Mexico's UNAM to Re-examine 58,000 Students Amid Suspected Exam Irregularities

Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM) announced that approximately 58,000 candidates will undergo re-examination due to an unusual surge in exceptionally high scores during this year's entrance exams. This is an unprecedented measure for the university's admissions process. This year's examination was conducted online for the first time at UNAM, the largest university in the country, utilizing AI-powered webcam monitoring and a lockdown browser. However, the results showed that over 16.3% of candidates scored 100 out of 120 points or higher, a nearly fivefold increase compared to the 2021-2025 period. Notably, 5.5% achieved perfect scores, a stark contrast to less than 1% in previous years. This abnormal score distribution prompted an investigation by UNAM. Ultimately, the university's technical council deemed it optimal to conduct a "verification exam" in a centralized, in-person format. All candidates who met the admission threshold from the previous five years will be required to retake the test. Their official admission will be solely dependent on the results of this new examination. The university rector apologized to honest candidates who, despite not violating any rules, must now revise and retake the exam. However, the rector asserted that this measure is "necessary to ensure accuracy and fairness in admissions." While specific cheating methods have not been disclosed, the initial exam's multiple-choice format, rather than essay-based, may have made it difficult to detect AI-driven plagiarism. The possibility of candidates using reference materials, prior knowledge of the questions, or other cheating techniques is also being considered. Reports from The New York Times last week highlighted the widespread circulation of "cheating tips" on social media prior to the exam, including instructions on using secondary screens for AI lookups, employing micro-earpieces, or hiring proxy test-takers. In preparation for the online examination, UNAM had implemented stringent security measures. Candidates were required to install the LockDown Browser, which restricts printing, copying, messaging, website access, or opening other applications. Concurrently, the university integrated AI algorithms to analyze webcam data, identifying proxy test-takers, phone usage, earphones, or candidates leaving the camera's frame. A supervisor was assigned to monitor approximately 150 candidates online, receiving AI alerts for any unusual activity. Despite these efforts, the technological measures did not yield the expected results. The university acknowledged that "a large number of candidates likely received assistance" during the exam, even after invalidating 2% of submissions for rule violations before announcing the scores. Founded in the 16th century, UNAM was granted autonomy in 1929 and has since been considered a symbol of Mexico, serving as a hub for political and social movements. Its main campus was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. Source: VnExpress