UNAM should abandon online exams, say applicants facing control tests

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is administering control exams following irregularities detected in its 2026 online admission process. Hashley, an applicant who had scored 113 – four points above the 109 required for Dentistry at FES Zaragoza – found herself needing to retake the test. This situation has generated nervousness and uncertainty among students who prepared diligently for the initial exam.

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I passed. I got 113 and the program required 109. It is wrong that they cheated and affected all of us who did make an effort.

"I passed. I got 113 and the program required 109. It is wrong that they cheated and affected all of us who did make an effort," Hashley stated before entering the Sports Palace, where the control exams are being held. She believes UNAM should discontinue online examinations to avoid similar situations in the future. "Let's hope they do the exam this way again, but no longer online. Let UNAM stop doing online exams because it would be the worst if this happened again and next year it was the same," she urged.

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Let's hope they do the exam this way again, but no longer online. Let UNAM stop doing online exams because it would be the worst if this happened again and next year it was the same.

Hashley prepared for the retake by reviewing notes from a course she took for the original exam, which cost approximately 3,500 pesos. Her mother, Elia, expressed frustration, calling the repeated exam an "additional burden" for those who had already secured their place through hard work. "She already had her place secured because she did make an effort. She took a daily course, studied a lot, and now the nerves and uncertainty are back," Elia said, deeming it unfair that the actions of a few cheaters negatively impacted thousands of diligent applicants.

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She already had her place secured because she did make an effort. She took a daily course, studied a lot, and now the nerves and uncertainty are back.

Elia also supported the university returning to in-person exams. She recalled the difficulties of the online format, where any noise could trigger the microphone and jeopardize the exam's continuity. "It is very difficult to find a completely silent place. The day she took the exam, there was noise all over the block, and for any sound, they could cancel the test. To avoid all these problems, let them do it in person as always," she affirmed. Hashley arrived at the Sports Palace after a journey of about one hour and 20 minutes from the State of Mexico, hoping for a successful outcome in this control exam aimed at validating the 2026 admission results.

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The kids who cheated came to affect many. The worst is that they published it. It's not fair because there were those who did study and did make the effort.