Portugal's Education Ministry Announces Special September Session for Students Affected by Exam Grading Errors

Education Minister Fernando Alexandre acknowledged multiple errors in the digital correction of Portugal's national secondary exams. Faults were found in the grading algorithms for physics, chemistry and geography items, affecting 12,603 students – 11,496 of whom saw their marks increase. The Ministry said the mistakes have been corrected and that a special examination period will be offered in early September for students whose results were compromised, allowing them to take the second phase of the exams and retain eligibility for university admission.

The registration deadline for the second phase of the geography exam was extended to the end of Tuesday, and schools across the country have been opened extra hours for students to consult their digital papers. Parent associations in Greater Lisbon have announced they will file lawsuits alleging violations of equality and transparency, while the Federation of Academic Students of Lisbon and the Communist Party have called for free re‑evaluation of grades and criticised the €25 re‑evaluation fee.

The national university admission contest (CNAES) began on 20 July with more than 56,000 places, and the calendar will remain unchanged despite the delays. Regional offers, such as 2,551 places in the Alentejo and 1,613 spots at the University of Beira Interior, were also published. Bodies such as CONFAP and the National Jury of Exams continue to monitor the situation and urge swift resolution to safeguard equity for all students.