EXANI-III

Overview

EXANI-III is the national admission exam for graduate programmes in Mexico: specialisation, master's and doctorate. It is run by Ceneval, a non-profit national evaluation centre, and is meant as a support tool for institutions deciding who to admit. It checks the academic abilities and research-method knowledge needed for postgraduate study. It is taken in one session of 4.5 hours with multiple-choice items that have three answer options.

Who can apply

The exam is for people who have finished higher education and want to enter a graduate programme at an institute, college or university that has contracted Ceneval. It can also be taken in a personal capacity, to find out how ready you are for postgraduate study.

Exam pattern

The four areas that make up the global score have 30 items each. A separate English section gives diagnostic information only. Ceneval notes the total of 150 items excludes extra pilot and control items, which are not scored.

The English section measures reading and indirect writing at B2 level on the Common European Framework. Candidates also answer a context questionnaire on four socioemotional skills: cooperation, academic perseverance, metacognition and academic engagement.

Marking and results

Ceneval reports a score only, not a pass or fail. It publishes results for national applications about ten business days after the exam date, as the 2026 calendar below shows. For institutional applications, the institution explains how and when results are reported.

Important dates

There are two kinds of application. Institutional applications are contracted by a university, which sets its own dates. National applications are held by Ceneval, and candidates register with Ceneval directly. The 2026 national calendar was:

Fees

Prices depend on the type and format of application. Ceneval publishes a 2026 price list for academic exams on its site; check it for the amount in Mexican pesos.

How to apply

For a national application, register on Ceneval's platform, pay in the registration period, and choose an exam venue. Venues have limited capacity, so if one is full you pick another or wait for the next period. For an institutional application, follow the registration instructions of the university that requires the exam. Ceneval lists three formats overall: printed exam, computer-based at the host institution, and at home with a computer and stable internet. For 2026, Ceneval states that national applications are held only in the at-home format; for institutional applications, the institution chooses the format.

After the exam

The score is used by the institutions that require it, together with their own criteria. Each institution decides how to weigh it.

Preparation tips

• Practise all four scored areas, including research methodology.

• Use Ceneval's student guide and interactive guide, which are listed on its page.