Eskişehir Student Reaches LGS Exam at the Final Second

Today, Saturday, June 13, 2026, the great marathon of the Turkish High School Entrance Exam (LGS) began with the participation of over one million candidates. Amidst all the excitement and stress of this national day, an incident in the city of Eskişehir caught the attention of the media and families. A female student who went to Murat Atılgan Middle School in the Odunpazarı district to take the exam arrived at the location just seconds after the official closing of the exam center doors [1].

Dramatic Moments in Front of Closed Doors According to the rules announced by the Ministry of National Education (MEB), the doors of the exam centers close at 09:20 so that the exam can begin at 09:30. In Eskişehir, this student, who had rushed to the school, arrived exactly when the guards had closed the door. According to the local newspaper Milli İrade Gazetesi, the stress and anxiety of the student and the parents present at the scene prompted the center officials to consider the emergency situation and authorize her entry [2]. Amidst the applause and prayers of other parents, the student quickly headed to her seat so as not to miss this vital competition.

Exam Date Change Due to the 2026 World Cup A notable point in this year's exam was the change in its date. Initially, the LGS exam was scheduled for June 14, but due to a conflict with the Turkish national football team's critical group stage match against Australia in the 2026 World Cup, the Ministry of Education decided to move the exam forward by one day [4]. This decision was made to reduce urban traffic and allow students and their families to watch the match. Yusuf Tekin, the Minister of National Education, had previously announced that this change would benefit student focus [3].

2026 Exam Innovations: Artificial Intelligence and Nutrition Packs This year's exam also saw technological and welfare innovations. For the first time, AI-equipped cameras were used in selected centers to monitor exam security and the flow of question distribution [3]. Additionally, to support student health, the Ministry of Education distributed nutrition packs containing dried fruits, walnuts, and water during the intervals between the two question booklets. In Eskişehir, more than 9,000 students competed in 55 different centers, all of which were under strict security and health measures [1].

The Importance of the LGS Exam in the Turkish Education System The LGS exam determines the entry of eighth-grade students into top high schools (such as Science and Anatolian High Schools). Given the intense competition for seats in elite schools, every second is vital for students. The results of this exam will be announced on July 10, 2026, according to the schedule, after which the process of school selection and placement will begin [4]. Today's incident in Eskişehir once again showed that time management and composure play as much of a role in the success of this exam as scientific knowledge.