Cyprus History Exam: What It Really Is
There is no separate "Cyprus history exam." History is one of the largest topic blocks of the single Cyprus Culture Exam (officially, the examination on the basic elements of the contemporary political and social reality of Cyprus). It is the same 45-minute, multiple-choice exam, in Greek, costing €20 — a large share of the questions simply deal with history.
Which history topics appear
History questions span the whole arc of the island, from antiquity to the present day. The easiest way to prepare is by our guide chapters:
- Antiquity & the Middle Ages — Aphrodite and the ancient kingdoms, Byzantine era, Lusignans, Ottoman period. → Ancient & Medieval Cyprus
- British rule & the road to independence — EOKA, the 1960 agreements, the birth of the Republic, Archbishop Makarios III. → Road to Independence
- 1974 — the coup, the Turkish invasion, the division of the island, refugees, the missing. → 1974 Turkish Invasion
- Modern day — the Cyprus problem today, UN-led negotiations, the 5+1 format, crossing points. → Cyprus Problem Today
Officially the exam material treats history mainly as "important events from 1960 onwards," but in practice questions about the ancient and earlier past come up too.
5 sample history questions (with answers)
These are real question types from our bank — same format and level of detail as the exam.
1. How many years has the Republic of Cyprus been independent as of 2026?
56 · 62 · 66 · 70
✅ 66 years. Cyprus gained independence in 1960.
2. What does the acronym EOKA (ΕΟΚΑ) stand for?
National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (Εθνική Οργάνωσις Κυπρίων Αγωνιστών) · Greek Organisation of Cyprus Independence · Union of Orthodox Cypriot Brothers · National Journey of Cypriot Liberation
✅ National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters.
3. In ancient times, Cyprus was an important centre of worship of the goddess …
Demeter · Athena · Aphrodite · Artemis
✅ Aphrodite. By myth she was born from the sea foam near Petra tou Romiou; a major sanctuary stood at Palaepaphos.
4. What event is commemorated in Cyprus on 20 July as a memorial day related to 1974?
The Turkish invasion · the coup against Makarios · the proclamation of the TRNC · the second phase of the Turkish offensive
✅ The Turkish invasion of 1974.
5. What was the real name of Archbishop Makarios III?
Georgios Grivas · Michail Christodoulou Mouskos · Spyros Kyprianou · Glafcos Clerides
✅ Michail Christodoulou Mouskos.
How to prepare for the history block
The history block is one of the most "stable": the dates, names and events in the chapters above barely change from sitting to sitting, so they are worth memorising. Work through the four history chapters in the guide, then lock the material in with past-exam questions. The full plan is in How to prepare for the exam.
The Hallouminati app and bot collect past-exam history questions and the vocabulary you need (names, terms, events).
FAQ
Is there a separate history exam in Cyprus?
No. History is a topic block of the single Cyprus Culture Exam, not a separate exam.
What language are the history questions in?
Greek, like the whole exam. So it is important to learn the vocabulary in advance: names of historical figures, events and organisations.
Which history topics come up most often?
The 1960 independence, EOKA and Archbishop Makarios III, the events of 1974 and their remembrance (20 July), and the Cyprus problem today.
From which year is history counted as "modern"?
The exam material highlights important events from 1960 onwards, but questions about the earlier past (antiquity, Byzantium) also appear.
💬 Still have questions? Ask them in our Telegram community — Cyprus Culture Exam — where other candidates share their experience and help each other out.
See also: About the Cyprus Culture Exam · How to prepare · Results