AI Guidance for Students
The Biggest Academic Integrity Breach
It is a common misconception that using AI is the breach. It isn’t.
The expectation: We expect you to use these tools. We also expect you to document them.
Transparency is the key!
Scenario 12: "A student tries to hide their use of AI... This is not acceptable." (Evaluating 13 Scenarios)
The most common academic integrity breach is unlogged assistance. This means using AI and pretending you didn't.
Using the Template
The template for your work will include these three tabs (the "Essay" tab name may be edited by your teacher):
Essay / Assignment
Notes
AI Documentation Log
What the template is used for:
All summative tasks in your subjects (Criterion A, B, C, etc.) and the Personal Project.
All Summative assessments:
IAs (first draft and final submission)
Extended Essay
HL Language A essays
TOK Exhibition
TOK Essay
All other work destined for the IB
Mandatory Documentation
With any summative work, as part of your Works Cited List you are required to include an AI Use Declaration and an AI Documentation Log.
1. AI Use Declaration
You must include a statement after your Works Cited:
Example:
2. AI Documentation Log
The log must include the following information in these columns:
Date
AI Tool
Prompt
Session Link
How I used the AI Response
Verification and Reflection of AI Response
Example Log
Oct 05, 2025
Flint (Personal Project Tutor Bot)
I used Flint to help me identity what ATL skills that I used as I worked towards my learning goal. Flint asked me to share what I did and helped me identify what ATL skills it relates to.
Flint pointed that the strategies I used related to research skills and information literacy. Reflection: Once I identified the skills that I was using I was better able to identify evidence I could use to show how I was using research and information literacy skills.
Nov 20, 2025
Perplexity
"What were Freud’s views on dreaming?"
I used the links provided by Perplexity to access papers written by Freud.
I think I understood Freud's views on dreams but the language was challenging.
Verification: I watched a YouTube video and read a text book extract aimed at high school students. The video explained it more clearly and now I understand some of the technical terms better and feel confident using them
Jan 15, 2026
Gemini
"I have written a draft of my background research for my Biology IA. Can you review this paragraph for spelling, grammar and clarity? Do not rewrite it: [Paste Paragraph]"
I used the feedback to edit my grammar and spelling.
Gemini suggested changing "Photosynthesis is essential for plant life, it converts sunlight..." to "Photosynthesis is essential for plant life. It converts sunlight..." Reflection: I agreed this sounded more professional for a formal report.
Can I use writing tools such as Grammarly?
While assistance is allowed, replacing your own work is not.
Wholescale Rewriting (Scenario 7): Asking AI to rewrite an essay you wrote is generally unacceptable.
Content Generation (Scenario 3): Copying quotes/information found by AI without verifying the original source.
Translation (Scenario 8): Not acceptable to translate an essay from one language to another.
The Safe Zone: Mechanics & Conciseness
Changes that fix errors in Standard English conventions that do not change the meaning, logic, or argument of your work.
Grammar & Verb Tense: Fixing "She walk" to "She walks".
Punctuation & Run-ons: Splitting comma splices into two sentences.
Conciseness: Replacing wordy phrases like "At the present time" with "Currently".
Why is this ok? These changes fix errors in Standard English conventions without altering the meaning, logic, or argument of your work.
The Danger Zone: The Rewrite
"Curley's wife is lonely because nobody talks to her and she is stuck in the house all day."
"Curley's wife represents the archetypal marginalized figure, suffering from profound isolation due to the patriarchal structures of the ranch."
Why it's Unethical:
New Vocabulary: "Archetypal", "Patriarchal".
New Logic: Shifts from "nobody talks to her" to "structural oppression". This is Plagiarism of Thought.
Summary: Where to Draw the Line
Fixing Mechanics: Spelling, punctuation, capitalization.
Changing Meaning: Adding new arguments or evidence you didn't find.
Conciseness: Replacing "At the present time" with "Currently".
Tone Filters: "Make this sound confident/academic/formal."
Clarifying Syntax: Fixing a run-on sentence.
Restructuring: Asking AI to reorder paragraphs or improve flow.
Word Choice: Fixing "their/there" confusion.
Logic: Asking AI to "strengthen the argument."