Student Selection and Placement System (, ÖSYS) or Higher Education Institutions Examination (, YKS), formerly Higher Education Entrance Examination-Undergraduate Placement Examination, (, YGS-LYS), is a standardized test for the admission to higher education in Turkey administered by ÖSYM. Within the Turkish education system, the only way to enter a university is through this exam. 1,692,000 high school graduates took the exam in 2011Milliyet Gazetesi, March 24th 2011 and 2,255,386 in 2016. It is a multiple choice exam, with 5 options for each question. It has two parts, together called the Basic Proficiency Test-Field Proficiency Test (, TYT-AYT).
History 1974–1980: ÜSS Interuniversity Selection Examination (Turkish: Üniversitelerarası Seçme Sınavı, ÜSS) was first applied in 1974. Before then, each university selected their students via their own criteria. With the increasing number of youth and the overloaded applications, the universities gathered and founded the Higher Education Council (Turkish: Yüksekögretim Kurulu, YÖK), and a subdivision named Interuniversity Student Selection and Placement Center (Turkish: Üniversitelerarası Öğrenci Seçme ve Yerleştirme Merkezi, ÜSYM).
1981–1998: ÖSS and ÖYS In 1981, the number of the exams were increased to two, namely the ÖSS and Student Placement Examination (Turkish: Öğrenci Yerleştirme Sınavı, ÖYS). If a student did not achieve the specified grade in ÖSS, they did not have the right to enter ÖYS, and thus, lost their chance to be accepted to a university. ÖSS consisted of questions about the ninth grade curriculum, and ÖYS was a test on the tenth and eleventh grade curriculum. ÖSS eliminated the students on the basis of the grade they had received in the exam, and ÖYS placed the students to the universities they wanted. This system continued until 1999 when ÖYS was dropped and the system reverted to the single ÖSS exam, with the same format and same questions.
1999–2005: ÖSS and YDS The ÖSS exam was a 180-minute exam with 180 questions testing students' analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities, as well as knowledge of the high school curriculum.
A foreign language exam (Turkish: Yabancı Dil Sınavı, YDS), was conducted a week after the ÖSS. It was composed of foreign language questions in English, French, and German.
The maximum score that a student could attain on the ÖSS was 380. The highest score on the exam was 300, and the final 80 was based on a student's high school score based on their GPA, graduation rank, and school's past success on the ÖSS exam.
If a student selected a university department related to their studies at high school (namely applied sciences, social sciences, or foreign languages), their score was multiplied by 0.8. If a student preferred to study at a different department from their high school concentration, their score was multiplied by 0.3.
2006–2009: Major changes Students who took ÖSS in 2006 saw some major changes. The exam now lasted 195 minutes, and had two parts: ÖSS 1 and ÖSS 2. ÖSS 1 had 120 questions on the ninth and tenth grade curriculum.
ÖSS 2 is composed of 120 questions out of which students have to answer 60. Students at foreign languages departments answered ÖSS 1 and foreign language questions; tested separately in YDS.
2010–2017: YGS–LYS From 2010 to 2018, students took the Higher Education Entrance Examination (YGS) in March. Those who pass the YGS are then entitled to take the Undergraduate Placement Examination (LYS), in June. Students who only take the YGS, in which students have to answer 160 questions in 160 minutes, are able to apply for associate degree programs. There were five LYS sessions, whereas the previous university entrance system, the ÖSS, was held once in a year throughout the country.
2018–present: TYT–AYT The Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) is a 3-session exam. All applicants applying to YKS are required to attend the Basic Proficiency Test (TYT). Other sessions are optional.
The first session is the Basic Proficiency Test (TYT), with 120 questions. The second session is the Field Qualification Tests (AYT), and the third session is the Foreign Language Test (YDT).
Results are announced in the second half of June and students have to make their university preferences by the last week of July. They are placed in courses according to their scores and this is announced at the end of August.
