The scores of the candidates on the 2026 Panhellenic Exams were announced yesterday, Thursday, putting an end to the anxiety of thousands of students regarding their performance. These scores, in turn, are “converted” into points, which will serve as the key to admission to higher education.
Two girls who managed to earn more than 18,700 points spoke to APE-MPE about their journey leading up to the Panhellenic Exams and their goals moving forward.
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“An experience that doesn’t define us, but shapes us”
Alefanto Meleti, from the General High School of Loutraki, with scores of 19.8 in Physics, 19.3 in Chemistry, and 18.6 in Mathematics, can look forward to applying to top-tier polytechnic schools.
As she told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), seeing her scores filled her with joy and relief. “A weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” she said. As she explained, the experience of the Panhellenic Exams was “stressful,” though “not as tragic as everyone makes it out to be.”
During her preparation, she didn’t cut sports and music—which she’s involved in—from her schedule, something that, as she noted, helped her a lot.
“My preparation wasn’t excessive; I simply followed my teachers’ instructions without missing a beat, with the support of my family and my teachers,” she said, adding: “Personally, I didn’t have to put anything aside during the year, since I continued with sports and music all year long, with the exception of the weeks when we were taking exams, which I believe helped me a lot.”
As she mentioned, she is interested in engineering schools, and professionally she would like to pursue a career that combines technology and engineering with biology.
As for the students who are just now beginning their preparation, she noted: “Ultimately, the Panhellenic Exams aren’t an experience that defines us, but one that shapes us and makes us stronger; so those who will be taking them next should view them as the first challenge in life, not the end of it.”
Second attempt and… success
Marialena Siakavara took the Panhellenic Exams for the second year in a row this year, aiming for medical school. As she said, the process was very mentally draining, and the thought of giving up had crossed her mind.
“The Panhellenic Exams are a very stressful process; it required a lot of studying—6–7 hours a day. During the last month, I studied nonstop, I missed out on seeing friends and going out quite a bit over the past two years, but I tried to strike a balance this year because I was under a lot of pressure and was on the verge of giving up,” she said.
However, with the support of those around her and her teachers (from the Polytropi Armonia schools, of which she is a graduate) and by striving to maintain a balance between studying and socializing, she managed to earn high grades. In addition to Modern Greek Language and Literature, her scores in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics were above 19, which gives her reason to be optimistic about realizing her dream.
“When the school told me my scores, I shouted, ‘I passed!’—I screamed with joy. I thought I was dreaming; I couldn’t believe it. I dream of becoming a pediatrician or a psychiatrist; I really love helping others,” she said.
As for the advice she would give to children who are just starting to prepare for the exams, she emphasized that it takes dedication and perseverance, and that they shouldn’t get discouraged, no matter how many difficulties they encounter along the way.
Source: APE-MPE
