ACCA Withdraws Remote Exams Due to Surge in AI-Assisted Cheating

The global professional accounting body ACCA announced on December 29, 2025, that it is rolling back its mass remote exam program. According to an official statement, the organization is returning to a mandatory in-person format at specialized centers in all regions where physically possible. The decision is driven by a sharp rise in sophisticated cheating methods, where candidates use hidden AI tools and augmented reality glasses that cannot be detected via a home computer webcam.

This decision sets a significant precedent for the entire EdTech and professional certification sector. ACCA has acknowledged that current remote proctoring technologies have lost the "arms race" against generative AI. A return to the offline format is viewed as the only reliable way to guarantee specialist qualification and maintain trust in the certification. Experts expect other major examination boards in finance, law, and medicine to follow ACCA's lead.

Source: ACCA Official