Using AI as an RICS APC candidate: where to draw the line?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how the built environment operates – so it’s vital that APC candidates consider how to use it responsibly and appropriately.

Navigating AI during your APC journey requires a careful, balanced approach. You need to know where AI can add real value to your professional development, including streamlining your APC preparation and revision, how it is regulated by RICS in daily practice, and - most importantly - where its application in your final assessment submission is strictly prohibited.

Can I use AI to draft my APC final assessment submission?

No! You MUST NOT use any form of generative AI tool to draft or write your final assessment submission.

The RICS position on the use of AI in writing your submission is unequivocal: the use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot) to write, draft or substantially alter any part of your written work is strictly prohibited.

Your Summary of Experience, Case Study and CPD record must be 100% your own work, i.e., every written word must be your own and it must be written by you from scratch.

RICS uses advanced text-matching and AI-detection software (such as Turnitin) to screen submissions. Relying on AI to generate text or paraphrase your experience is treated as plagiarism.

Submissions identified as containing AI-generated text will be rejected and assessment outcomes can be retrospectively overturned. Serious cases will be escalated to RICS Regulation, which can result in disciplinary action and expulsion from the profession.

You can use basic spell and grammar checking functions, e.g., in Microsoft Word, and you can seek support from your Counsellor or others to help refine your written work.

Do not risk your future surveying career by using generative AI tools to write your submission for you!

Can I use AI to help me prepare for my APC interview?

Yes! You can use AI tools to help you revise and prepare for your final assessment interview.

While AI cannot write your submission for you, it can be an effective tool to support your revision, active recall and interview preparation.

Ensure that you read the RICS Professional Standard: Responsible Use of AI in Surveying Practice before doing so. It provides guidance on how to use AI appropriately, including issues such as automation bias, professional scepticism, data governance and consent.

Once you have done that, here are some ideas for how you can use AI in your APC preparation and revision.

 1. Generating potential lines of questioning based on your submission
Whilst AI can never replace the advice of an APC Chair or Assessor or a formal full e-mock interview, it can help you to mind map and explore potential lines of questioning based on your submission.

For example, you could ask AI to write a list of potential questions based on one of your examples. You can then use these to practise giving verbal answers and explaining your reasoned advice. Use the CAR method (Context, Action, Result) to give a concise, structured answer and remember to use the words ‘I advised/ recommended’ to hit level 3.

Remember though, AI is not trained as an assessor and the questions it generates may not be representative of assessing best practice. You should also redact any confidential or sensitive information from your examples if you feed these into an AI tool.

An example prompt could be: ‘Act as an RICS APC Assessor for the **** pathway using the assessing best practice in the RICS Assessor Guide (HYPERLINK GOES HERE). Write three scenario-based level 3 interview questions based on my specific example: ****’.

 2. Sense checking complex technical concepts
When revising the level 1 knowledge for your mandatory and technical competencies, you may encounter complex legislation or challenging technical concepts.

You could ask AI to break down a dense concept into clear, plain language. Or, you could ask AI to sense check your own understanding of a concept.

Remember though, AI may base its response on outdated information or hallucinate (provide misleading information which appears correct on face value). Always ask AI to base its answer on a reliable source, e.g., a RICS Professional Standard or the original source of the legislation.

You could use tools such as NotebookLM or Adobe Acrobat AI to upload RICS guidance documents into a secure, closed ‘knowledge hub’. You can then ask AI specific, source-grounded questions and receive answers with direct citations.

This can provide an efficient index for technical reading, allowing you to verify specific questions against the source rather than relying on unverified internet searches/sources.

  3. Creating active recall quizzes and flashcards
Active recall is proven to be one of the most effective study methods for retaining information.

You could provide your AI tool with the source documents that you want to learn about and ask it to generate a multiple-choice quiz or set of Q&A flashcards. You can then use these to test your memory and make your revision more interesting and interactive.

This is great to work on your level 1 knowledge base. However, the real skill for your final assessment interview is to be able to apply this to your level 2 and 3 examples and discuss verbally how you acted and advised competently and professionally.

4.  4. Structuring a phased study schedule
5. Balancing full-time work, personal commitments and APC revision can feel overwhelming. AI can help you design a realistic study plan based on your own APC timeline for submission and interview.
7. Input your available weekly study hours, target dates and priority of study areas into your AI tool. You can then ask AI to generate a week-by-week revision timetable that ensures a full and balanced approach to your preparation.

In conclusion…
As long as you avoid the use of AI when writing your submission, you can use AI efficiently as a study partner. Have you found any other ways to leverage AI in your APC preparation? Let LionHeart know in the comments so other candidates can try them out! 

Jen Lemen FRICS is co-founder of Property Elite, which provides training and support for the RICS APC, Assoc RICS and FRICS qualifications. She is also an RICS APC assessor.

Find out more:

• Check out LionHeart’s APC Support here
• Read Jen’s other blog Revision survival tips for your RICS APC!
• You may also be interested in this episode of the LionHeart Talks podcast, Gearing up for your APC