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System · Enem

National High School Exam (Enem)

Problem
According to Inep, the Enem was established in 1998 to assess the school performance of students at the end of basic education and, in 2009, also came to be used as a means of access to higher education. MEC Ordinance No. 807/2010 provided for the use of the results also for high school completion certification and for access to government programs.
Who it serves
Those seeking access to higher education or to government programs and, for high school completion certification, people aged 18 or older who reach the minimum scores set by Inep Ordinance No. 179/2014. MEC Ordinance No. 807/2010 provides for a fee waiver for high school graduates at public institutions and for members of low-income families.
How it works
Exam administered by Inep, established by Ordinance No. 438/1998 and again by MEC Ordinance No. 807/2010; the MEC covers the difference between the fees collected and Inep's spending (MEC Ordinance No. 468/2017). According to Inep, it is administered over two days, with tests in four areas totaling 180 multiple-choice questions and an essay, and the scores can be used in Sisu, in ProUni, in partner Portuguese institutions and in Fies; Law No. 11,096/2005 provides for ProUni pre-selection based on Enem results. Decree No. 9,432/2018, from the Michel Temer government, included the Enem in the National Policy for the Assessment and Examination of Basic Education, and Decree No. 12,915/2026 establishes it as an integral part of Saeb.

Education

Relation to the Lula governments

Continued under Lula · First term (2003 to 2006) · from 2003 to 2006

According to Inep's history, the 2003 Enem had 1,882,393 registrants and tests administered in 605 municipalities; the questionnaire began to identify the "treineiros" (test-takers sitting the exam for practice), who were 19% of registrants.[1]

In the 2003 LOA, action 4017 "Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio - ENEM" had an authorization (law plus credits) of R$63,480,607 and an amount paid of R$46,369,528 in the fiscal year, according to SIOP (nominal values).[2]

Expanded under Lula · First term (2003 to 2006) · from 2004 to 2006

Law No. 11,096 of January 13, 2005, which establishes ProUni, provides that the student to be benefited must be pre-selected by the results and socioeconomic profile of the Enem or by other criteria defined by the MEC, and selected in the final stage by the higher education institution.[3]

Reshaped under Lula · Second term (2007 to 2010) · from May 2009 to 2010

MEC Ordinance No. 807 of June 18, 2010 established the Enem as an assessment procedure and provided for the use of its results for certification at the high school completion level, as criteria for access to government programs, and as a sole, alternative or complementary mechanism of access to higher education.[4]

Continued under Lula · Second term (2007 to 2010) · from 2007 to 2010

In the 2010 LOA, action 4017, then named "Exames Nacionais de Habilidades e Competências", had an authorization (law plus credits) of R$258,480,864, a commitment of R$219,521,902 and an amount paid of R$159,952,860 in the fiscal year, according to SIOP (nominal values).[5]

Reshaped under Lula · Third term (since 2023) · since May 2025

According to Inep, in the 2025 Enem 98,558 participants indicated that they would use the exam for high school completion certification and partial declaration of proficiency, an initiative that Inep describes as resumed in that edition.[6]

Under art. 7-A added by Decree No. 12,915/2026, the results of the Enem may be used for assessing the quality of high school education, high school completion certification or partial declaration of proficiency, access to higher education, access to student financing or support programs, and studies and the production of indicators linked to monitoring the goals of the National Education Plan.[7]

Inep Ordinance No. 219 of May 12, 2026 established the Working Group for the Implementation of the Enem (GT Enem) to coordinate, monitor and support the implementation of Decree No. 12,915/2026, which establishes the Enem as an integral part of Saeb.[8]

Continued under Lula · Third term (since 2023) · since 2023

According to Inep's presentation of the 2024 Enem results, confirmed registrations were 3,934,242 in 2023, with 71.9% attendance, and 4,325,960 in 2024, with 73.5% attendance.[9]

According to Inep, the 2025 Enem had 4,811,338 confirmed registrants, of whom 3,049,710 were exempt and 1,761,628 were paying, an increase of 11.22% compared with 2024.[10]

According to Inep, the 2025 Enem had pre-filled registration for 1,915,634 public school students finishing high school, of whom 1,390,815 (72.6%) confirmed their registration.[11]

Action 20RM "Exames e Avaliações da Educação Básica" had an amount paid in the fiscal year of R$308,525,866 in 2023, R$389,029,169 in 2024 and R$376,646,966 in 2025, according to SIOP (nominal values).[12]

According to Inep, in October 2026 the 2026 Enem had more than 5 million registrants, of whom 3.4 million had free registration and 1.6 million were paying, with tests on November 8 and 15.[13]

Origin and precursors

Origin milestone: founding legal act, Before 2003.

