The National Autonomous University of Mexico is facing a significant crisis as thousands of student admissions remain in limbo following reports of widespread cheating on its recent entrance exam. For the first time in history, the university transitioned to an online testing format for over 150,000 applicants, relying on artificial intelligence to monitor behavior and maintain academic integrity.
However, officials flagged roughly 3,000 results after an unprecedented spike in perfect scores, raising suspicions that applicants used AI tools or obtained test questions in advance. While the university initially hoped that remote testing would increase accessibility for students traveling from distant states, the failure of the surveillance system has forced a complete re-evaluation of the admission process.
Students like Daniel Fernando García Velázquez, who achieved a high score on his fourth attempt, now face uncertainty as the university moves to address the fallout. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has entered the conversation, urging a thorough investigation by the attorney general to protect the credibility of one of the country's oldest and most prestigious institutions.
In response to the scandal, UNAM officials have announced that they will require thousands of students to retake the exam in person. The university is coordinating with Territorium Life, the provider of the monitoring software, to determine how the security lapses occurred despite claims that the platform operated as planned.
As the new semester approaches, the focus is now on scheduling in-person makeup exams for approximately 58,000 applicants. University Rector Leonardo Lomelí has emphasized the need for ethical conduct, noting that cheating undermines the social fabric of the institution. For now, thousands of students wait to hear if they will secure their place at a school that serves as a vital engine for social mobility in Mexico.