This year’s Pancyprian Exams were conducted with complete success, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said on Monday as the results were announced.

A total of 5,351 candidates sat the exams, which can be used to gain entry to universities in Cyprus and Greece.

She said in Cyprus 2,993 places are available, of which 1,589 are at the University of Cyprus and 1,298 at the Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak).

In addition, those heading to military schools in Greece also found out if they had got in on Monday, with a total of 106 people following this path.

The minister also said that students can be informed of the results through the ministry’s website at www.moec.gov.cy.

The Pancyprian association of parents’ associations congratulated all students who were successful in gaining a seat at the university.

Some of the top students are: Antonia Panayiotou, Nefeli Zachariou, Rafaelia Neophytou and Christina Christofidou.

Nefeli Zachariou

Zachariou from Larnaca, said that she felt vindicated for the hard work for she put into studying and preparing for the exams.

“It was a very difficult year and I feel vindicated in a way and my parents were vindicated as well, because they told me from the very first moment that we were sure you would do great. Thank God, we got where we wanted to be and honestly, I’m very excited,” she said.

Panayiotou will be going to Tepak in Limassol, and said she was very happy to achieve perfect marks.

“I wasn’t expecting top marks, I was surprised.”

She added that she is proud and that her parents are also proud.

“We will celebrate tonight.”

On her part, Neophytou, also from Limassol, said that she was also surprised but extremely happy.

Meanwhile, Christofidou, from Nicosia, said that she is very happy and excited about achieving her goal, adding the “feeling is indescribable”.

Christofidou said that she sacrificed a lot of things and toiled a lot, but along the way she understood that there must be a balance, because without balance, fatigue from too much studying inevitably occurs.

Christofidou advised future graduates to strive for balance, to have studying in their lives but also rest and reduce stress.

“When you’re happy, you actually work with more pleasure and willingness,” she said.