by 2028 (East Asia Forum).

Government Guidance on AI in Education

The UK Department for Education has encouraged responsible AI use while emphasising academic integrity and transparency (Department for Education).

The UK government also notes the value of teachers using AI in schools. 62% of educators use GenAI to plan lessons, while 1 in 10 use AI tools to support students with SEND (Department for Education).

Equity, Access & the Digital Divide

Access to AI Tools by Socioeconomic Background

Most popular AI tools are free or freemium, potentially widening access to academic support. And, approximately 450,000 disadvantaged pupils could benefit from AI tutoring tools from 2027 (Department for Education).

Risks of Widening the Attainment Gap

AI could also widen attainment gaps if AI training for teachers isn’t equal across all school types. Research shows that private school teachers are more than twice as likely to have had formal AI training than state school teachers (45% vs 21%) (Sutton Trust). This suggests private school students could be receiving better training in how to use AI.

Infrastructure is also an issue. 75% of teachers in well-funded schools have enough digital devices for their students, compared to just 25% in disadvantaged schools (Tech UK).

One way to combat the risk of a widening attainment gap is to embed compulsory AI literacy in the primary curriculum, so all children have access to a core AI syllabus (Tony Blair Institute for Global Change).

The Future of AI in Education

Personalised Learning

AI tools provide an increasingly personalised learning experience.

Northern Ireland is piloting an AI tool that listens to primary school children read aloud before delivering a personalised 1:1 tutoring session (Department of Education, NI).

And in higher education, AI tools that predict when students are struggling means intervention can occur at the earliest opportunity. Drop out rates decreased from 37% to 19% when the tool was tested at the Czech State University in Prague (Open University).

Shifts in Assessment & Curriculum Design

AI is evolving into a subject in its own right, with students learning about AI as well as using it to support their studies. 

It has been stated that educators should envision a “technology-enhanced future more like an electric bike and less like robot vacuums” (Office of Educational Technology). 

This future is developing right now. For example, a new AI course introduced in Taiwanese elementary schools increased students’ AI knowledge by 62.75% compared to baseline assessments (Humanities and Social Sciences Communications). 

Supporting Students in the Age of AI Learning

As AI becomes a more prominent part of students’ study routines, access to reliable learning resources matters more than ever. While AI tools can help explain ideas and speed up revision, students still need trusted materials that build genuine understanding and exam confidence.

At Save My Exams, our focus is on supporting students with structured, curriculum-aligned learning resources designed to work alongside modern study habits, including AI-assisted learning. Our platform provides:

• Revision notes - clear, concise explanations aligned to exam board specifications

• Exam questions - targeted practice to develop exam technique and confidence

• Flashcards - efficient revision tools for quick recall and active learning

• Smart Mark - our own AI-powered instant feedback tool

Whether students are reinforcing classroom learning or preparing for upcoming exams, Save My Exams combines expert-designed resources with the way students learn today.

Why Is Smart Mark, Our AI Marking Tool, More Effective Then Generic AI?

In internal testing, Smart Mark - our AI-powered feedback tool - graded answers 69% more accurately than ChatGPT.

While more general AI tools are designed to generate generic responses, Smart Mark is built around real exam board mark schemes and assessment criteria. 

This means students receive feedback that mirrors examiner expectations, showing them how to improve their responses to gain more marks.

Appendix: Full List of AI in Education Statistics

1. 93% of students have used AI tools for schoolwork or revision (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

2. 7 out of 10 students use AI at least weekly (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

3. 87% of students use ChatGPT, making it the dominant study AI tool (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

4. 82% of students say AI helps them understand topics better (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

5. 71% of students believe AI improves their grades at least slightly (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

6. 6 out of 10 students believe AI is helpful for learning, with only 7% believing it is harmful (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

7. 55% of students find AI more helpful than textbooks or classroom teaching (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

8. 65% of students feel confident spotting incorrect AI information (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

9. The global AI in education market is projected to exceed $32 billion by 2023 (Grand View Research)

10. Our research suggests that UK students use AI no more or less than those globally, with 92% of students worldwide reportedly using generative AI tools for academic purposes (HEPI Student Generative AI Survey)

