Key facts
- UNAM, Mexico's largest university, is requiring 58,000 students to retake its entrance exam.
- The original exam was administered remotely for the first time using AI-powered webcam proctoring.
- Top scores surged significantly in the remote exam compared to previous years.
- A commission found the exam process compromised and recommended a new in-person test.
- The new exam will affect all students admitted based on this year's test and those who met minimum scores since 2021.
UNAM, Mexico's largest university, is mandating that approximately 58,000 students retake its entrance exam due to concerns over widespread cheating during the first-ever remote administration. The exam, which took place remotely over several weeks in late May and early June, utilized AI-powered webcam proctoring software.
Results from the remote exam showed a significant anomaly: 16.3 percent of test-takers scored 100 or more out of 120 questions, a stark contrast to the 3.5 percent who achieved such scores between 2021 and 2025. The disparity was even more pronounced at the highest score ranges, with 5.5 percent scoring 110 or more this year, compared to 0.9 percent in previous years.
These unusual results prompted accusations of cheating, leading UNAM to appoint an expert commission to investigate. The commission has recommended administering a new, in-person "control exam." This retake will apply not only to students who secured a spot based on this year's test but also to all applicants who would have been admitted based on minimum successful scores since 2021.
The university rector has apologized to honest applicants who must now prepare for another test, emphasizing that the control exam is "necessary to give certainty and guarantee equity in access." Details regarding the new exam are expected soon, with classes currently scheduled to begin on August 10, potentially necessitating a delay.