This year’s Panhellenic Examinations will begin tomorrow, Friday 29 May 2026, with the Modern Greek Language and Literature course for candidates of General High Schools, who claim one of the 68.788 places in Higher Education for the academic year 2026-27.

Five Tips for Managing Exams

Breaks, proper sleep, avoiding comparisons and dealing with each exam individually are the basic advice given to candidates before the start of the Panhellenic Examinations, in order to manage time, studying and stress.

“Panhellenic exams are one of those moments when young people feel that they hold their entire future in their hands. But I want to remind children that no test can measure their worth, strength, talent or dreams,” psychologist Stella Argyriou told APE-MPA.

As the Panhellenic Examinations begin, Argyriou listed five key tips for candidates to keep in mind:

Take short breaks and rest their minds.

Get a good night’s sleep, as rest helps memory.

To concentrate only on the next step they have to do and not all the way through.

To avoid comparing themselves to other students.

“These days, don’t go out of your way to compare yourself to anyone. Look only at your own journey and recognise how far you have already come,” he said, addressing the candidates.

“Behind every page read, behind every late night, there is perseverance, effort and strength. Life is not defined by one day and one writing. Often, the most beautiful journeys begin on roads we didn’t even plan. Enter the room with your head held high. Don’t go out to prove who you are. Go to show what you have lovingly and painstakingly conquered. Believe in yourself, because you have more power than you think. The future does not wait for the infallible, it opens the door to those who dare to move forward,” he added.

The line, created at the initiative of the Ministry of Education and staffed by psychologists from the Interdisciplinary Assessment, Counseling and Support Centers (CIDASY) of the territory and the Ministry of Health, is free of charge and will operate until June 30, 2026.

Basic guidelines

The starting time of the examination has been set as 08:30 and hence, candidates should reach the examination halls by 08:00. The duration of the examination is three hours.

With them, candidates should have the following:

– Identity card or passport.

– Bulletin of the Panhellenic Examinations.

– Blue or black pen. It is worth noting that pencil may not be used in answers unless specified in the subject instructions. Candidates are allowed to carry an eraser and a pencil sharpener.

– Geometric instruments, for those subjects where they are needed.

– A bottle of water or juice.

– A wristwatch, but not a smartwatch.

Candidates are prohibited from carrying the following:

– Books, notebooks and notes.

– Corrector (blanco) of any form (liquid or film).

– Mobile telephone and other means of transmitting or receiving information and communication, computing machines.

What applies to mobile phones

Specifically, with respect to cell phones, possession of a cell phone, even if it is turned off, is prohibited in the examination room and constitutes sufficient grounds for a zero score on the paper. In the event that an examinee, upon arrival at the Examination Centre, brings a mobile phone with him/her, he/she is obliged to hand it over to the chairman of the Board of Examiners, who will keep it in a special place. At the end of the examination, the candidate will collect his/her mobile phone and leave.

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Special attention to the management of the notebook

Candidates should bear in mind to use the pages of the booklet given to them sparingly as no second booklet will be given to any candidate as the pages of the booklet have been deemed sufficient for the answers.

Candidates may use the last few pages of their exercise booklet as a rough draft, provided that the word “DRAFT” is clearly marked on any pages used as a rough draft. These pages will not be marked under any circumstances.

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In addition, when writing their names at the beginning of the examination as well as when writing their answers, candidates should not fold the covers of their booklets or crease the booklet.

Starting for the NPS on Saturday