Applicants from Oaxaca, Guanajuato, and other Mexican states are traveling to Mexico City to take the UNAM in-person control exam [1, 2].
The requirement highlights a growing tension between the university's efforts to maintain academic integrity and the financial barriers faced by students from rural or distant regions.
The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) implemented the in-person control exam for the 2026-2027 admission process after detecting irregularities [4, 5]. While the university said the goal is to decentralize the process, the current implementation has forced a massive concentration of students in the capital. Approximately 54,000 examinees gathered at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City to complete the test [1].
Participation rates varied significantly by region. In Oaxaca, 46.6% of applicants presented themselves [1], while Guanajuato saw a turnout of 60% [1]. The exam consists of 120 questions [3].
To address some of the disruptions, UNAM expanded the application of the exam to an additional 2,777 applicants [3]. Despite these adjustments, the requirement for physical presence has sparked legal challenges. Some applicants are preparing a collective amparo, a legal protection action, to stop the control exam, citing inequalities in access for those unable to afford travel to the capital [2, 5].
Conflicting reports exist regarding the locations of the tests. While some reports indicate a primary concentration at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City [1], other accounts suggest that some applicants traveled to Guanajuato, Oaxaca, and Baja California to retake the test [3].
The logistical burden on students from outlying states remains a central point of contention. Many applicants must secure lodging and transportation on short notice to ensure their admission status is not revoked due to the suspected irregularities in the initial testing phase [1, 2].
“Approximately 54,000 examinees gathered at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City to complete the test.”
The UNAM control exam represents a clash between institutional security and social equity. By requiring in-person validation to combat fraud, the university inadvertently creates a socioeconomic filter where only students with the means to travel to Mexico City can easily secure their admission. This move may prompt a judicial review of how the university balances academic standards with its mandate to provide accessible higher education to all regions of Mexico.
