If you have exams and you need to read books that are not of spiritual nature, then you need to cut down your I`tikaf to focus on your studies.

 

I`itiakf is only a highly recommended Sunnah; your study to seek a career to sustain yourself may be a greater priority for you if you are only starting out your life.

 

In such case, you need not do I`ikaf in full; you may sit as much as you can – a day or two or even a few hours a day, etc.

 

Islam teaches us to prioritize our life, and perform voluntary acts of virtue without neglecting our essential duties. So, we need to balance between our obligations to Allah as well as our obligations to His creation.

 

Allah Almighty knows best.