Mexico's UNAM Mandates Retakes for Applicants Amid Suspected AI Misuse

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is implementing a new measure requiring some applicants to retake their entrance exams, following the discovery of unusual results in its first-ever remote admission test. The university has published reference scores, known as the "minimum 2021-2026," which represent the lowest score needed to gain admission to each program in recent years.

Aspirants will need to compare their current scores with these historical minimums. If an applicant's score equals or surpasses the minimum for their desired program, they will be summoned to a mandatory in-person control exam. This applies not only to those who initially secured a place but also to those who were not admitted this year but achieved a score meeting or exceeding the historical benchmark.

This decision comes after a special commission identified a significant increase in high scores during the recent online examination. While typically around 3.5% of applicants scored over 100 points, this year that figure surged to over 16%. These anomalies raised suspicions of potential misuse of artificial intelligence or other unauthorized tools during the remote test.

In response, UNAM has scheduled the in-person control exams to take place between August 12 and 19 in Mexico City, León, Oaxaca, and Tijuana. This process is crucial for confirming the admission of those who are called to retake the test. Approximately 58,000 applicants are affected by this measure, with about 22,000 expected to ultimately gain admission to a degree program.