Expert Psychological Counselor Özgür Akoğlan stated that the month of Ramadan should not be seen as a crisis for students ahead of the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS), which will be held on June 20-21, 2026, but rather as a major opportunity when planned correctly. Emphasizing that “Ramadan is not a pause but a turbo opportunity,” Akoğlan encouraged candidates to make use of the “golden hours” after suhoor and to transform the process into an exercise in strengthening willpower.
Drawing attention to concerns that Ramadan may negatively affect exam performance during the demanding YKS preparation marathon, Akoğlan noted that this period can actually be turned into an advantage with the right strategy.
Üsküdar University Educational Institutions and Guidance Services Manager, Expert Psychological Counselor Özgür Akoğlan, delivered important messages to candidates entering the month of Ramadan before the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS) scheduled for June 20-21, 2026.
“Ramadan is not a pause but a turbo opportunity”
Stating that similar concerns often arise in students’ minds as the YKS marathon approaches its final stage, Özgür Akoğlan said: “The same anxious questions keep circulating in the minds of many students: ‘Can I focus while fasting?’, ‘Will my scores drop if my sleep schedule is disrupted?’, ‘Should I slow down this month?’ If you are thinking this way, you are missing the bigger picture. Ramadan is not an excuse for exam candidates. It is the greatest ‘acceleration (turbo)’ opportunity of the year.”
From post meal sluggishness to mental clarity
Drawing attention to the biological effects of fasting, Özgür Akoğlan said: “Under normal circumstances, eating three meals a day along with snacks creates constant fluctuations in blood sugar levels. That heavy feeling of fatigue after meals is one of the biggest reasons we leave our desks. After the first few days of adaptation, a fasting body reaches remarkable mental clarity. When the stomach is empty, the body directs the energy normally used for digestion toward the brain. Without distractions such as ‘What should I eat?’ or ‘Should I make tea?’, uninterrupted time blocks emerge that are ideal for focused study sessions.”
Post suhoor hours are worth gold
Emphasizing that one of Ramadan’s greatest advantages is time management, Özgür Akoğlan said: “On a normal day, waking up at 5:00 a.m. to study may feel extremely difficult. But during Ramadan, you are already awake. The two hour period after the suhoor meal, when phones do not ring and the city is still asleep, becomes the most productive ‘Golden Hours’ of the day. During this time, the mind has not yet been burdened by the stress of the day. For a student who chooses not to sleep after suhoor and instead sits down to study, those two hours can be equivalent to five hours under normal conditions. You can tackle your most challenging and complex subjects in this silence.”
Ramadan offers an opportunity for social detox
Noting that Ramadan naturally slows down social life, Özgür Akoğlan said: “Ramadan is, in a way, a ‘social life diet.’ Spending unnecessary time in cafes, going out to movies, or engaging in excessive socializing decreases significantly. Everyone retreats into their homes and personal space. This means distractions are automatically eliminated for you. You cannot find a better environment to channel your energy toward your desk and your goals.”
Willpower muscles grow stronger
Emphasizing that exams require not only knowledge but also psychological resilience, Özgür Akoğlan said: “An exam is not only about knowledge. It is also a psychological endurance test. The willpower muscles strengthened through patience with hunger and thirst become strong like steel against difficult questions and exam stress. A student who learns to manage desires and self discipline during Ramadan also learns to manage stress while sitting in front of the exam booklet.”
The steering wheel is in your hands
Lastly, addressing students directly, Özgür Akoğlan concluded his remarks as follows: “Now you must make a decision. Will you spend this month slowing down in the right lane by saying, ‘I am tired, I am hungry,’ or will you move into the left lane, turning your competitors’ slowdown into an opportunity? Remember, the one who keeps moving while everyone else stops is considered to be running. Let this Ramadan be not your excuse, but your ‘Turbo.’”