11. In 2024, North America held the largest share of revenue in the AI in education market at 39% (Mordor Intelligence)

12. Investments in AI-related businesses in Southeast Asia is expected to hit US$110 billion by 2028 (East Asia Forum)

13. Only 7% of students report never using AI as part of their education (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

14. The UK Department for Education has encouraged responsible AI use while emphasising academic integrity and transparency (Department for Education)

15. 62% of educators use GenAI to plan lessons (Department for Education)

16. 1 in 10 teachers use AI tools to support students with SEND (Department for Education)

17. Over 7 in 10 students believe AI improves academic performance (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

18. Only 6% of students think that AI doesn’t improve their grades at all (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

19. Overall, 79% of students say AI improves their understanding of learning topics (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

20. 15% think AI is effective in helping them work faster (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

21. 2% of students don’t believe AI to be useful for improving their work speed or topic understanding (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

22. More than half of UK students who use AI find it more helpful than textbooks or classroom teaching (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

23. A quarter of students believe AI is equally helpful as traditional learning methods (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

24. Only 1 in 50 students think AI is much less helpful than textbooks or classroom teaching (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

25. 11% of students receive no guidance at all about acceptable AI use (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

26. Over half of students surveyed have received clear guidance on acceptable AI usage from their teachers (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

27. 27% of students have received AI guidance, but say the rules still aren’t clear (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

28. 65% of students are confident spotting incorrect AI information (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

29. Over one-third remain uncertain, highlighting a growing need for AI critical-thinking education (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

30. ChatGPT is the most common AI tool used by students (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

31. 6 in 10 students find AI quite helpful or very helpful (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

32. 32% are unsure of how to assess the value of AI (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

33. Only 7% of students see AI as harmful (Save My Exams Survey, 2026)

34. Between 2024 and 2025, the percentage of university students that considers it acceptable to include AI text in assignments after editing has grown from 17% to 25% (HEPI)

35. One study involved submitting AI-written submissions to a university examination system and a huge 94% went undetected (Plos One)

36. 1 in 4 secondary students surveyed by Oxford University Press believe AI makes it too easy for them to find answers and do work (Oxford University Press)

37. Approximately 450,000 disadvantaged pupils could benefit from AI tutoring tools from 2027 (Department for Education)

38. private school teachers are more than twice as likely to have had formal AI training than state school (45% vs 21%) (Sutton Trust)

39. 75% of teachers in well-funded schools have enough digital devices for their students, compared to just 25% in disadvantaged schools (Tech UK)

40. One way to combat the risk of a widening attainment gap is to embed compulsory AI literacy in the primary curriculum, so all children have access to a core AI syllabus (Tony Blair Institute for Global Change)

41. Northern Ireland is piloting an AI tool that listens to children aloud before delivering a personalised 1:1 tutoring session (Department of Education, NI)

42. AI tools that detect struggling students early enable faster intervention, reducing dropout rates from 37% to 19% in trials at Czech State University in Prague (Open University)

43. A new AI course introduced in Taiwanese elementary schools increased students’ AI knowledge by 62.75% compared to baseline assessments (Humanities and Social Sciences Communications)

References

Primary Research:

• Save My Exams AI in Education Survey (2026) - Survey of 1,533 UK students

Secondary Research

• Grand View Research (opens in a new tab)

• HEPI Student Generative AI Survey (opens in a new tab)

• Mordor Intelligence (opens in a new tab)

• East Asia Forum (opens in a new tab)

• Department for Education (opens in a new tab)

• Forbes (opens in a new tab)

• Fortune (opens in a new tab)

• HEPI (opens in a new tab)

• Plos One (opens in a new tab)

• Oxford University Press (opens in a new tab)

• Department for Education - Press Release (opens in a new tab)

• Sutton Trust (opens in a new tab)

• Tech UK (opens in a new tab)

• Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (opens in a new tab)

• Open University (opens in a new tab)

• Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (opens in a new tab)