Introduction
The Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM) is Brazil’s national secondary school exam, organized by INEP (National Institute for Educational Studies and Research, under the Ministry of Education).
It serves multiple roles:
Evaluating the academic performance (knowledge) of high school students.
Being a gateway to higher education: many universities use ENEM scores via systems like SISU (Unified Selection System) to admit students.
Helping candidates get scholarships under programs such as ProUni (University for All Program) or student financing (FIES).
Also enabling certification of high school completion for those aged 18+ who didn’t finish high school via achieving required scores.
Because of its multiuse nature, ENEM is one of the most important exams for Brazilian students who wish to access higher education or certify their secondary schooling.
ENEM 2025: Key Dates & Registration
Registration Period
Official registration is open from May 26 to June 6, 2025.
The registration fee (for those not exempt) is R$85, payable via boleto, Pix, credit card, or debit.
In Pará state specifically, the registration deadline was extended to June 13 to accommodate more candidates.
Exemptions & Pre-filled Registration
Students in public schools completing high school, or those qualifying under social programs (CadÚnico), may have free registration or pre-filled registration.
If someone missed ENEM 2024 and was previously exempted, they must justify their absence to maintain the benefit.
Exam Dates & Special Cases
The standard exam days are November 9 and 16, 2025 (Sundays).
However, in Belém, Ananindeua and Marituba (state of Pará), the exam will be held later: November 30 and December 7, 2025, owing to the COP-30 (30th UN Climate Conference) being held in that region at the same time.
The deadline to pay registration for non-exempt students is June 18, 2025.
Exam Structure & Format
ENEM traditionally consists of four objective tests (multiple-choice) plus an essay (Redação).
Objective Tests
Each of the four areas has 45 multiple-choice questions, making a total of 180 questions.
The four knowledge areas are:
Languages, Codes and their Technologies (Portuguese, literature, foreign language, arts, tech, etc.)
Human Sciences and their Technologies (history, geography, philosophy, sociology)
Natural Sciences and their Technologies (physics, chemistry, biology)
Mathematics and its Technologies (math, statistics, etc.)
Essay (Redação)
In addition to multiple-choice tests, candidates write a dissertation-argumentative essay in Portuguese on a theme given on exam day.
To obtain a high school certification via ENEM, candidates must achieve at least 450 points in each knowledge area and 500 points in the essay.
Time & Scheduling
On the first exam day, the tests include: languages, essay, foreign language, humanities, etc. That session can last 5 hours and 30 minutes.
On the second day, the tests cover mathematics, natural sciences, etc., lasting around 5 hours.
Examination centers open at 12:00 and close to entry at 13:00 (Brasília time), and sessions begin at 13:30.
Recent Changes & Innovations in ENEM 2025
• Reference Matrix Alignment with BNCC: The exam content will be aligned with the BNCC (Base Nacional Comum Curricular), a national curriculum reference, in order to make exam questions reflect what is taught in schools.
• No change in exam structure: Although content alignment is updated, the format (four tests + essay) remains unchanged.
• Pre-filled registration: For public school students finishing high school, registration will be partially pre-filled to simplify process—candidates must confirm and choose a foreign language.
• Special dates for Pará: Because of COP-30, the exam dates in some regions are shifted.
How ENEM Scores Are Used
ENEM scores are highly consequential; here’s how they’re used and why students care:
University Admission via SISU
SISU (Sistema de Seleção Unificada) uses ENEM scores to allow students to apply to public universities across Brazil.
Scholarships / Financial Aid (ProUni, FIES)
ProUni (Programa Universidade para Todos) offers full or partial scholarships in private institutions based on ENEM scores.
FIES (Student Financing) is another program that may use ENEM results as criteria.
High School Certification
Candidates aged 18 or older who didn’t finish high school may use ENEM 2025 to obtain certification by meeting minimum scores in each area and essay.
Challenges & Considerations
Access & Equity
Students from lower-income or rural areas may lack resources (prep courses, materials, school support) to compete equally on ENEM.Aligning Content with Schools
The shift to BNCC alignment requires schools to update teaching. If curriculum hasn’t caught up, disparities in students’ preparedness may increase.Logistics & Scheduling Conflicts
The special dates in Pará due to COP-30 show that external events can force adjustments; managing uniform application across a huge country like Brazil is complex.Scoring & Grading Fairness
Ensuring consistency in essay scoring, handling appeals, question design, and mitigating guessing or random answering patterns is challenging.Variation across states / regions
Educational quality differs significantly by region. Students from strong school systems may have advantage.
Tips for ENEM 2025 Candidates
Register early, confirm any exemptions, and pay the fee before deadlines.
Understand the exam structure and time allocation for each section.
Practice with past ENEM exams (objective + essay) under timed conditions.
Stay updated on rules for Pará or any region that has altered dates.
Focus on writing strong essays: clarity, coherence, argument structure, and relevance to theme.
Prepare in all four knowledge areas — avoid neglecting any subject.
Use official study materials and resources (INEP, educational platforms) aligned with BNCC.
FAQs
Q1: When are the ENEM 2025 exam dates?
The main exam dates are November 9 and 16, 2025, except for some cities in Pará, where exams happen November 30 and December 7, 2025.
Q2: What is the registration window?
May 26 to June 6, 2025. In Pará, registration was extended until June 13.
Q3: How many questions are there, and how is it structured?
180 multiple-choice questions (4 tests × 45 questions) plus one essay.
Q4: Can I use ENEM 2025 to certify my high school degree?
Yes, if you are aged 18 or over and achieve at least 450 points in each test area and 500 in the essay.
Q5: What happens if I miss the exam days due to issues?
There may be a reapplication on December 16 & 17 for those affected by logistical problems or illness.
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