Turkish YOS Exam

Study in Turkey
Turkish YOS Exam
 

Since 1820, the Ministry of Higher Education in Türkiye has decided that passing the YÖS exam is necessary for foreign students wishing to complete their studies at Turkish universities. Since then, this exam has become a basic condition for admission to Turkish universities.

It is worth noting that this test was unified at the level of Turkish universities under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education in Turkey until it became unified after that, so each university was the one that determined the YÖS test, and no university recognized the YÖS test of another university.

Due to the many questions about the steps involved in applying to Turkish universities, specifically the YÖS exam, we decided to dedicate this article to discussing the YÖS exam in detail.

What is the turkish YOS Exam?

The YÖS is a Turkish exam that is not internationally recognized. Universities use it as a prerequisite for accepting non-Turkish students.

YÖS is an abbreviation for the Turkish word "Yabancı Uyruklu Öğrenci Sınavı," which means "Foreign Students Test." Although some public universities do not require the YÖS exam for admission, students with a YÖS certificate have priority.

The YÖS exam increases a student's chances of being accepted into Turkish universities, especially top colleges such as medicine and engineering, because it raises their high school average.

The importance of the Turkish YOS Exam

The YÖS test is very important for accepting foreign students to study at Turkish universities as :

  • The YÖS exam is a prerequisite for admission to Turkish universities. 
  • This unconventional test measures a student's mental abilities and problem-solving skills using modern scientific methods. 
  • The YÖS exam increases a student's chances of admission to Turkish universities, as many universities rely on the YÖS exam score rather than the high school GPA, especially in top colleges such as medicine and engineering.

Turkish YOS Exam components 

The YÖS test consists of three parts (intelligence questions, mathematics questions, and geometry questions).

1. Intelligence Test 

Called the IQ test, it measures a student's mental abilities and logical thinking. It consists of questions about the following

  • Consecutive numbers. 
  • Number coding. 
  • Tables. 
  • The relationship between geometric shapes. 
  • Operations. 
  • The relationship between operations and numbers. Graphs, area, and perimeter.

2. Math Test 

This test covers multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction of integers and decimals, sequences and series, squaring and cubing, ratios and proportions, and questions related to algebra, mathematical equations, and other mathematics-related topics.

3. Geometry 

Geometry questions include everything related to geometric shapes, such as triangles, squares, rectangles, hexagons, and cubes, as well as questions related to area, perimeter, linear equations, slope equations, solids, and straight lines.

Where is the turkish YOS Exam held?

Registration for the YÖS exam is done through the official website of the university the student wishes to attend. The test location is determined by the student based on the available options.

Most universities have designated Istanbul as their primary test center.

Some universities have designated their own centers in Arab countries, such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Advantages of the turkish YOS Exam

  1. The test is administered at a specific time, whether inside or outside Türkiye, ensuring equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their place of residence.
  2. A unified centralized test ensures the principle of equal opportunity, as all students take the same test and meet the same standards.
  3. The test cost is low compared to other tests.
  4. Registration is easy from anywhere, so you don't need to travel to Türkiye to register and take the test.
  5. The validity of the unified YÖS exam extends to two years from the date of announcing the results. The student can apply to the university during this period.

Disadvantages of the Turkish YOS Exam

  1. The YÖS unified exam is not available in all countries.
  2. It is a local exam and is not recognized outside Türkiye.
  3. The exam applies only to undergraduate students and is not applicable to master's and doctoral students.
  4. Most Turkish universities do not recognize the unified test yet.

How to Prepare for the turkish YOS Exam

There are a set of tips that will help you pass the YÖS exam.

You must follow them to achieve a high score on this exam. These tips include:

  1. Study and prepare for the test through many books spread in Turkey in the Turkish language as well as English. Among these books, the most famous of which is the (Metropole book).
  2. There are institutes that help you prepare for the test, and they also provide curricula in the Arabic language, along with a set of solved models that help you know the system and type of questions.
  3. Find study materials available online that can help you pass the test.
  4. Training on solving tests from previous years and dividing time between the different parts of the test.

Turkish YOS Exam Questions

They consist of 80 questions, divided into:

  • 40 questions on logic and IQ.
  • 40 questions on algebra, geometry, and mathematical problems.

(Some universities have 30 questions on logic and IQ, and the remaining questions are divided into algebra, geometry, and mathematical problems.)

 

The number of questions in each section varies from one university to another.

Is the Turkish YOS Exam difficult?

The answer to this question is relative, as the difficulty of the YÖS exam depends on the student's abilities and skills in various subjects to ensure they are prepared for university studies.

However, with careful study and preparation, it is easy to pass the exam and achieve a high score.

How long does it take to study for the turkish YOS Exam

The YÖS curriculum takes four months for intensive courses. Regular courses take 7 to 8 months.

The duration of the YÖS study at the institutes lasts up to 4 months in the intensive course.

Registration requirements for the turkish YOS Exam 

The application requirements for the YÖS exam vary from one university to another, but in general, the required conditions can be determined as follows

  1. A certified copy of your passport or a copy of your Turkish residency papers. 
  2. A certified copy of the high school certificate translated into Turkish, or the student’s most recent transcript.
  3. Color passport photos.

Turkish YOS Exam dates 

YÖS exam registration 2025 begins in February and March of each year, and the exam date is in May and June.

Each university announces the YÖS exam date on its official website.

The exam location is also announced based on the university you wish to apply to.

YÖS exam scores vary from university to university, with most universities scoring out of 100.

Turkish YOS Exam fees

There is no standardized fee for the YÖS exam. It varies from one university to another. 

Generally, the cost ranges from $40 to $100. These fees can be paid via money transfer or online.

Which is better, the YÖS or the SAT? 

This is up to the student to decide. If the student is good at English, the SAT is better because it is recognized globally, unlike the YÖS, which is a local test.

Also, the number of Turkish universities that accept the SAT is greater than the number of universities that accept the YÖS.

What is the required score for the YÖS exam?

Admission rates to public universities vary depending on the number of students applying for each major. Some universities have higher demand, while others have more stringent requirements.

  • Admission to the human medicine major starts at 90% in most universities.
  • Admission to the engineering major starts at 85% in most universities.
  • Admission to the arts major starts at 60% in most universities.

Admission is based on comparison between students (coordination).

Conclusion 

We have reached the end of the article after learning about the importance of the turkish YOS Exam for Turkish universities in accepting foreign students, how to prepare for it, application dates, and exam dates.If you still need to know any other question, we are here to help you, so you can always contact.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and answers about studying in Turkey

After many years of working on registering thousands of students in Turkish universities, and answering an unlimited number of questions about studying in Turkey, these are the most important questions that concern students

It is a test to determine mental abilities and is a prerequisite for admission to Turkish universities for foreign (non-Turkish) students.

The YÖS exam can be taken in three languages: English, Turkish, and Arabic, depending on the student's preference. However, Arabic is not available at all Turkish universities.

The YÖS score varies from one university to another, but in general, most universities set a score of 90% for medicine, 80% for engineering, and 60% for other majors.

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