Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Student Reliance for Exam Answers: A Case Study in IRCT Indonesia

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed various aspects of education, including how students approach examinations. This study addresses the growing reliance on AI in academic settings and its implications for learning and assessment integrity. The study aimed to analyze student reliance on AI in finding answers to midterm and final exams at the Ibnu Rusyd College of Tarbiyah (IRCT) Tanah Grogot, Indonesia. The research employed a mixed-methods approach through a survey of 98 Islamic Education Study Program students and interviews with 5 lecturers and 20 students. Data were analyzed using descriptive and thematic analysis. The results show that 70% of the students utilized AI occasionally or frequently to complete exams, citing efficiency and ease of access. However, only 30% of the students felt that the use of AI supported an in-depth understanding of the material. Conversely, the lecturers highlighted that the overuse of AI risks reducing students’ analytical skills. Quantitative analysis showed a moderate correlation (r = 0.45) between AI use and academic outcomes, while regression analysis revealed that other factors, such as lecturer guidance and learning motivation, were more significant in influencing academic success. This study recommends establishing clear institutional policies to regulate AI use, including a proctoring system in technology-based exams and the implementation of project-based learning to reduce student dependency on AI. Additionally, this study contributes novel insights into the ethical considerations of AI use in education and suggests that future research should explore the long-term behavioral impacts of AI reliance on student learning outcomes.