YKS week is one of the most intense and emotional periods of the year for students preparing for the university entrance exam. Months of studying, practice exams, topic reviews, goals, and expectations become much more visible during this week. While students question whether they are truly ready for the exam, families also try to understand how they can support their children.
The most important point during this period is to manage the final days without turning them into a state of panic. Exam week is no longer the time to learn everything from the beginning. It is more a period for bringing knowledge together, calming the mind, maintaining a daily routine, and preparing for exam day in a controlled way.
As the YKS approaches, there are several important points both students and families should pay attention to in order to have a more balanced exam week.
Do Not Try to Finish Everything in the Final Days
One of the most common mistakes students make when there is very little time left before the exam is trying to quickly complete every topic they think they are missing. This often creates more stress than benefit. The final week should be used to remember and consolidate previously studied information rather than tiring the mind with new subjects.
During this period, it is more helpful for the student to ask themselves: “What have I learned so far? Which topics do I feel more comfortable with? Which mistakes do I often make?” Short topic reviews, checking formulas, going over summary notes, and reviewing mistakes from previously solved practice exams can be more productive study methods for the final days.
The goal during YKS week is not for the student to exhaust themselves further, but to carry the effort they have made so far into the exam in a more organized and calm way.
It Is Important to Use Practice Exams Correctly
Solving practice exams in the days leading up to the exam can be reassuring for some students, while it may increase anxiety for others. For this reason, practice exams should be used correctly during this period. Instead of solving practice exams at an intense pace every day and losing motivation based on the results, it is healthier to see them as a measurement tool.
Students should not focus only on their net scores in practice exams. They should also look at how they use their time, which question types they struggle with, where attention-related mistakes increase, and in which sections they lose time during the exam.
Practice exams solved in the final week can help students understand themselves better. However, a low practice exam result does not mean ignoring the entire preparation process. At this point, students need to be fairer to themselves.
Sleep Routine Affects Exam Performance
During YKS week, sleep routine is just as important as reviewing lessons. Some students may want to stay awake until late at night in the final days in order to study more. However, lack of sleep can negatively affect attention span, focus, and the ability to recall information during the exam.
For this reason, sleep hours should be regulated as much as possible in the days before the exam. Moving toward a routine close to the time the student will wake up on the morning of the exam helps the body prepare more comfortably for exam day.
Forcing the student to sleep very early on the final night can also create additional stress. The aim here is not to create a perfect sleep plan, but to help the student feel as rested as possible.
Nutrition and Daily Routine Should Not Be Changed Suddenly
During exam week, it may not be a good idea for the student to try foods they are not used to, consume excessive caffeine, or completely change their meal schedule. This is not the time to experiment with new habits that may surprise the body.
It is more suitable for the student to continue with a light and balanced eating routine that makes them feel good. In the days before the exam, it is important to avoid very heavy meals, drink enough water, and avoid skipping meals.
Likewise, major changes should not be made to the daily routine. Students can relax their minds with short walks, light breaks, or calm activities they enjoy. The final week should not turn into a schedule filled entirely with studying and no room to breathe.
Exam Documents and Exam Location Should Be Checked in Advance
During YKS week, students should prepare not only academically but also practically for the exam. The exam entry document, identity card, exam building, transportation plan, and everything that needs to be taken on exam day should not be left until the last minute.
Checking the exam location in advance, calculating travel time, and deciding what time to leave home on the morning of the exam can reduce the student’s anxiety. Especially in big cities, travel time may vary, so making this plan a few days in advance can be useful.
Even a small problem on the morning of the exam can increase the student’s stress. Therefore, preparing documents and the exam-day plan in advance helps the day begin more calmly.
How Should Families Offer Support This Week?
YKS week is also an exciting and sensitive period for families. While families want their children to succeed, they may sometimes unintentionally create pressure. Sentences such as “This is very important,” “Be careful,” or “This exam will determine your life” may increase the student’s anxiety, even when said with good intentions.
What students need most this week is a calm and reassuring environment. Instead of constantly reminding them of the exam, it is more supportive for families to make students feel that they are by their side.
Showing the student that they are trusted, making them feel valued regardless of the exam result, and creating a peaceful atmosphere at home are very important. Sometimes the best support may be noticing what the student needs without speaking too much.
Do Not Try to Eliminate Exam Anxiety Completely
It is quite normal to feel excited before the exam. Expecting the student to experience no anxiety at all is not realistic. What matters is keeping this anxiety at a manageable level.
Students should not think, “I am nervous, so I must not be ready.” Exam anxiety can be a natural part of this process. Short breathing exercises, a calm walk, favorite music, or a brief break can help relax the student’s mind.
During this period, it is helpful for students to use more realistic statements instead of constantly telling themselves negative scenarios. Thoughts such as “I have done my best,” “I will focus on what I know during the exam,” and “If I get stuck on one question, I can move on to the next” can help them stay more balanced during the exam.
Pay Attention to Social Media Use in the Final Days
During YKS week, social media can sometimes become a source of increased anxiety for students. Other people sharing their practice exam results, exam predictions, comments, or the constant feeling of comparison can lower the student’s motivation.
For this reason, limiting social media use in the days before the exam can be a good idea. As students compare themselves with others, they may begin to see their own preparation as more insufficient. However, every student’s study process, strong areas, and exam strategy are different.
In the final week, students should turn their focus more toward their own preparation rather than external comments.
The Morning of the Exam Should Be Simple and Planned
It is important for the student to start the morning of the exam without rushing. For this reason, clothes should be prepared, documents should be checked, and the time to leave home should be decided the day before.
In the morning, the student can have a breakfast that is not too heavy and that they are already used to. Instead of doing an intense last-minute topic review, it is more helpful for the student to create a routine that keeps them calm.
Arriving at the exam center on time and staying away from unnecessary crowds and rush at the entrance can also have a positive effect on the student’s mood. When entering the exam hall, the student should remind themselves that they have worked for this process and that what they need to do now is solve the questions calmly.
The Most Important Thing During YKS Week Is Maintaining Balance
As the YKS approaches, the most important issue for students is to spend the final week with balance rather than panic. Of course, reviewing, solving practice exams, and going over weak points are important. However, disrupting sleep, nutrition, mood, and daily routine completely while doing these can make the student more tired.
During this process, families should also stand by the student as calm supporters. Instead of excessive pressure, constant reminders, and sentences filled with high expectations, a reassuring approach should be preferred.
The university entrance exam is an important step; however, it is not a measure that determines a student’s entire value or future on its own. Therefore, the most important thing to do during YKS week is to help the student trust the effort they have made so far and prepare for exam day as calmly, carefully, and strongly as possible.
