UC Berkeley Math Classes Drop Homework Grading Policy

Math students at UC Berkeley will now be assessed through in-person, no-electronics exams.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Homework

Bold vector editorial illustration of a hand holding a pencil over paper, representing the shift to manual academic assessments. — UC Berkeley math professor Richard Borcherds has eliminated take-home homework in his courses, opting for in-person exams to ensure assessment integrity. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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University of California, Berkeley professor Richard Borcherds has stopped grading homework for his math courses. He now uses in-person, no-electronics exams as the primary way to assess student knowledge.

Why it matters

The change follows difficulties in distinguishing between human-written work and content generated by artificial intelligence. By moving away from take-home assignments, the instructor aims to ensure grades accurately reflect a student's own capabilities.

The university currently allows individual instructors to formulate their own AI policies for course syllabi. UC Berkeley continues to evaluate the effectiveness of various tools used to monitor student work.

The players

Richard Borcherds

A professor at the University of California, Berkeley who has removed homework grading from his math courses.

University of California, Berkeley

A public research university that allows individual professors to determine AI usage policies in their classrooms.

The details

Professor Richard Borcherds shifted to this new assessment model because grading homework for correctness encouraged students to use AI tools. In his current format, students are evaluated solely through in-person exams that prohibit the use of any electronic devices. This approach bypasses the reliance on unreliable AI-detection software that the university has previously tested.

October 31, 2026: The updated grading policy was reported.

The Home Front

This shift at UC Berkeley reflects a broader move among educators to reconsider traditional assessment methods in the age of generative AI. It highlights how institutions are moving away from software-based detection toward strictly proctored, analog environments.

Families with students at the University of California, Berkeley should review individual course syllabi to understand specific AI policies and testing formats. Students should prepare for a heavier emphasis on in-class performance rather than take-home assignments for final course grades.

The takeaway

This policy change serves as a reminder that assessment standards in higher education are rapidly evolving to ensure academic integrity. Students should focus on practicing core concepts without digital aids to prepare for in-person exam environments.