The National High School Exam (Enem) was established by Ordinance No. 438 of May 28, 1998, and established again by Ordinance No. 807 of June 18, 2010, according to art. 1 of MEC Ordinance No. 468/2017.[14]

Precursors

  • MEC Ordinance No. 438/1998 (creation of the Enem) and MEC Ordinance No. 318/2001, revoked by MEC Ordinance No. 807/2010 replaced Art. 8 of MEC Ordinance No. 807/2010 revoked Ordinance No. 438/1998, Ordinance No. 318/2001, Ordinance No. 462/2009 and Normative Ordinance No. 4/2010.[15]

Precursor investigation: continuation of an earlier initiative (October 14, 2026).

Scope: Inep Ordinances 109/2009 and 179/2014 and MEC Ordinances 4/2010 (regulatory), 807/2010, and 468/2017 (DOU copies at Inep); Decrees 9,432/2018 (Chamber) and 12,915/2026 (Planalto in the Internet Archive); MEC Ordinances 411/2021 and 467/2022 and Inep 307/2025 and 219/2026 (MEC Norms); Law 11,096/2005 (Chamber); history of the Enem at Inep (1998 to 2018); SIOP 2000 to 2025; TCU rulings (2011, 2021, 2023). The text of MEC Ordinance 438/1998 was not opened; the 1998 origin appears in later norms.

Responsibilities

  • Ministry of Education (norms of the exam and funding of the difference between fees and expenses) design

    Under MEC Ordinance No. 468/2017, the Ministry of Education covers the difference between the amount collected from registration fees and the amount actually spent by Inep on the annual administration of the Enem.[16]

  • Higher education institutions and the ProUni, Sisu, and Fies programs (use of the results) partnership

    According to Inep, the Enem is administered over two days, with tests in four areas totaling 180 multiple-choice questions and an argumentative essay, and its scores can be used in Sisu, in ProUni, in partner Portuguese institutions and in Fies.[17]

  • Enem Governance Committee (MEC, Inep, CNE, Consed, Andifes, Conif, and private entities) social participation

    MEC Ordinance No. 467 of July 1, 2022 established the Enem Governance Committee, coordinated by Inep, and approved the Enem update parameters resulting from the activities of the Working Group established by MEC Ordinance No. 411 of June 17, 2021.[18]

  • Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) oversight

    In Ruling 1223/2023-Plenary, the TCU's monitoring of Inep's conduct of the Enem concluded that there was no proof of ideological steering or security failures, pointed out opportunities for improvement, and recommended that Inep issue a general rule on the preparation, review and annual selection of the exam items.[19]

Timeline

Timeline of National High School Exam (Enem)
DatePhaseWhat happened
May 1998Legal actMEC Ordinance No. 438 establishes the Enem (Fernando Henrique Cardoso government).[14]
January 2005Legal actLaw No. 11,096/2005 provides for the pre-selection of ProUni scholarship holders through the Enem.[3]
December 2009Implementation2009 Enem administered on December 5 and 6, after the leak of the exam.[20]
June 2010Legal actMEC Ordinance No. 807/2010 establishes the Enem again and revokes Ordinance No. 438/1998.[4]
June 2018Legal actDecree No. 9,432/2018 includes the Enem in the National Policy for the Assessment and Examination of Basic Education.[21]
July 2022Legal actMEC Ordinance No. 467/2022 creates the Enem Governance Committee and approves update parameters.[18]
July 2025ImplementationInep's report records 4,811,338 confirmed registrants in the 2025 Enem.[10]
May 2026Legal actInep Ordinance No. 219/2026 establishes the GT Enem to implement the decree.[8]

How it works

MEC Ordinance No. 807/2010 provided for a registration fee set annually by Inep and a waiver for high school graduating students enrolled in public institutions and for those who declared themselves members of a low-income family under Decree No. 6,135/2007.[22]

Budget and spending

Figures are nominal unless stated otherwise. Announced, authorized, committed, liquidated and paid amounts are different things and appear with the type indicated. In SIOP lines, "paid" means paid within the same fiscal year (arrears settled later are not counted), and one budget action can fund more than one program: the text says when the action is only part of a program.

