Nearly 58,000 applicants to the National Autonomous University of Mexico must retake their entrance exams in person after artificial intelligence and other methods compromised the integrity of the first-ever online testing round, according to Mexico News Daily. The decision affects a significant portion of the initial cohort of more than 158,000 test-takers seeking admission for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The Online Exam Integrity Breach
The controversy unfolded after the university published initial results on July 17, which administrators and outside observers noted were unusually high. According to NPR reporting cited by Mexico News Daily, mathematics, AI, and statistics professor Raúl Rojas concluded that nearly half of the students were cheating while taking the exam online.
The software used for the tests was provided by the Mexican company Territorium Life. While the platform included camera and microphone-assisted surveillance systems designed to detect irregular conduct along with built-in anti-cheating features, it could not physically prevent applicants from utilizing a second computer or smartphone during the assessment.
UNAM’s Response and Re-Testing Procedures
Following the breach, UNAM rector Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas appointed a specialized panel of experts in education, artificial intelligence, and law to investigate the incident. Acting on the panel’s recommendations, the university announced on Tuesday that it is nullifying the initial online results for qualifying applicants and mandating a second, in-person control exam.
UNAM has launched a dedicated website where applicants can check if their initial scores met the necessary threshold for their chosen degree programs. Students who cleared that benchmark can register starting Friday to sit for the second exam, which is scheduled to take place between August 12 and August 19.
Schedule and Locations for In-Person Control Exams
The university has organized regional testing sites to accommodate the thousands of applicants required to retake the evaluation. According to UNAM’s official statement, the in-person control exams will be held across multiple cities:
- León, Guanajuato: August 12 and 13
- Oaxaca City: August 13
- Tijuana, Baja California: August 15 and 16
- Mexico City: August 17, 18, and 19
While UNAM’s main campus is University City in southern Mexico City, the institution also operates regional campuses in areas including México state, Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Yucatán. Despite the scheduling disruption, first-year classes remain on track to begin on August 31, two weeks after returning students start the new academic term.
Legal Challenges and Context
The cancellation of the initial test results has drawn immediate pushback from a small number of applicants. According to Mexico News Daily, several students have applied for injunctions against the nullification of the results of the first exam. As of Wednesday afternoon, those requests had not been granted.
The incident represents a major hurdle for Mexico’s largest and most prestigious university as it attempts to balance remote testing accessibility with academic security. With registration opening this week, administrators expect roughly 58,000 candidates to report to the designated testing centers to secure their places for the upcoming academic cycle.
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