Critical Advice for University Entrance Exam Students from an IGU Specialist

With just days to go before the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS), Istanbul Gelisim University, which approaches academic achievement not only through exam results but together with students’ psychological resilience, mental well-being, and holistic development, shared important guidance with students. In assessments made in line with the university’s strong academic staff and student-centered educational approach, attention was drawn to the fact that not only academic preparation but also psychological readiness plays a decisive role in exam success. Asst. Prof. Bülent Tansel from the Psychology Department of IGU FEASS noted that the intense anxiety, burnout, and worry about the future that students experience before the YKS can directly affect exam performance, and emphasized the importance of maintaining mental balance in particular during the final weeks.

“Psychological Resilience Comes to the Fore in the Final Week before the Exam”

Noting that millions of students preparing for the YKS have been putting themselves under intense pressure in recent days in a rush to make up for any gaps, Asst. Prof. Bülent Tansel stated that studying for long hours without a break, disrupting sleep patterns, and constantly making comparisons can, contrary to popular belief, actually reduce mental performance.

Tansel pointed out that students frequently face thoughts such as “What if I can’t do it?”, “What if I forget everything during the exam?”, or “What if all my effort was for nothing?” and offered the following assessment:

“These thoughts create not only an academic but also a serious psychological burden. When the brain perceives a threat, cognitive processes such as attention, reasoning, and problem-solving can weaken. A student sometimes fails to demonstrate their true performance not because they don’t know the material, but because of intense anxiety.”

“Trying to Eliminate Anxiety Entirely Is Not the Right Approach”

Expressing that exam anxiety should not be considered an entirely negative state, Tansel said that a certain level of anxiety is a natural element that motivates the student. However, he stressed that uncontrolled anxiety can negatively affect performance alongside physical and mental symptoms.

Asst. Prof. Bülent Tansel stated: “What matters is not eliminating anxiety entirely, but keeping it at a manageable level. Uncontrolled anxiety can lead to distraction, a sense of forgetfulness, palpitations, and ‘not being able to do what one knows.’ For this reason, students need to focus not only on reviewing their subjects, but also on their emotion regulation skills.”

“Someone Else’s Pace Does Not Determine Your Success”

Noting that it would be healthier for students to consolidate the knowledge they already have rather than rushing to learn new topics in the final weeks, Tansel stated that maintaining sleep patterns is of great importance for mental performance.

Drawing attention to the pressure of “constant studying” forming among students on social media, Tansel stressed that each student’s learning style and psychological resilience is different. “Someone else’s pace does not determine your success. Students need to manage their process in a way that suits their own study routine and mental capacity,” he said.

Also noting that keeping the brain in a constant state of alarm reduces efficiency, Tansel stated that short walks, light exercise, listening to music, or short but quality time spent with family can lower stress levels.

“What Matters on Exam Day Is Being Able to Manage the Nerves”

Noting that feeling nervous on the morning of the exam is entirely normal, Asst. Prof. Bülent Tansel said that what matters is being able to manage those nerves. Stating in particular that breathing exercises are effective in calming the body’s alarm system, Tansel expressed that students also need to shift their inner dialogue to a healthier footing.

Tansel said: “Instead of using negative phrases like ‘I’m done for’ during the exam, students should use statements that build mental resilience, such as ‘It’s normal for me to be anxious right now,’ ‘I’ll do my best,’ or ‘I’ll focus on the questions one by one.’ Because the brain is directly influenced by a person’s own inner dialogue.”

“Managing Anxiety during the Exam Is of Great Importance”

Also noting that students can sometimes be overwhelmed by intense anxiety when they encounter questions they don’t know the answer to during the exam, Asst. Prof. Bülent Tansel stated that after a few consecutive questions they cannot solve, negative automatic thoughts such as “My exam is going very badly,” “I won’t succeed,” or “I’m not good enough” can form in the student’s mind.

Noting that when these thoughts cannot be kept under control, the student can mentally disconnect from the exam environment and direct their attention to negative inner scenarios rather than the questions, Tansel said: “Yet this situation usually reflects not the student’s actual performance, but the perception that anxiety creates in the mind. Because the rising stress during the exam can also make it harder for the student to draw on the knowledge they have.”

Stressing that students first need to become aware of the negative thoughts passing through their minds, Tansel stated: “Being able to say ‘I’m anxious right now and my mind is pulling me toward negative thoughts’ is very important for regaining psychological control.”

Noting that more time than necessary should not be spent on questions that cannot be solved, Tansel said that marking those questions and moving on, directing attention to questions the student can answer, will help rebuild mental balance. “Even a small sense of achievement in exam psychology can restore the student’s confidence. The student can then return to the questions they skipped with a calmer mind,” he said.

Tansel concluded his remarks: “It should not be forgotten that one or a few difficult questions do not determine the entire exam. What truly matters is not allowing the anxiety the student is experiencing to take over the entire exam performance. Students who are able to maintain their mental resilience can refocus their attention and sustain their performance even at the most critical moments of the exam.”

“A Few Difficult Questions Do Not Determine the Entire Exam”

Noting that students can experience intense panic when they encounter difficult questions during the exam, Tansel said that it is of great importance for students to recognize and bring their anxiety under control at this point.

“Rather than spending more time than necessary on questions they cannot solve, students should mark those questions and move on. Turning to questions they can answer, coupled with a small sense of achievement, can rebuild mental balance. It should not be forgotten that one or a few difficult questions do not determine the entire exam,” said Tansel, expressing that psychological resilience is one of the decisive factors in exam performance.

Families Also Have an Important Role to Play

Noting that the language families use during the YKS process has a direct effect on the student’s psychology, Asst. Prof. Bülent Tansel drew attention to the fact that messages that constantly create pressure to succeed can increase the student’s anxiety levels.
Tansel stated: “Students sometimes need emotional reassurance more than academic support. Families need to take an effort-oriented rather than results-oriented approach, and to establish supportive communication rather than a language of comparison.”

“The YKS Measures Not Only Knowledge, but Also Mental Resilience”

Noting that the YKS is not solely an exam that measures academic knowledge, Tansel said it also reveals students’ ability to think under stress, manage their time, and sustain mental performance in a crisis moment.

Stressing that in these final days students need to trust in their efforts rather than overloading themselves, Tansel concluded with the following words:

“Sometimes what determines success is not the dozens of questions solved the night before, but how calm and balanced the mind is on the morning of the exam. It should not be forgotten that an exam does not define a person’s worth. But the patience, determination, and psychological resilience shown throughout this process provide a very important experience for one’s life journey.”