brazil’s national college entrance exam, the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem), concluded its second day of testing Sunday amidst a important policy shift announced by the Ministry of Education.Starting in 2026,the Enem will move beyond its conventional role as a university entrance tool and become the official assessment benchmark for Brazil’s secondary education system,providing critical data on student performance and educational equity[[2]]. This change aims to better inform education policy and guide improvements across the country’s schools[[1]].
Posted on November 16, 2025 9:07 PM
Caderno de provas do segundo dia do Enem 2025 – (crédito: Angelo Miguel/MEC)
Brazil’s national college entrance exam, the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem), will take on a new role starting in 2026, serving as the official assessment tool for secondary education. The Ministry of Education confirmed Sunday that the exam’s results will be used to diagnose student learning, identify regional disparities, and gauge the effectiveness of public education policies.
While the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (Inep) has not yet released participation and absenteeism figures for Sunday’s testing, the agency confirmed the policy shift. The move addresses calls from education experts and aligns the exam more closely with its original purpose, while also strengthening its connection to the National Common Curricular Base (BNCC).
According to Inep, the goal is to leverage student performance data to pinpoint areas for improvement, guide educational networks, and monitor the implementation of the new secondary education curriculum. The resulting indicators will be compiled into studies and reports for use by state and municipal education departments.
Beyond revising the exam’s role within Brazil, Inep and the Ministry of Education are exploring expanding the Enem’s administration to include countries within the Mercosur trade bloc. This would allow students from Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay to take the exam.
Education Minister Camilo Santana said the tests would be administered in Portuguese and would open opportunities for both Brazilian and international students seeking university admission. The proposal, still under review, involves discussions regarding curriculum standardization, international logistics, security measures, certification, and the recognition of scores. This expansion could potentially broaden access to Brazilian universities for students across South America.
