YKS Exam: The Complete Guide for Arab and International Students

The YKS exam is Türkiye’s national university entrance exam. Every year more than two million students apply for it, and the results decide who gets a place at a Turkish university and in which program. For Arab and international students in Türkiye, the YKS exam matters more than ever. Since 2026, students who studied at a Turkish high school can enter a Turkish university only through YKS, even if they are not Turkish citizens. This guide explains the exam in plain words, so you know what you are preparing for.

What is the YKS exam?

YKS stands for Yükseköğretim Kurumları Sınavı, which means “Higher Education Institutions Exam”. It is run by ÖSYM, the state body that organizes national exams in Türkiye. The exam usually takes place over one weekend in June, and it has three sessions:

• TYT (Temel Yeterlilik Testi): the basic proficiency test. Everyone takes it.
• AYT (Alan Yeterlilik Testleri): the field tests in maths, science, literature and social sciences. You need them for most bachelor’s programs.
• YDT (Yabancı Dil Testi): the foreign language test, offered in English, Arabic, French, German and Russian. You need it for language programs.

After the results, students list the programs they want, and ÖSYM places them according to their scores and rankings. You can read the official rules in the 2026 YKS guide from ÖSYM.

Who has to take the YKS exam?

This is the question we hear most from Arab families in Istanbul, because the rules changed in 2026.

• Turkish citizens must take YKS to enter a state or foundation university. This also applies to naturalized citizens, for example Syrian students who became Turkish citizens.
• Foreign students who studied at a Turkish high school can now enter a university in Türkiye only through YKS. This includes students under temporary protection and Mavi Kart holders. A few exceptions exist, such as students of embassy schools and some international schools.
• Foreign students who finished all of high school abroad usually apply through the international quota, with TR-YÖS, SAT or another accepted exam instead of YKS.

In other words, if you finished or are finishing high school in Türkiye, the YKS exam is now your main door to university. If you are not sure which group you belong to, ask before you choose a study plan, because the preparation is very different.

The three sessions in numbers

Here is how the 2026 exam was built. ÖSYM usually keeps the same structure from year to year:

• TYT: 120 questions in 165 minutes. The test covers Turkish (40), social sciences (20), basic maths (40) and science (20).
• AYT: 160 questions in 180 minutes. The test has four parts: literature and social sciences 1 (40), social sciences 2 (40), maths (40) and science (40).
• YDT: 80 questions in 120 minutes, all in one foreign language.

Also note that TYT and AYT are written only in Turkish. For many Arab students, this is the real challenge. Most of them know the maths or the biology, but the Turkish wording slows them down.

How the YKS exam is scored

First, ÖSYM calculates your net score for each test: correct answers minus a quarter of the wrong answers. So four wrong answers cancel one correct answer, and leaving a question blank costs you nothing.

Next, the nets are turned into weighted scores between 100 and 500. There are four main score types for bachelor’s programs:

• SAY for science programs such as medicine and engineering
• EA for programs such as law, business and psychology
• SÖZ for programs such as history and Turkish literature
• DİL for foreign language programs

TYT counts for 40% of every one of these score types, so a weak TYT pulls everything down. Finally, your high school diploma grade adds between 30 and 60 points through the OBP. For details, see our guide to university admission in Türkiye.

There is no minimum point threshold any more. However, some programs ask for a minimum ranking. In 2026, for example, medicine required a SAY ranking within the top 50,000 and law an EA ranking within the top 100,000.

When is the YKS exam in 2027?

ÖSYM has not announced the 2027 calendar yet. It normally publishes the yearly calendar in November. Based on the last three years, you can expect:

1. Applications in early February 2027, for about three and a half weeks.
2. The exam on a weekend in June 2027, with TYT on Saturday and AYT and YDT on Sunday.
3. Results in July, and university preferences in late July and August.

So most students have about eight months left from the autumn. That is enough time for a serious plan, but only if you start now.

How to register

You register on the ÖSYM system during the application period. Students with a Turkish ID card can apply online through e-Devlet. Foreign students apply with their foreign ID number (the one that starts with 9) at an ÖSYM application centre. In 2026 the fee was 700 TL per session. Keep an eye on the ÖSYM website for the 2027 announcement.

Preparing for the YKS exam as an Arab student

A good YKS plan covers three things at the same time. First, the subjects themselves. Second, the Turkish exam language. Third, regular practice exams under real time limits. Many students work hard on the first point and forget the other two, so they lose marks on questions they actually understood.

This is why ILEAP opened ILEAP Academy in Istanbul. ILEAP Academy is one of the first Arabic centers in Istanbul specialised in YKS. We explain each topic in Arabic, we teach the Turkish terms that appear in the questions, and we run timed practice exams. Classes run in person in Istanbul and online. Discover ILEAP Academy or message us to find the right plan for your level.

Frequently asked questions

Is the YKS exam only in Turkish?

Yes, TYT and AYT are in Turkish only. The foreign language test (YDT) is available in Arabic, English, French, German and Russian.

Can a foreign student take the YKS exam?

Yes. Since 2026, foreign students who studied at a Turkish high school are placed through YKS, and it is their main way into a Turkish university.

Is there a minimum score to pass?

There is no fixed passing score. You need enough correct answers to get a calculated score, and some programs such as medicine and law also set a minimum ranking.