The second phase of the Fuvest 2025 exam, which provides access to the University of São Paulo (USP), commenced on December 15, with candidates tasked with writing an essay on the theme "Social Relations Through Solidarity." This topic was expected by many educators to promote philosophical and social reflection, adhering to Fuvest's tradition.
Differing from the Enem (National High School Exam), Fuvest requires students to include titles for their essays. Gustavo Monaco, the executive director of Fuvest, emphasized the goal of the essay when discussing the support texts available to the candidates. He stated during a promotional video, "These three texts brought distinct approaches to social relations, and hence different facets could be utilized by the students."
The essay demanded students to write within the dissertation-argumentative genre, comprising at least 20 lines. Among the six reference texts provided, candidates were introduced to excerpts from significant literary works such as Machado de Assis's Quincas Borba and Ruth Guimarães's Água Funda, alongside poetry by Cazuza and philosophical discussions extracted from sources like Edgar Morin's Fraternidade: para Resistir à Crueldade do Mundo and the G20 leaders' declaration from their November meeting.
Critics, including Mateus Leme, a writing instructor, noted the omission of Brazil within the essay's prompt allowed candidates to engage with global phenomena, contrasting with other vestibular exams which typically focus on national contexts. He commented, "The absence of the word ‘Brasil’ permits students to discuss global phenomena, which stands apart from other vestibulares."
Further to this point, Sérgio Paganim, another writing professor, pointed out the theme's balance of social and abstract dimensions: "The exam theme provides insight on social relations, whether mediated by solidarity, fraternity, or charity. It sets the stage for candidates to defend their stances on the societal constructs of solidarity versus individualism."
This thematic structure allowed candidates various analytical paths, where they could argue defending solidarity's presence within social dynamics or challenge it by highlighting individualistic trends. Paganim noted, "The candidate could argue the mediation of solidarity or assert the dominance of social estrangement, particularly during crises like those seen recently in southern Brazil."
The diversity of supporting texts offered students extensive frameworks for analysis, aimed at encouraging comprehensive and thoughtful arguments. Each year, Fuvest is known for demanding nuanced reflections, diverging from conventional essay structures common to other examinations like the Enem, which often call for intervention proposals.
Interestingly, professors and students alike noticed the nature of this year's theme was timely, particularly concerning the recent flood events causing national mobilization for donations and discussions on community solidarity.
With the second day of exams extending beyond the essay to include subject-specific questions based on candidates' chosen fields, faculty pointed out the importance of developing analytical prowess alongside their writing capabilities.
The results of the Fuvest examination are anticipated to be released on January 24, 2025, disclosing two lists of called students for enrollment along with waiting lists. This year, 8,147 slots were made available at USP, with distinctions for candidates from public schooling backgrounds.
Fuvest's dedication to addressing philosophical and abstract issues through social lenses continues to set it apart within Brazil's educational assessments. Each year showcases the commitment to challenging students to reflect deeply on their societal roles and broader global responsibilities.
