The 2026 Pancyprian Access Exams began on Monday with Modern Greek, as 5,139 candidates sat the first common test of this year’s process.
The exam started at 8am and ended at 11am, marking the beginning of an examination period that will run until June 26.
The first impressions from candidates leaving examination centres were reassuring, with many describing the paper as accessible and manageable, without major surprises. Modern Greek is seen each year as important for candidates’ morale, as it is the first exam taken by all candidates and sets the tone for the weeks ahead.
Advertising and consumerism
The essay topic was drawn from the section on advertising and consumerism, with exam setters choosing an issue familiar to pupils and closely linked to modern everyday life.
The topic allowed candidates to develop arguments on the influence of advertising, consumer habits, the role of media and social media, and the need for critical thinking when faced with the messages received by modern citizens.
The choice appeared to help several candidates, as it was not seen as detached from the syllabus or difficult to approach. Instead, it was a topic that allowed the use of examples from daily life, the market, the internet and the influence of images and messages on young people’s choices.
A first sense of relief
The first day of the Pancyprian Exams is traditionally accompanied by heightened anxiety, not only because of the content of the paper but also because candidates are entering a strict and demanding process.
For many, the end of the first exam brought a sense of relief, as the initial stress eased and attention turned to the next subjects.
The process began normally at 54 examination centres, with papers arriving at schools in sealed envelopes and opened inside the examination rooms in the presence of candidates.
The numbers
A total of 5,139 candidates are taking part in this year’s exams. Of these, 4,798 are final-year pupils at lyceums and technical schools, while 341 are previous graduates sitting the exams again.
The overall number also includes 413 candidates seeking entry to military schools in Greece.
The age range of candidates is also of interest. According to information reported by Philenews, those sitting the exams include people aged between 17 and 75, highlighting that the Pancyprian Exams are not limited to school leavers but also include people returning to the process in pursuit of a new educational path.
The exams continue on Tuesday with Music Studies, followed on Wednesday by Economics, Chemistry and the theoretical stream technical school subject.
