What Is the TR-YÖS? A Guide to the Turkey International Student Admission Exam
What Is TR-YÖS?
TR-YÖS (Turkey’s Admission Exam for International Students) is an exam administered by ÖSYM to enable students from abroad or of different nationalities to pursue undergraduate or associate’s degree programs at universities in Turkey. The results are used as an application score in universities’ international student admissions processes.
Who Can Participate?
- International Students: Foreign nationals who have completed high school in Turkey or other countries.
- Individuals Who Were Granted Turkish Citizenship but Later Lost Their Citizenship: Those with a Blue Card or those without a Blue Card (regardless of where they completed their secondary education).
- Applicants Who Obtained Turkish Citizenship While Holding Foreign Citizenship or Who Hold Dual Citizenship: For applicants in this group, it does not matter where they completed their high school education.
- Turkish Citizens Attending High School Abroad: Those receiving a high school education in a country other than the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (or at Turkish schools under the supervision of the Ministry of National Education).
- TRNC Nationals: Those who have completed their secondary education in the TRNC and hold GCE AL scores.
Important Note: Graduating from high school or an equivalent school, or being in the process of graduating, is sufficient to take the exam. Those who have not yet graduated may also take the exam. Candidates of all ages may submit applications.
TR-YÖS Exam Content
TR-YÖS consists of two main tests:
- Numerical Ability (IQ) Test: 40 questions
- Basic Math Test: 40 questions (30 Math + 10 Geometry)
There are a total of 80 questions, and the exam duration is set at 100 minutes.
Basic Mathematics: Based on the topics covered in the 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade curricula in Turkey.
Numerical Ability (IQ): Aims to measure the candidate’s ability to think abstractly and understand numerical relationships.
Scoring System
- 4 Wrong Answers = 1 Correct Answer Cancelled: In each test, your wrong answers reduce the number of correct answers.
- Raw Score Calculation: It is calculated by subtracting one-fourth of the incorrect answers from the number of correct answers.
- Standardized Scores: They are calculated so that the mean of the tests is 50 and the standard deviation is 10.
The Numerical Ability Test is weighted with a coefficient of 0.45, while the Basic Mathematics Test is weighted with a coefficient of 0.55. The weighted score is converted to a range of 100 to 500 to obtain the TR-YÖS score.
Important Note: Universities may set different minimum score requirements for their own faculties and departments.
Exam Dates and Application Process
Schedule for the 2025 TR-YÖS/1:
- Exam Date: May 11, 2025
- Application Dates: February 13, 2025 – March 12, 2025
- Late Application Deadline: March 18–March 20, 2025 (until 11:59 p.m.)
- Result Date: June 11, 2025
TR-YÖS Fees
Since the 2025 TR-YÖS exam fees have not yet been announced, only the average figures from previous years can be used as a reference at this time. Different fee schedules are set each year depending on the country.
- Those Taking the Exam in Turkey: 2,250 TL
- Those Taking the Exam Abroad:
2,250 TL Group (e.g., the U.S., Germany, the TRNC, Russia, etc.)
- 1,050 TL Group (e.g., Algeria, India, Uzbekistan, Tunisia, etc.)
- 750 TL Group (e.g., Afghanistan, Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, etc.)
Validity of the Exam
You must take the exam in the correct exam room, using the correct answer sheet and exam booklet, and follow the exam rules. If you violate the rules, your exam may be invalidated.
Are exam fees refundable? No, TR-YÖS exam fees are non-refundable by regulation and cannot be transferred to another purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to take the TR-YÖS exam?
The TR-YÖS exam is open to foreign nationals, individuals who were granted Turkish citizenship at birth but subsequently lost it, individuals with dual citizenship, and Turkish citizens who attended high school abroad. In addition, citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus may also submit applications to take the exam.
What topics are covered on the TR-YÖS exam?
The TR-YÖS exam consists of two main tests: the Quantitative Ability (IQ) Test and the Basic Mathematics Test. Each test contains 40 questions, for a total of 80 questions.
How long is the exam?
The TR-YÖS exam lasts a total of 100 minutes. This time allows candidates sufficient time to answer all the questions.
How are TR-YÖS results used?
TR-YÖS scores are used as application scores for the admission of international students to universities in Turkey. Applicants can use these scores to apply to the universities of their choice.