UNAM Catches 22 Applicants Cheating on Entrance Exams in Mexico City

Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM) has identified at least 22 instances of cheating among applicants during in-person entrance exams held at the Sports Palace in Mexico City. The exams are part of the selection process for undergraduate admissions for the 2026-2027 academic year.

UNAM Rector Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas announced the findings, detailing various methods used by applicants to cheat. These included using cell phones in restrooms, employing cameras hidden in eyeglasses, recording exam questions, and altering official documents. Lomelí Vanegas noted that while these 22 cases represent a small proportion of the over 30,000 applicants who had taken the test at that venue, they indicate a persistent effort by some individuals to undermine the integrity of the university's admission process.

"Some cases have been identified, with 22 cases in this venue alone," Lomelí Vanegas stated during a press conference. He elaborated on the detected practices, including the modification of appointment confirmations. "They altered their voucher, either the name or some data. They altered the document that was originally given to them to download," he added.

The university also caught applicants using cell phones during the exam, with some instances occurring in the restrooms. "Cases of cell phone use were registered. For example, in the bathrooms. There were attempts to extract the content of the exam. I saw cases where people who had previously been caught reappeared here using glasses with cameras. There were those who outright took out their cameras and started recording," the rector affirmed.

Similar, though less frequent, incidents were reported at other UNAM exam sites in León, Oaxaca, and Tijuana, primarily involving the use of cell phones. Reflecting on the previous online admission tests, Lomelí Vanegas acknowledged that UNAM had underestimated the scale of the business surrounding entrance exams and the financial incentives driving irregular support for applicants.