More than 4,000 applicants took the UNAM control exam at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City starting Monday [1].
The university implemented these exams to ensure a clean and honest admission process for undergraduate degrees after irregularities were detected in previous testing cycles [1, 2].
The testing phase began Aug. 17 and spanned three days [2, 3]. To manage the volume of students, the university organized three shifts daily [1]. The exams covered 134 different undergraduate degrees [1].
While some reports highlight the high number of participants, other data suggests a significant drop in attendance. Some reports indicate that 40% of applicants chose not to take the exam [4]. This trend of attrition is contrasted by the scale of the operation in the capital, where thousands gathered to secure their academic future.
Beyond Mexico City, the university expanded its reach to other regions. UNAM administered the test to 2,777 young people in Guanajuato and Oaxaca [4].
The use of the Palacio de los Deportes as a centralized hub allowed the university to maintain stricter supervision over the candidates. This centralized approach is part of a broader effort to restore trust in the institutional meritocracy of one of Latin America's most prestigious universities [1, 2].
“More than 4,000 applicants took the UNAM control exam”
The shift toward centralized 'control exams' reflects UNAM's attempt to combat systemic fraud in its admissions process. While the high turnout in Mexico City suggests continued demand, the reported 40% attrition rate may indicate a deterrent effect caused by stricter security measures or a shift in applicant demographics.