In the 2002 LOA, action 4017, then named "Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio - ENEM", had an initial appropriation of R$63,525,800 and an amount paid of R$60,607,584 in the fiscal year, according to SIOP (nominal values).[23]

Audits

In Ruling 374/2011-Plenary, the TCU examined the additional costs caused by the leak of the 2009 Enem exams and ordered Inep to report how the amount of R$47,123,416.30 was calculated for the reimbursement, by the Connase Consortium, of Inep's expenses on the emergency contract for administering the second Enem in 2009.[24]

According to the vote in Ruling 374/2011-Plenary, the TCU's technical unit recorded failures in the performance of Contract 27/2009, but found no causal link between them and the leak; the TCU also pointed to payments of variable costs estimated for 6,000,000 candidates, when the actual number was 4,139,211, and imposed fines on two responsible parties.[25]

In Ruling 2883/2021-Plenary, when examining a representation about alleged ideological steering and weakened security of the Enem, the TCU denied the precautionary removal of the president of Inep and ordered the opening of a case file to monitor the preparation and review of the exams.[26]

Limitations

Inep published Notice No. 18 of December 8, 2010, which made public the re-administration of the exam for participants affected by printing errors in the yellow test booklet of the 2010 Enem.[27]

Context

Inep Ordinance No. 179 of April 28, 2014 began to require, for high school certification through the Enem, a minimum of 450 points in each area and 500 points on the essay, in addition to being 18 years of age or older and stating the intention at the time of registration.[28]

MEC Ordinance No. 411 of June 17, 2021 established a Working Group to present a proposal for updating the Enem and the Encceja, in view of recent changes in basic education.[29]

According to Inep's presentation of the 2024 Enem results, the 2022 Enem had 3,476,105 confirmed registrations, with 71.7% attendance.[30]

Precursors

According to Inep, the Enem was established in 1998 with the objective of assessing the school performance of students at the end of basic education and, in 2009, also came to be used as a means of access to higher education.[31]

Sources and evidence

Excerpts are quoted in the original language of the source.

  1. 1. According to Inep's history, the 2003 Enem had 1,882,393 registrants and tests administered in 605 municipalities; the questionnaire began to identify the "treineiros" (test-takers sitting the exam for practice), who were 19% of registrants.

    • Histórico do Enem · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Official record
      Where: item "2003 - Perfil do participante mais detalhado". Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Com a mudança, os “treineiros” passaram a ser identificados e, em 2003, representaram 19% do total de 1.882.393 inscritos. As provas foram aplicadas em 31 de agosto, em 605 municípios.”

  2. 2. In the 2003 LOA, action 4017 "Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio - ENEM" had an authorization (law plus credits) of R$63,480,607 and an amount paid of R$46,369,528 in the fiscal year, according to SIOP (nominal values).

  3. 3. Law No. 11,096 of January 13, 2005, which establishes ProUni, provides that the student to be benefited must be pre-selected by the results and socioeconomic profile of the Enem or by other criteria defined by the MEC, and selected in the final stage by the higher education institution.

    • Lei nº 11.096, de 13 de janeiro de 2005 (publicação original) · Chamber of Deputies (Computerized Legislation) Official legal act
      Where: art. 3, caput. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Art. 3º O estudante a ser beneficiado pelo Prouni será préselecionado pelos resultados e pelo perfil socioeconômico do Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio - ENEM ou outros critérios a serem definidos pelo Ministério da Educação, e, na etapa final, selecionado pela instituição de ensino superior, segundo seus próprios critérios”

  4. 4. MEC Ordinance No. 807 of June 18, 2010 established the Enem as an assessment procedure and provided for the use of its results for certification at the high school completion level, as criteria for access to government programs, and as a sole, alternative or complementary mechanism of access to higher education.

  5. 5. In the 2010 LOA, action 4017, then named "Exames Nacionais de Habilidades e Competências", had an authorization (law plus credits) of R$258,480,864, a commitment of R$219,521,902 and an amount paid of R$159,952,860 in the fiscal year, according to SIOP (nominal values).

  6. 6. According to Inep, in the 2025 Enem 98,558 participants indicated that they would use the exam for high school completion certification and partial declaration of proficiency, an initiative that Inep describes as resumed in that edition.

    • Enem 2025: mais de 4,8 milhões de inscritos confirmados · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Government communication
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured July 23, 2025); original address: www.gov.br. The archive preserves the copy; the author is Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep).
      Where: paragraph 3. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Além disso, 98.558 participantes utilizarão o exame para a certificação de conclusão do ensino médio e a declaração parcial de proficiência na etapa de ensino, iniciativa retomada nesta edição.”

