The first mid-term break of the 2026-2027 school year is almost here. According to the Ministry of National Education (MEB) calendar, the first-term break starts on Monday 16 November 2026 and ends on Friday 20 November 2026. The last school day before the break is Friday 13 November, and students return on Monday 23 November. With the weekends, that is a nine-day pause. So should those nine days be for revision or for rest? The short answer: both, but the balance depends on your child's age and year group.
The 2026-2027 holiday calendar at a glance
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| First-term mid-term break | 16-20 November 2026 |
| End of first term (reports) | 22 January 2027 |
| Mid-year break | 25 January-5 February 2027 |
| Second-term mid-term break | 8-12 March 2027 |
| End of the school year | 25 June 2027 |
These are MEB's national calendar dates; check your own school's academic calendar and announcements too.
Why is there a mid-term break?
The break was introduced to split a long term in two and reduce fatigue for students and teachers alike. Since September there has been a new class, new teachers, new routines and the first written exams. So the first goal is rest and recharging. The second is to get through the week without losing the routine altogether, because a complete week off can make Monday morning hard for everyone.
Five principles for a good balance
- Don't let sleep drift too far. Keep bedtimes and wake-up times within one or two hours of school days. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine consensus recommends 9-12 hours a night for ages 6-12 and 8-10 hours for ages 13-18.
- A short "learning moment" each day is enough. For school-age children, 20-30 minutes of reading or light revision of a weaker topic; a little longer in middle and high school. Turning the whole break into a timetable defeats the purpose of resting.
- Agree on screen time in advance. Screen time rises on its own during holidays. Deciding together, before the break, when and for how long is easier than negotiating every day.
- Movement and time outdoors. A walk, a bike ride, the park or sport: getting outside at least once a day helps both sleep and mood.
- Return to school rhythm for the last two days. On Saturday and Sunday, bring bedtimes and wake-up times back to school hours, and check the bag, homework and Monday's timetable together.
A plan by age
Pre-school and primary (grades 1-4)
- Play comes first. At this age play is the most powerful way to learn. Board games, puzzles, modelling clay, and measuring and weighing together in the kitchen are fun and educational.
- Read together every day. Reading aloud, talking about a picture book or letting your child read to you: 15-20 minutes is enough.
- Support English reading through games. In our Academic Talks podcast episode, our 1st Grade English Teacher Ms. Deena describes games you can play at home, such as a sound treasure hunt, letter matching and a sound jump game.
- Do holiday homework early. If there is any, spreading it over the first two days avoids a last-day rush.
Middle school (grades 5-7)
- A short review after the first written exams. Which subject was hard, which topic is still shaky? Note it down; light revision of one or two topics is enough during the break. Our guide to the Common Written Exam System, introduced this year for the first written exams, explains how exams are now prepared.
- A weekly planning habit. Make a "break week plan" with your child: one rest, one activity, one reading session and one small task each day. Planning is one of the most valuable skills of the middle-school years.
- Check the make-up exam schedule if needed. Students who missed a written exam for a valid reason, such as illness, sit make-up exams after the break, in the week of 23-27 November, as scheduled by each school.
8th grade (LGS year)
LGS is on Sunday 13 June 2027. The break is a good chance to close gaps, but remember it is the first pause of the year. Two to three hours of focused revision in the morning, with rest and activity in the afternoon, can be a balanced model. For month-by-month steps, see our LGS 2027 roadmap.
High school (grades 9-12)
- Grades 9-10: Light revision and reading; a good week to spend time on a project, a book or sport.
- Grades 11-12: The YKS 2027 TYT session is on 19 June and the AYT and YDT sessions on 20 June 2027. For students in an exam year, a structured plan that still includes rest matters.
- IB Diploma Programme students: Internal assessment and coursework deadlines are specific to the programme; plan the break around the calendar shared by the IB coordinator.
Three common mistakes
- Turning the break into a "catch-up camp". Studying all day does not meet a child's need for rest and can lower motivation on the return.
- Abandoning the sleep routine. After a week of going to bed at midnight and getting up at noon, Monday morning will be difficult.
- Planning without the child. Children are more willing to follow a plan they helped to make.
Staying in touch with TED Üsküdar College
If you would like to speak to your child's teacher before the break, please get in touch with the school. For settling in, anxiety or behaviour, you can also talk to our Psychological Counselling and Guidance Unit.
Prospective parents who would like to get to know the school can contact our Admissions Office on +90 216 424 44 44. Have a good break, and see you on Monday 23 November.