Everything Related to University Admission Exams in Turkey
Passing the university admission exams in Turkey is a fundamental requirement if you wish to continue your academic journey at a Turkish university, as these exams serve as a gateway for foreign students to enter both public and private institutions.
These exams consist of the YÖS exam and the SAT exam, which are the focus of this article.
Our article is divided into two sections, each containing information about what the YÖS and SAT exams are, how to register for them, the types of questions included in each exam, as well as the training centers that will help you prepare effectively.
University Admission Exams in Turkey – YÖS Exam:
The YÖS exam is a local Turkish exam—not internationally recognized—that is administered by most Turkish universities before accepting foreign students for study.
The term “YÖS exam” is an abbreviation for (Yabancı uyruklu öğrenci sınavı), which means “Foreign Student Exam.” It consists of a series of questions related to mathematics and logic, and those who pass receive a certificate qualifying them to study at various public and private universities.
Registration:
Regarding the registration period for this exam, each university sets its own schedule; however, in general, all YÖS exams are held between the end of April and the month of June.
As for how to register, you must access the official website of the university in which you wish to study. There you will find a dedicated registration portal that requires you to enter your details, select an exam center, and most importantly, attach an image of the payment receipt for the required fee.
Required Documents for Registration:
To apply for the university admission exams in Turkey in general—and the YÖS exam in particular—you must submit the following documents:
- A copy of your high school diploma, which must be attested and translated into Turkish.
- A copy of your passport or an image of your residence permit.
- A colored personal photograph.
Exam Questions:
The YÖS exam, one of the university admission exams in Turkey, covers the following topics:
1- Mathematics Questions: These include mathematical sequences, quadratic identities, rational numbers, mathematical analysis, first and second degree equations, etc.
2- Logic and Intelligence Questions: These are designed to test the student's mental aptitude, including the basics of mathematical analysis to assess the ability to understand patterns in sequences and perform arithmetic operations, among others.
3- Geometry Questions: These include questions on foundations, shapes, theorems, and geometric equations.
The exam is divided into 80 questions: 40 mathematics questions, 35 intelligence questions, and 5 geometry questions, all of which must be answered within 100 minutes.
Note 1: This division is adopted by the majority of Turkish universities, although some institutions may differ depending on their evaluation methods and criteria for assessing students’ capabilities.
Note 2: Some universities include questions on chemistry, physics, and natural sciences in the YÖS exam; however, they announce this in advance so that students can prepare accordingly.
Preparation for the YÖS Exam:
In Turkey, many specialized centers help train students and prepare them for the exam by offering courses that last 8 months, as well as intensive courses of about 4 months. Among the most notable centers are:
- Metropol Center.
- Boza Center.
- Tasari Center.
In addition, numerous Arabic and Turkish centers organize preparatory courses for students.
Electronic Training Platforms:
Electronic platforms can assist you in preparing for the university admission exams in Turkey. You can benefit from various YouTube channels that train you for the YÖS exam. Examples include:
- Alpha Platform.
- Shinol Hoca.
- YOS Tube.
Required Score in the YÖS Exam:
The required score for acceptance into Turkish universities based on the YÖS exam varies according to the number of applicants for each field. Therefore, universities with higher demand require stricter conditions and a higher YÖS score. Generally:
- Admission to Medicine requires a success rate of 90%.
- Admission to Engineering requires a success rate of 85%.
- Admission to Literary (humanities) fields requires a success rate of 60%.
This concludes our discussion of the YÖS exam, one of the key university admission exams in Turkey. We now move on to the second exam, the "SAT exam."
University Admission Exams in Turkey – SAT Exam:
The term "SAT" is an abbreviation for Scholastic Assessment Test, which means aptitude test. It is defined as an international admission exam administered by the American institution "College Board Scholastic," and passing it helps students secure admission to Turkish universities.
Registration:
The SAT exam is offered six times a year, and students can register for it at one of the following locations:
- Robert American High School in Istanbul.
- Balkent University in Ankara.
- Turkey and America Association in Ankara.
- American High School of Izmir in Izmir.
- American High School of Tarsus in Tarsus.
Exam Questions:
The SAT exam is divided into 3 sections:
1- Reading Section:
This section, which consists of 52 questions, tests the ability to read English texts and evaluates the student's vocabulary across various fields such as humanities, social sciences, literary works, and more, all within 65 minutes.
2- Writing Section:
In the university admission exams in Turkey, specifically in the SAT exam, this section involves reading short texts and answering multiple-choice questions as well as English grammar questions.
This section consists of 44 questions, and students are given 35 minutes to answer them.
3- Mathematics Section:
The third section tests the mathematical knowledge acquired by the student in high school and includes questions on statistics, algebra, geometry, data analysis, probabilities, etc.
This section lasts 80 minutes, during which the student must answer 58 questions.
4- Essay Section:
This is an optional section that assesses the student's ability to write an essay on a given topic. The time allowed for writing the essay does not exceed 50 minutes.
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Training Centers for Exam Preparation:
Numerous websites, platforms, and electronic applications can help you prepare well for this exam by providing a wide range of resources, such as the Doros platform which offers preparatory exam models.
On the ground, there are also many centers that provide the academic educational services you need to succeed, including:
1- Lisan Academy.
2- Fikr Institute.
3- The Student Assembly Foundation in Turkey.
4- Sham Academy.
Turkish Universities That Require the SAT Exam:
Passing the SAT exam is a fundamental requirement for admission to the following Turkish universities:
- Istanbul University.
- Istanbul Technical University.
- Bogazici University.
- Marmara University.
- Ortadogu Technical University.
- Hacettepe University.
- Gazi University.
- Koc University.
- Yildiz Technical University.
- Sabanci University.
- Bahcesehir University.
- Uludag University.
This concludes our article, which provided information about the university admission exams in Turkey (the YÖS and SAT exams), explaining how foreign students can apply for these exams and prepare effectively to succeed.