With fewer questions, Fuvest and Unicamp demand more reasoning from candidates

Changes in two of the country's main entrance exams must now require greater reasoning ability from candidates.

Fuvest, which gives access to USP (University of São Paulo), will hold the first edition of the test with the new format after reducing the number of questions from 90 to 80 in the 1st phase. This year, the test is scheduled to take place on November 1st, with 80 questions, instead of the traditional 90.

From the 2028 Entrance Exam onwards, the changes will also be incorporated into the 2nd Phase. The candidate will answer 8 questions, instead of 10, in addition to having to write the essay.

Unicamp (State University of Campinas) reduced the number of questions in the 2nd phase from 20 to 18. The 1st phase will be on October 18th and the 2nd, on November 29th and 30th.

In practice, it is more important to know a certain subject in depth than to memorize more variations. According to the pedagogical coordinator of primary and secondary education at Colégio Rio Branco, the general rule is "less memorization and more reasoning".

"The 2026 selection processes demonstrate a tendency to minimize memorization and promote greater reflection. Current affairs, geopolitics, gender issues, the environment and artificial intelligence can be a common thread in issues from different disciplines, both at Fuvest and Unicamp", says Ana Maris Goulart.

The pedagogue also highlights the change in the Enem test format, announced in 2025. The exam, which gives access to public universities across the country and even in Portugal, debuted the testlet methodology, which organizes two or more questions based on the same text.

Less isolated questions, more time to think: the logic is the same for the three entrance exams.

"The ability to read the world with a critical eye is not built in the 3rd year of high school. The student well-prepared for the ENEM is, to a large extent, qualified for the majority of selection processes. What changes between them is the degree of depth in certain areas", he adds.

Fuvest announces changes to the 2nd phase of the USP Entrance Exam in 2028

Source: CNN