Resilient assessment in the age of AI: authentic design and the case for verbal examinations in business education

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT challenge traditional assessment in higher education, raising concerns about academic integrity and the validity of learning outcomes. This conceptual paper examines how business schools, where written assignments are common, can redesign assessment to remain resilient as AI tools proliferate. Drawing on Wiggins’ theory of authentic assessment, it conceptualises ‘resilient assessment’ as tasks that mirror real-world challenges and require demonstrable understanding in forms less easily replicated by AI. Verbal and interactive assessments, including oral examinations and presentations, are proposed as examples that both deter AI-assisted misconduct and develop transferable professional skills. The paper outlines a framework for implementing these practices at scale in business education and discusses policy and pedagogical implications. It concludes that developing resilient assessment should be a priority across higher education, with business schools well positioned to lead assessment innovation.