The YKS is in its final stretch. Experts, who offered advice to candidates for the YKS to be held on June 18-19, 2022, also provide vital recommendations for the exam moment. Stating that one should not stubbornly insist on questions, experts also note that disconnections that may occur during the exam are normal. Reminding that possible anxiety can lead to outcomes negatively affecting exam performance, such as forgetting what one knows, incorrectly marking what one knows to be true, making calculation errors, and misreading, experts warn against changing exam strategy and emphasize never letting go of time control.
Forgetting what you know, incorrect marking, making calculation errors!
Ertuğrul Tut, Assistant Manager of Educational Institutions and Guidance Services at Üsküdar Üniversitesi and education expert, offered important recommendations on what needs to be done for the YKS a few days before the exams.
How do we know we are anxious?
Education Expert Ertuğrul Tut stated that some physical symptoms related to anxiety might appear in candidates before the YKS, which will take place on June 18-19, 2022, saying, “If certain physical symptoms are present, we can understand that we are at a high level of anxiety. Symptoms such as excessive sweating, loss of appetite, severe headaches, and disturbed sleep patterns indicate that our anxiety level is high.”
Forgetting what you know, incorrect marking, making calculation errors!
Ertuğrul Tut noted that an increase in anxiety levels could also bring cognitive problems in addition to physical symptoms, warning, “It can also lead to issues that negatively affect your exam performance, such as forgetting what you know, incorrectly marking what you know to be true, making calculation errors, and misreading.”
Heed these recommendations in the period leading up to the exam!
Stating, “Let’s look at how we can eliminate elements that will negatively affect our performance during the remaining time until the exam and then during the exam itself,” Tut listed his recommendations as follows:
Using time efficiently in the period leading up to the exam is crucial; every day, we must take practice exams, quickly review problematic topics, and ensure that incorrect or unanswered questions are resolved.
We should use time efficiently by determining the best subject order for ourselves in practice exams and keeping track of time during the exams.
In the remaining 5-6 days, we should stay away from channels that will tire our minds, such as the country’s agenda and social media.
To cast off negative thoughts about the future, we should foster forward-looking, positive dreams.
By creating our own routine, we should not deviate too much from this routine in the remaining time frame.
Our goal should definitely have been established by now. If you are struggling to set a goal, you can at least set a minimum ranking target for yourself.
What we eat and drink is very important during this period; we must pay attention to healthy eating. We should stay away from foods that will make us feel sluggish during the day.
Sometimes, we should reassure ourselves by talking to ourselves in an audible way. Affirming the process is quite important.
1-2 days before the exam, we should stay away from activities that will physically exhaust us.
Do not change your exam strategy!
Education Expert Ertuğrul Tut also listed what needs to be done during the exam as follows:
First, remember that you are familiar with the process and all your preparations up until now have been for this moment. This should not make you tense; on the contrary, you have been the one managing this process with the practice exams you have taken so far.
Do not change your exam strategy or try anything new; continue with the test-solving order and tactic that you have practiced in trials and that works best for you.
The first 10 minutes are the period when you may experience focus problems. Since the likelihood of making mistakes is high during this time, plan your time as if you will review the questions you solved in the first 10 minutes. Remember that just 1 correct answer will put you ahead of many candidates.
You may experience disconnections from time to time during the exam; this is quite normal. The moment you feel disconnected, lift your head, straighten your posture, put down your pen, and breathe in through your nose for 3-4 seconds, then exhale through your mouth over 6-8 seconds. Do this a few more times, and you will notice your body relaxing.
Do not stubbornly insist on questions. The mind can sometimes experience a block. When you think you know something very well or have reached the end but cannot reach a conclusion, stop insisting on the question to use your time efficiently, and return to it later.
Never relinquish time control
Never relinquish time control; if you plan properly, you will not have a problem with running out of time.
Since you will use your time efficiently, make sure to return to the questions you marked using the circling technique.
Do not consume excessive water during the exam.
Remember, no matter what anyone says, it’s your life. You are the one who will study the department you win, and you are the one who will practice the profession after graduating. Wishing you to accumulate memories that will bring a smile to your face in the future and to have a wonderful exam as you wish.