Matemática no ENEM: um olhar nos conteúdos algébricos no período de 2019 a 2023

Abstract

The Mathematics subject in High School is structured based on five thematic units defined in the Reference Matrix of the ENEM: Numerical, Geometric, Algebraic, Statistical and Probability Knowledge, and Algebraic/Geometric Knowledge. These units guide the curriculum organization and serve as a reference for the preparation of the assessments applied in the exam. This study aims to analyze the presence of algebraic knowledge in the Mathematics test questions of the National High School Exam (ENEM), from 2019 to 2023. The research is exploratory and qualitative-quantitative in nature, based on the documentary analysis of the 225 questions applied in the five editions of the exam in this period. The questions were organized and classified according to the thematic axes of the ENEM Reference Matrix, with a specific focus on those related to algebra, such as functions, equations, graphs, polynomials, logarithms and trigonometric cycle. The results reveal that algebraic content maintained a constant and relevant presence, representing approximately 21.86% of the total questions in the period studied. In addition, the predominance of items formulated as contextualized problem situations was observed, reinforcing the applied and interdisciplinary nature of the test. The research contributes to teachers and students by indicating the most frequent algebraic content, providing support for didactic planning and effective preparation for the ENEM, in addition to highlighting the importance of algebra as an instrument for problem-solving in the Brazilian educational context.