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Recovery Guide

Failed COMIPEMS? Here's Your Recovery Plan

Failing an exam doesn't define you. The COMIPEMS has a pass rate of ~85%, you're not alone. Here's exactly what to do next.

You're Not Alone

The COMIPEMS has a pass rate of ~85%, which means many qualified candidates don't pass on their first attempt. This is a medium-difficulty exam that challenges even experienced professionals.

Most people who fail and try again with a better strategy pass on their second attempt. The key is understanding what went wrong and fixing it.

Metropolitan Commission Retake Policy

Wait Period

There is no retake inside a cycle. You sit the exam once, on the single date and time printed on your Cita de examen, and the instructivo states there is no change of date or time. The next opportunity is the following annual process.

Retake Cost

The full fee again in a later cycle. Payments are never refunded, and the instructivo states this explicitly for the IPN contribution. Registration for no-exam options remains free in any cycle.

Max Attempts

No limit is published on how many annual cycles you may enter. UNAM and IPN do apply their own exclusions: UNAM bars re-entry to a CCH or ENP system where you already had a trajectory and applies generation rules from the Reglamento General de Inscripciones, and IPN refuses entry to anyone who holds an upper secondary boleta, is enrolled, or previously enrolled and withdrew.

Pro tip: The safety net inside the same cycle is not a retake but the extemporaneous registration period after results, which ran from 19 to 26 August 2026 and which the SEP says covers two groups: those who never started or never completed ordinary registration, and those who listed only UNAM or IPN options and did not get a favourable exam result. Registering in the mixed modality with up to 20 options avoids needing it, because an unsuccessful exam leads to assignment from the no-exam part of your list. A cancelled exam is a different matter: if any of the twelve prohibited behaviours is confirmed, the exam is annulled, and the instructivo warns that annulment can follow even after assignment and enrolment.

Common Reasons People Fail COMIPEMS
  • Preparing for COMIPEMS
    COMIPEMS was eliminated and replaced by the ECOEMS process on the Mi derecho, mi lugar platform. Registration now runs through a government portal with three modalities, and an exam applies only to UNAM and IPN options. Old guides describe a process that no longer runs.
  • Expecting a paper exam at an assigned venue
    The IPN-UNAM exam is taken online through the LockDown Browser on a Windows or macOS computer with webcam and microphone. It cannot be sat on a phone or tablet. Only candidates with disabilities have an in-person sitting, which in 2026 was on 24 June.
  • Leaving the payment to the last day
    The payment window is five days and there is no extension. In 2026 the deposit slip had to be downloaded by 15:00 on 22 May and the payment registered by 15:59 the same day. The instructivo states there is no prorroga and no refund.
  • Skipping the simulator
    The simulator is compulsory and runs only at the date and time on your Cita de examen, with no changes possible. It is the only chance to fix your camera, microphone, connection and room before the real exam, and the instructivo warns that time lost to a problem on exam day is not restored.
  • Sitting the exam with posters, dolls or pictures of people in the background
    The instructivo states the AI monitoring is designed to detect the possible presence of other people, so images of people in the background can trigger an incident. Clear the wall behind you and avoid sitting with a light source behind your head.
  • Wearing headphones or a cap
    The instructivo prohibits headphones and earphones of any kind, since the exam has no audio content, and prohibits covering your face or head with hats, scarves, caps, sunglasses or face masks. Prescription glasses are the only permitted accessory.
  • Bringing a calculator
    Books, notebooks, crib sheets, calculators, phones, smart watches, tablets, portable consoles and cameras are all prohibited. The only permitted materials are two blank sheets of paper, a pencil, an eraser and a sharpener, and you must destroy the sheets on camera at the end.
  • Listing only aspirational schools
    Assignment runs on your registered order of preference and availability. The no-exam modality asks for five to ten options and the mixed modality allows up to 20. A short list of highly demanded schools is how a candidate ends up in the extemporaneous round.
  • Ignoring the secundaria average
    The SEP states that IPN and UNAM assign places to candidates with a minimum secundaria average of 7.0, alongside correct answers, preference order and availability. A strong exam score does not compensate for falling below that threshold.
  • Paying for a guaranteed place
    UNAM and IPN state that they have no agreements with any organisation or person offering preparation courses with guarantees of admission, that any such offer is false, and that paying for exam questions makes you a fraud victim and a participant in a reportable offence. The process is audited in the presence of a notary.
Your 5-Step Recovery Plan
1

Analyze Your Score Report

Review your COMIPEMS score report immediately. Identify which domains you scored lowest in, these are your priority areas. Write down specific topics you struggled with while the exam is fresh in your memory.

2

Take a Short Break (But Not Too Long)

Take 2-3 days off from studying to reset mentally. Failing is emotionally draining, and jumping back in immediately can lead to burnout. But don't wait too long, the material is still fresh.

3

Change Your Study Strategy

Whatever approach you used before didn't work. Switch it up: if you only read textbooks, add video courses. If you didn't do practice tests, make them your primary study method. Active recall beats passive review every time.

4

Focus on Weak Areas (80/20 Rule)

Spend 80% of your study time on the 2-3 domains where you scored lowest. You probably already know the topics you scored well on. For COMIPEMS, this targeted approach is far more effective than re-studying everything.

5

Take a Practice Test Before Rebooking

Don't rebook the exam until you're consistently scoring 85%+ on practice tests. This saves you money and builds real confidence. When you're scoring well, schedule the retake.

Study Tips for COMIPEMS
  • Computer-based exam
  • 128 questions in 3 hours
  • Determines high school assignment in Mexico City
  • Rank preferences for schools
  • Study guides available from COMIPEMS
  • Taken after secundaria (9th grade)
Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to wait to retake the COMIPEMS?

The retake waiting period for COMIPEMS is There is no retake inside a cycle. You sit the exam once, on the single date and time printed on your Cita de examen, and the instructivo states there is no change of date or time. The next opportunity is the following annual process.. The safety net inside the same cycle is not a retake but the extemporaneous registration period after results, which ran from 19 to 26 August 2026 and which the SEP says covers two groups: those who never started or never completed ordinary registration, and those who listed only UNAM or IPN options and did not get a favourable exam result. Registering in the mixed modality with up to 20 options avoids needing it, because an unsuccessful exam leads to assignment from the no-exam part of your list. A cancelled exam is a different matter: if any of the twelve prohibited behaviours is confirmed, the exam is annulled, and the instructivo warns that annulment can follow even after assignment and enrolment.

How much does it cost to retake the COMIPEMS?

The retake cost is The full fee again in a later cycle. Payments are never refunded, and the instructivo states this explicitly for the IPN contribution. Registration for no-exam options remains free in any cycle.. Maximum attempts: No limit is published on how many annual cycles you may enter. UNAM and IPN do apply their own exclusions: UNAM bars re-entry to a CCH or ENP system where you already had a trajectory and applies generation rules from the Reglamento General de Inscripciones, and IPN refuses entry to anyone who holds an upper secondary boleta, is enrolled, or previously enrolled and withdrew..

What percentage of people fail the COMIPEMS?

The COMIPEMS has an average pass rate of ~85%, meaning roughly 15% of test-takers fail on their first attempt.

Is the COMIPEMS harder the second time?

No, the COMIPEMS difficulty is the same on retake. Many people pass on their second attempt because they know what to expect and can focus their study on weak areas.

Ready to pass COMIPEMS?

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