Current system Examination system First Session: Basic Proficiency Test (TYT) Applicants must apply for a two-round examination to attend higher education. Firstly, students take the Basic Proficiency Test (Temel Yeterlilik Testi, TYT). TYT is obligatory for university admission and represents the first session. The purpose of the test is to evaluate logical thinking, reasoning, evaluation, and thinking-based problem-solving skills of students. Questions are selected from the high school curriculum and participation in this session is mandatory. Initially, the minimum passing scores of 150 and 180 for the TYT and AYT exams, which were required for choosing associate and bachelor's degree programs, were abolished in 2022. It is sufficient for applicants to score 0.5 net points in both Turkish and Mathematics to enable preference selection. Additionally, students who scored 200 points and above in TYT could retain their score for two years, provided they did not partake in the selection. The exam was 135 minutes. In accordance with the guide published in 2022, the duration was extended to 165 minutes. Applicants’ right to use their TYT scores in subsequent years was also revoked. +Question distribution in TYTSubjectsScope of the testsNumber of questionsTurkish TestTesting the correct usage of Turkish, basic grammar, sentence construction, paragraphs, spelling rules, spelling errors, explication, reading comprehension, vocabulary, etc.40Social Sciences TestTesting of general condition, knowledge of principle and concepts, explication, etc. in the following lessons: History, Geography, Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge, PhilosophyBasic Mathematics TestTesting of Basic Mathematics rules, feasibility of basic operations, ability to perform abstract operations based on basic mathematics, everyday use40Science TestTesting and usage of basic concepts and principles in the following lessons: Physics, Chemistry, BiologyTotal of questions: 120
Second Session: Field Proficiency Test (AYT) The purpose of the Field Proficiency Test (Alan Yeterlilik Testleri, AYT) is to assess applicants' proficiency in their chosen field. Applicants are responsible for taking different tests based on their selected field: e.i. Mathematics and Science for SAY (Quantitative), Turkish and Social Science for SÖZ (Verbal), and Mathematics, Turkish, and Social Sciences for EA (Equal Weight). The questions are based on the four-year high school curriculum. Applicants are not required to take AYT following TYT. However, since most 4-year education universities require a TYT (40%) + AYT (60%) score, taking this exam is generally required. The exam's duration is 180 minutes. +Question distribution in AYTExamTestsNumber of questionsField Proficiency Tests (AYT)Turkish Language and Literature, Social Sciences-1 TestSocial Sciences-2 TestMathematics Test40Science TestTotal of questions: 160 Foreign Language Test (YDT)
Following TYT, the Foreign Language Test (Yabancı Dil Testi, YDT) is directed at applicants who want to apply for fields that accept students via the DİL (Language) score. It is made up of 80 questions. According to preference, German, Arabic, French, English, and Russian can be selected for the exam. The exam's duration is 120 minutes. Percentage weights of tests according to score types Applicants can access information about which score types their target field(s) accept students based on from the YÖK Program Atlas. While the weight of each score type is different, the TYT score affects 40% of all AYT score types. The test percentages based on score types are listed below. +Test weights in TYT scores (%)TurkishSocial SciencesBasic MathematicsSciences33173317 +Test weights in YKS Quantitative (YKS-SAY) scores (%)Score typeTYT+AYT testsMathematicsSciencesMathematicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyYKS SAY4030101010 Test weights in YKS Equal Weight (YKS-EA) scores (%)Score typeTYT+AYT testsMathematicsTurkish Language and Literature – Social Sciences-1 TestMathematicsTurkish Language and LiteratureHistory-1Geography-1YKS EA40301875 Test weights in YKS Verbal (YKS-SÖZ) scores (%)Score typeTYT+AYT testsTurkish Language and Literature – Social Sciences-1 TestSocial Sciences-2 TestTurkish Language and LiteratureHistory-1Geography-1History-2Geography-2Philosophy GroupDKAB / additional Philosophy GroupYKS SÖZ4018758895 Test weights in YKS Language (YKS-DİL) scores (%)Score typeTYT+AYT testsSelected Foreign Language TestYKS DİL4060 Application process ÖSYM AİS ÖSYM AİS is the system that contains the information about applicants registered in the system. Applicants can apply for all exams arranged by the ÖSYM, view their results, and use preference selection. Additionally, archives of other ÖSYM exams taken by the applicants are also present in this system. The AİS passwords are assigned by ÖSYM centres and deputy directors of secondary education institutions. If an applicant wishes to change their profile picture in the system, they can consult an ÖSYM centre to perform this process. Moreover, the applicant picture that is present at AİS is printed on student cards given to those at universities. Exam applications According to the 2018 YKS applicant guide, in a secondary education institution (high schools or equivalent schools, open education high schools) students of last grade, those who have already graduated, those whose graduation is pending (those prevented from graduating due to failed courses), and graduates from a foreign secondary education institution equivalent can apply for the exam. Application to the YKS is mandatory for central admission (those who have the right to apply via TÜBİTAK competitions without exams included) and to be admitted to institutions that accept students based on special aptitude tests.
Applicants can make an application at the school they attend. Students from open education high schools can apply at select schools and institutions. Moreover, applications can be made at ÖSYM centres as well. If students from the last grade of a secondary education institution wish to apply at their own school, they can only do so during periods determined by the deputy directors. In this type of application, a student is given a form to fill, the student's picture is taken, and a fee set by the ÖSYM is charged to the student to assign them a password. If the applicant wishes, they can change the password and their exam location preference (e.g., Istanbul Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4) on ÖSYM AİS. The ÖSYM states warnings and recommendations about changing passwords via this system and not sharing it with third parties.
Applicants who have taken the exam before can make their application for it again individually using ÖSYM AİS. The initial requirement for this is to have a valid profile picture on the system. It is required for the system to contain a picture taken at an ÖSYM centre in the last 50 months. Meanwhile, the education information is to be automatically reflected on the system. Those who do not have a valid profile picture or wish to change the existing one, can finish this process at the ÖSYM application centres. Applicants lacking education information can consult related ÖSYM institutions. Application fees