  7. 7. Under art. 7-A added by Decree No. 12,915/2026, the results of the Enem may be used for assessing the quality of high school education, high school completion certification or partial declaration of proficiency, access to higher education, access to student financing or support programs, and studies and the production of indicators linked to monitoring the goals of the National Education Plan.

    • Decreto nº 12.915, de 30 de março de 2026 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured June 7, 2026); original address: www.planalto.gov.br. The archive preserves the copy; the author is Presidency of the Republic (Planalto).
      Where: art. 1 (art. 7-A of Decree No. 9,432/2018). Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Art. 7º-A Os resultados do Enem poderão ser utilizados para as seguintes finalidades: I - avaliação da qualidade do ensino médio no âmbito da educação básica; II - certificação de conclusão do ensino médio ou declaração parcial de proficiência; III - acesso à educação superior; IV - acesso aos programas governamentais de financiamento ou de apoio ao estudante da educação superior;”
    • Decreto nº 12.915, de 30 de março de 2026 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured June 7, 2026); original address: www.planalto.gov.br. The archive preserves the copy; the author is Presidency of the Republic (Planalto).
      Where: art. 1 (art. 7-A, items V and VI). Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “VI - produção de indicadores educacionais relacionados ao ensino médio e ao monitoramento das metas do Plano Nacional de Educação”

  8. 8. Inep Ordinance No. 219 of May 12, 2026 established the Working Group for the Implementation of the Enem (GT Enem) to coordinate, monitor and support the implementation of Decree No. 12,915/2026, which establishes the Enem as an integral part of Saeb.

    • Portaria Inep nº 219, de 12 de maio de 2026 (texto no MEC Normas) · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Official legal act
      Where: summary and art. 1. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Fica instituído, no âmbito do Inep, o Grupo de Trabalho para Implementação do Enem - GT Enem, com a finalidade de coordenar, acompanhar e apoiar a implementação das disposições estabelecidas pelo Decreto nº 12.915, de 30 de março de 2026, que estabelecem o Enem como parte integrante do Saeb”

  9. 9. According to Inep's presentation of the 2024 Enem results, confirmed registrations were 3,934,242 in 2023, with 71.9% attendance, and 4,325,960 in 2024, with 73.5% attendance.

  10. 10. According to Inep, the 2025 Enem had 4,811,338 confirmed registrants, of whom 3,049,710 were exempt and 1,761,628 were paying, an increase of 11.22% compared with 2024.

    • Enem 2025: mais de 4,8 milhões de inscritos confirmados · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Government communication
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured July 23, 2025); original address: www.gov.br. The archive preserves the copy; the author is Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep).
      Where: paragraph 1. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Foram contabilizados 4.811.338 inscritos confirmados para o Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem) 2025 em todo o Brasil.”
    • Enem 2025: mais de 4,8 milhões de inscritos confirmados · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Government communication
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured July 23, 2025); original address: www.gov.br. The archive preserves the copy; the author is Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep).
      Where: paragraph 1. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Em comparação com 2024, o aumento no número das inscrições foi de 11,22%.”
    • Enem 2025: mais de 4,8 milhões de inscritos confirmados · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Government communication
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured July 23, 2025); original address: www.gov.br. The archive preserves the copy; the author is Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep).
      Where: paragraph 3. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Do total de inscritos, 3.049.710 são isentos e 1.761.628, pagantes.”

  11. 11. According to Inep, the 2025 Enem had pre-filled registration for 1,915,634 public school students finishing high school, of whom 1,390,815 (72.6%) confirmed their registration.

    • Enem 2025: mais de 4,8 milhões de inscritos confirmados · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Government communication
      Read from an archived copy (Internet Archive (Wayback Machine), captured July 23, 2025); original address: www.gov.br. The archive preserves the copy; the author is Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep).
      Where: paragraph 2. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Uma novidade desta edição foi a inscrição pré-preenchida de 1.915.634 estudantes concluintes do ensino médio da rede pública. Desse total, 1.390.815 confirmaram a inscrição no exame (72,6%).”

  12. 12. Action 20RM "Exames e Avaliações da Educação Básica" had an amount paid in the fiscal year of R$308,525,866 in 2023, R$389,029,169 in 2024 and R$376,646,966 in 2025, according to SIOP (nominal values).

  13. 13. According to Inep, in October 2026 the 2026 Enem had more than 5 million registrants, of whom 3.4 million had free registration and 1.6 million were paying, with tests on November 8 and 15.

