Everything You Need to Know About the YÖS Exam in Turkey
The term “YÖS Exam” in Turkey is an abbreviation for Yabancı Uyruklu Öğrenci Sınavı ("Foreign National Student Exam"), which is a Turkish exam that most public Turkish universities require as a basic condition for admission. However, it is recognized only on a local level and not internationally.
This article will serve as a comprehensive guide containing all the information you need to know about this exam—from the types of questions included, to where, how, and when to register for the Turkish YÖS Exam, and finally how to prepare for it in a way that ensures you pass with high scores.
What Types of Questions Does the YÖS Exam in Turkey Include?
The YÖS exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions that must be answered within just 100 minutes, meaning you have approximately one minute and a few seconds for each question. The questions are distributed as follows:
1- 40 IQ (Intelligence Quotient) Questions:
These questions measure the intellectual capabilities of the students and their ability to think. They cover a range of concepts, including coding, numbers, operations, sequences, the relationship between operations and numbers, tables, the relationship between geometric shapes and graphs, as well as perimeter and area.
2- 35 Mathematics Questions:
These questions are based on various topics such as natural and whole numbers, sequences, rational numbers, decimals, quadratic and cubic identities, factorization, ratios and proportions, roots, first- and second-degree equations, inequalities, and absolute values.
3- 5 Geometry Questions:
The geometry questions cover topics including medians, means, midpoints, triangles, quadrilaterals, as well as circles, parallelograms, trapezoids, rhombuses, squares, rectangles, and circles.
They also include questions on tangents and chords, Cartesian coordinates, slope and straight-line equations, linear equations, three-dimensional figures, rays, and so on.
It is worth noting that the distribution of questions may vary from one university to another; however, the primary focus of the exam is to evaluate the intellectual level of the students and their ability to perform mathematical analysis. The variation in the distribution of questions depends on the university’s criteria and the method used to select and assess the students’ capabilities.
Therefore, it is essential for every student to review these details before registering in order to understand the requirements and prepare thoroughly to achieve results that will give them an advantage during selection.
When Can You Register for the Turkish YÖS Exam?
The registration date for the YÖS exam varies from one university to another, as each institution sets its own registration period and the official exam date is announced at least two months in advance. Typically, the exam is held between the end of April and June, with registration usually open starting in February each year.
How Do You Register for the Exam?
All Turkish universities provide a dedicated registration portal for the YÖS exam on their official websites. Simply visit the official website of the university where you wish to study and follow these steps:
- Fill in the required information on the registration page.
- Select the exam location that is convenient for you.
- Pay the exam fee either electronically via a bank card or in person by visiting a bank.
Once these steps are completed, your registration for the YÖS exam in Turkey is finalized.
Where Is the YÖS Exam Conducted in Turkish Universities?
Each university designates a venue within its campus where the exam will be held. This applies to all Turkish universities, although some institutions—such as Ankara University and Istanbul University, among others—allow students to take the exam in their own country, provided that their country is among those where the exam is conducted.
What Documents Are Required to Apply for the YÖS Exam?
To apply for the exam, you must prepare a set of documents, which include:
- A certified and translated copy of your high school diploma.
- A copy of your passport.
- Colored passport-sized photographs (no specific requirements regarding size or style).
What Is the Cost of the YÖS Exam?
The cost of the YÖS exam varies from one university to another; however, in general, it ranges between $40 and $100.
How Do You Prepare for the YÖS Exam?
First, you should know that preparing for the YÖS exam in Turkey in a manner that ensures success requires a preparation period of three to five months.
Preparation for the exam can be done by either purchasing books related to the exam topics—which are available in various cities across Turkey and can be studied independently—or by enrolling in educational institutes that offer preparatory courses for the YÖS exam. Regular courses usually take eight months, while intensive courses take around four months.
It is worth mentioning that if you prefer to prepare independently by purchasing books, we recommend books published by the Turkish company MetroPol, as MetroPol is considered one of the most important educational institutions that teaches the YÖS curriculum and provides lessons and questions very similar to the actual exam format.
How Can You Ensure High Scores in the YÖS Exam?
Here are some tips that will greatly help you pass the YÖS exam in Turkey and achieve the results necessary for acceptance into one of the public Turkish universities:
1- Solve Previous Years’ Questions:
After studying the exam curriculum, it is best to allocate a specific period to download and practice with past YÖS exam questions available online. This will help you become familiar with the format and phrasing of the questions. You should also work through question banks for each subject—whether algebra, geometry, or IQ—since each subject typically has a dedicated question bank that can help you enhance your understanding and retention of the material.
2- Enroll in an Educational Institute:
As mentioned earlier, almost every Turkish city has educational centers that offer both regular and intensive preparatory courses for the YÖS exam. This method ensures that you receive lectures from specialists, thereby addressing any gaps that might occur if you were to prepare independently.
3- Benefit from the Experiences of Former Students:
Ask students who have successfully passed the YÖS exam in Turkey for advice and learn from their experiences and the methods they used to prepare for the exam.
Note: There is strong competition among students applying to study at Turkish universities, so you must achieve a high score to increase your chances of admission to the program of your choice.
Do Private Universities Require a YÖS Exam Certificate?
Unlike public universities, private universities do not require a YÖS exam certificate for admission. For private universities, it is sufficient to submit a high school diploma with a minimum average of 50%, along with a language certificate or proof of passing a language exam at the university.
This concludes our article, which has provided you with the most important information about the YÖS exam in Turkey. This exam plays a crucial role in boosting the high school GPA of a student, thereby increasing their chances of being admitted to programs that require high grades, such as Medicine and Pharmacy.
Read also: