Beijing survey finds widespread AI use in student homework, essays the worst hit

A Beijing Daily client survey found that primary and secondary school students commonly use AI to do homework, with essays the worst-hit area; some students adjust AI-generated text to hide traces. A 2025 survey by Sun Hongyan of the China Youth and Children Research Center covering students in seven provinces and municipalities found over 60% had used generative AI, mainly to help finish homework, and nearly 20% to have it write assignments. Beijing No. 18 High School has had students draft AI usage principles since 2024, with version 3.0 planned for November 2026.

The survey shows AI has entered daily homework, and AI-written essays and photo-search answers directly affect how teachers judge students' real levels and how schools assign and grade work. Beijing No. 18 High School's student-led principles offer a replicable guidance path, while Sun Hongyan's data provide quantitative reference points on usage and dependence. These findings come from media surveys and researcher accounts; no independent study has verified a causal link between AI use and score changes. Teachers' ability to identify weak points through homework becomes less reliable, especially for subjective tasks such as essays and travel writing. Schools need to incorporate AI usage rules into daily teaching management, and student-led principles serve as a reference sample.