  14. 14. The National High School Exam (Enem) was established by Ordinance No. 438 of May 28, 1998, and established again by Ordinance No. 807 of June 18, 2010, according to art. 1 of MEC Ordinance No. 468/2017.

  15. 15. Art. 8 of MEC Ordinance No. 807/2010 revoked Ordinance No. 438/1998, Ordinance No. 318/2001, Ordinance No. 462/2009 and Normative Ordinance No. 4/2010.

  16. 16. Under MEC Ordinance No. 468/2017, the Ministry of Education covers the difference between the amount collected from registration fees and the amount actually spent by Inep on the annual administration of the Enem.

  17. 17. According to Inep, the Enem is administered over two days, with tests in four areas totaling 180 multiple-choice questions and an argumentative essay, and its scores can be used in Sisu, in ProUni, in partner Portuguese institutions and in Fies.

    • Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem): apresentação · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Official record
      Where: section "Apresentação". Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Os participantes fazem provas de quatro áreas de conhecimento: linguagens, códigos e suas tecnologias; ciências humanas e suas tecnologias; ciências da natureza e suas tecnologias; e matemática e suas tecnologias, que ao todo somam 180 questões objetivas. Os participantes também são avaliados por meio de uma redação, que exige o desenvolvimento de um texto dissertativo-argumentativo a partir de uma situação-problema.”
    • Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem): apresentação · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Official record
      Where: section "Apresentação". Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “As notas do Enem podem ser usadas para acesso ao Sistema de Seleção Unificada (Sisu) e ao Programa Universidade para Todos (ProUni). Elas também são aceitas em instituições de educação superior portuguesas que têm acordo com o Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep) . Além disso, os participantes do Enem podem pleitear financiamento estudantil em programas do governo, como o Fundo de Financiamento Estudantil (Fies).”
    • Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem): apresentação · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Official record
      Where: section "Apresentação". Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “A aplicação do Enem ocorre em dois dias.”

  18. 18. MEC Ordinance No. 467 of July 1, 2022 established the Enem Governance Committee, coordinated by Inep, and approved the Enem update parameters resulting from the activities of the Working Group established by MEC Ordinance No. 411 of June 17, 2021.

    • Portaria MEC nº 467, de 1º de julho de 2022 (texto no MEC Normas) · Ministry of Education Official legal act
      Where: art. 3, items II to IV. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “II - Presidente do Conselho Nacional de Secretários de Educação - Consed; III - Presidente da Associação Nacional dos Dirigentes das Instituições Federais de Ensino Superior - Andifes; IV - Presidente do Conselho Nacional das Instituições da Rede Federal de Educação Profissional Científica e Tecnológica - Conif;”
    • Portaria MEC nº 467, de 1º de julho de 2022 (texto no MEC Normas) · Ministry of Education Official legal act
      Where: art. 5. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Art. 5º O Comitê de Governança do Enem será coordenado pelo Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira - Inep.”
    • Portaria MEC nº 467, de 1º de julho de 2022 (texto no MEC Normas) · Ministry of Education Official legal act
      Where: art. 9. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Art. 9º Ficam homologados os parâmetros de atualização do Enem, resultante das atividades desenvolvidas pelo Grupo de Trabalho instituído pela Portaria MEC nº 411, de 17 de junho de 2021.”

  19. 19. In Ruling 1223/2023-Plenary, the TCU's monitoring of Inep's conduct of the Enem concluded that there was no proof of ideological steering or security failures, pointed out opportunities for improvement, and recommended that Inep issue a general rule on the preparation, review and annual selection of the exam items.

  20. 20. According to Inep's history, the 2009 edition was marked by the leak of the exam, which required the preparation of a new instrument, and was administered on December 5 and 6.

    • Histórico do Enem · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Official record
      Where: item "2009 - Nasce um novo Enem". Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “A edição de 2009 também foi marcada pelo vazamento da prova, que exigiu a preparação de um novo instrumento.”
    • Histórico do Enem · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Official record
      Where: item "2009 - Nasce um novo Enem". Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “aplicado em 5 e 6 de dezembro, em 1.830 cidades.”

  21. 21. Decree No. 9,432 of June 29, 2018 (Michel Temer government) included the Enem in the National Policy for the Assessment and Examination of Basic Education, alongside Saeb and Encceja, with the objective of measuring mastery of the competencies and skills expected at the end of basic education and the possibility of use for access to higher education and financing programs.

