Starting from 2025, students aiming to enroll in high school (bachillerato) programs in Mexico City (CDMX) and the State of Mexico (Edomex) will no longer need to take the Comipems exam (Comisión Metropolitana de Instituciones Públicas de Educación Media Superior). Announced by Mexico City's government under Claudia Sheinbaum, this significant shift aims to broaden access to education for all students finishing their basic studies.
The decision to eliminate the Comipems exam marks the end of its long-standing role as the primary admissions filter for preparatory institutions. For many, this change produces waves of uncertainty. What will the new admission process look like? Will there still be options like pre-registration as seen in previous years?
Historically, the Comipems exam served as the gateway for aspiring bachillerato students, allowing them to select preferred schools after taking the exam. This year, the process will be completely overhauled. According to the initiative, admissions will potentially be determined by the student’s home address, abandoning the previous model based on exam scores. The stated goal is to make educational pathways more equitable, yet parents and students are expressing concerns about the lack of transparency and the freedom to choose specific schools.
An important point of consideration is the admission process for the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), which announced it will maintain its own entrance exam. The UNAM admission exam will take place as traditionally established, with the university planning to publish its admissions call between February and March 2025, according to the Dirección General de Administración Escolar (DGAE).
Commenting on the reforms, representatives for the city government affirmed, "El derecho a la educación estará garantizado para todos los estudiantes que terminaron su educación básica," emphasizing their commitment to ensuring education for all. This marks the first year where competitiveness will no longer dictate admissions, leading students through a centralized registration platform.
Future applicants to UNAM can expect to face 128 questions on their entrance exam, which will be the sole criterion for admission to the National Preparatory Schools and the Colleges of Sciences and Humanities (CCH). Student vigilance will be necessary to stay informed about upcoming deadlines and requirements as this important date looms closer.
While the adjustments signal ambition for increased educational access, the impact on students’ decisions and adaptations to these new processes remains to be seen. The elimination of Comipems is heralded as transformative, potentially reshaping the educational experience for generations to come.
Many are left pondering: How will these changes affect educational quality and student motivation? The government’s shift toward residency-based admissions seeks to level the playing field, but questions linger about whether it will equally satisfy young learners' aspirations.
With the 2025 admission year on the horizon, the educational community is abuzz with discussions surrounding suspense-filled alterations. The disparity between Comipems and UNAM’s processes reveals the contentious and complex nature of education reform, necessitating careful navigation by families nationwide. The countdown to the new system has begun, and with it, the potential for significant shifts in how students enter higher education.