UNAM control exam marred by system failures and connectivity issues

Students exiting a control exam at Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM) on Tuesday reported significant technical glitches and unreliable internet connections during the assessment held at the Sports Palace in Mexico City. The in-person exam, which lasted over two hours, concluded around 11:00 AM, with anxious aspirants reuniting with waiting family and friends.

Many students described experiencing system failures and connectivity problems, although they noted that technical support was readily available and attentive. Despite these concerns, most candidates felt the exam's difficulty had increased compared to the online version. They also observed heightened supervision from UNAM staff, with stricter protocols like checking sleeves and ensuring phones were off and stored away.

Dulce, who was previously rejected from the Psychology program after an online exam, shared her experience. "There were many failures, but we had technical support at hand, and although it was worrying, they were very attentive," she said. Dulce noted that the complexity of the questions had significantly increased, with entirely new content compared to the previous test, and the preparation time felt insufficient.

Yeraldine Lizbeth, who was accepted into the Medical Surgeon program in the first admission exam with 118 correct answers, admitted to feeling more nervous this time due to the increased difficulty and the time limit for the 120 questions. She acknowledged that while the topics were the same, the questions were more complex, incorporating material not previously covered. Nevertheless, she expressed confidence in being selected again, having studied for an entire year.

Jorge, who narrowly missed admission to Veterinary Medicine by seven points in a previous attempt, agreed that the exam's difficulty had risen. He felt UNAM had learned from past mistakes. "They asked us to roll up our sleeves, keep our phones off under our seats, and I noticed they were stricter with surveillance," he stated. Jorge remains optimistic about his chances this time, emphasizing his belief in the fairness of the in-person exam as he did not cheat and deserved another opportunity.