    • Decreto nº 9.432, de 29 de junho de 2018 (publicação original) · Chamber of Deputies (Computerized Legislation) Official legal act
      Where: art. 4. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Art. 4º Integram a Política Nacional de Avaliação e Exames da Educação Básica: I - o Sistema de Avaliação da Educação Básica - Saeb; II - o Exame Nacional para Certificação de Competências de Jovens e Adultos - Encceja; e III - o Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio - Enem.”
    • Decreto nº 9.432, de 29 de junho de 2018 (publicação original) · Chamber of Deputies (Computerized Legislation) Official legal act
      Where: art. 7. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Art. 7º O Enem tem como objetivo aferir o domínio das competências e das habilidades esperadas ao final da educação básica. Parágrafo único. O Enem poderá ser utilizado como mecanismo de acesso à educação superior e aos programas governamentais de financiamento ou apoio ao estudante do ensino superior.”
    • Decreto nº 9.432, de 29 de junho de 2018 (publicação original) · Chamber of Deputies (Computerized Legislation) Official legal act
      Where: signature. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Brasília, 29 de junho de 2018; 197º da Independência e 130º da República. MICHEL TEMER”

  22. 22. MEC Ordinance No. 807/2010 provided for a registration fee set annually by Inep and a waiver for high school graduating students enrolled in public institutions and for those who declared themselves members of a low-income family under Decree No. 6,135/2007.

  23. 23. In the 2002 LOA, action 4017, then named "Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio - ENEM", had an initial appropriation of R$63,525,800 and an amount paid of R$60,607,584 in the fiscal year, according to SIOP (nominal values).

  24. 24. In Ruling 374/2011-Plenary, the TCU examined the additional costs caused by the leak of the 2009 Enem exams and ordered Inep to report how the amount of R$47,123,416.30 was calculated for the reimbursement, by the Connase Consortium, of Inep's expenses on the emergency contract for administering the second Enem in 2009.

  25. 25. According to the vote in Ruling 374/2011-Plenary, the TCU's technical unit recorded failures in the performance of Contract 27/2009, but found no causal link between them and the leak; the TCU also pointed to payments of variable costs estimated for 6,000,000 candidates, when the actual number was 4,139,211, and imposed fines on two responsible parties.

  26. 26. In Ruling 2883/2021-Plenary, when examining a representation about alleged ideological steering and weakened security of the Enem, the TCU denied the precautionary removal of the president of Inep and ordered the opening of a case file to monitor the preparation and review of the exams.

  27. 27. Inep published Notice No. 18 of December 8, 2010, which made public the re-administration of the exam for participants affected by printing errors in the yellow test booklet of the 2010 Enem.

    • Legislação do Enem: 2010 (lista de atos) · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Official record
      Where: list of notices from 2010. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Edital nº 18, de 8 de dezembro de 2010: torna pública a reaplicação da prova para os participantes prejudicados com erros de impressão do caderno de prova da cor amarela do Enem 2010”

  28. 28. Inep Ordinance No. 179 of April 28, 2014 began to require, for high school certification through the Enem, a minimum of 450 points in each area and 500 points on the essay, in addition to being 18 years of age or older and stating the intention at the time of registration.

  29. 29. MEC Ordinance No. 411 of June 17, 2021 established a Working Group to present a proposal for updating the Enem and the Encceja, in view of recent changes in basic education.

    • Portaria MEC nº 411, de 17 de junho de 2021 (texto no MEC Normas) · Ministry of Education Official legal act
      Where: art. 1. Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “Art. 1º Instituir Grupo de Trabalho, no âmbito do Ministério da Educação - MEC, com a finalidade de apresentar proposta de atualização do Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio - Enem e do Exame Nacional para Certificação de Competências de Jovens e Adultos - Encceja, tendo em vista recentes alterações ocorridas no âmbito da educação básica brasileira.”

  30. 30. According to Inep's presentation of the 2024 Enem results, the 2022 Enem had 3,476,105 confirmed registrations, with 71.7% attendance.

  31. 31. According to Inep, the Enem was established in 1998 with the objective of assessing the school performance of students at the end of basic education and, in 2009, also came to be used as a means of access to higher education.

    • Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem): apresentação · Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep) Official record
      Where: section "Apresentação". Accessed October 14, 2026.
      “O Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem) foi instituído em 1998 com o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho escolar dos estudantes ao término da educação básica. Em 2009, o exame passou a ser utilizado também como forma de acesso à educação superior.”

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