YKS Preferences: How to Build Your List of 24 Choices (Tercih)

YKS preferences, or tercih in Turkish, decide where all your hard work leads. After the results, every student builds a list of programs, and ÖSYM places students according to their scores and that list. A strong score with a weak list can end in a disappointing place, while a smart list can open better doors. This guide explains how YKS preferences work and how to build your list step by step.

How placement works

ÖSYM places students in order of their placement scores, from the highest to the lowest. For each student, it looks at the list from the top and gives the first program where the score is enough and a place is still free. So the order of your list matters: ÖSYM never moves you to a choice lower on your list if a higher one is available to you.

This has one practical rule: put the program you want most at the top, even if it looks ambitious. If you do not get it, ÖSYM simply moves to your next choice. However, never list a program you would not attend, because if you are placed there, the placement counts.

The 2026 calendar as an example

In 2026, results came out on 21 July. Then the preference window ran online from 29 July to 10 August, and students could list up to 24 programs. ÖSYM announced the placement results on 18 August, and registration took place from 24 to 28 August. You can check the details in ÖSYM’s 2026 programs and quotas guide, the official “tercih kılavuzu”. The 2027 dates will follow ÖSYM’s new calendar, but the pattern usually stays similar.

Step 1: collect the facts

Before you write anything, gather the numbers for each program you consider. On YÖK Atlas you can see last year’s base ranking, the number of places, the language of instruction and, for foundation universities, the scholarship level. Also note any minimum ranking: in 2026, for example, medicine required a SAY ranking within the top 50,000. Our guide on the YKS ranking for medicine explains this in detail.

Step 2: sort programs into three groups

Next, compare your own ranking with last year’s base rankings and sort the programs:

• Ambitious: programs that took students ranked a little higher than you.
• Realistic: programs whose base ranking is close to yours.
• Safe: programs that took students ranked clearly lower than you.

A balanced list usually has a few ambitious choices at the top, most choices in the realistic group and several safe choices at the bottom. In other words, the list should end with programs you are almost sure to get and still happy to attend.

Step 3: order and check the list

Order the programs by real preference within each group, not by ranking alone. Then check every line: the score type, the language, the city, the fees and the scholarship level. Many students make mistakes here, for example by choosing a paid place when they wanted the scholarship place of the same program.

Finally, submit the list before the deadline and keep a copy. Online “tercih robots” can help you estimate chances, but they only use last year’s numbers, so treat them as a guide.

If you are not placed: additional placement

Students who are not placed in the main round can try the additional placement (ek yerleştirme) for the remaining places. In 2026, its preferences ran from 17 to 21 September, with a fee of 170 TL, and results came out on 28 September.

One more rule matters for the future. If you are placed through YKS and decide to take the exam again next year, your OBP bonus is halved, even if you did not register. Therefore, think carefully before you list programs you are not sure about.

How ILEAP Academy helps with YKS preferences

ILEAP Academy is one of the first Arabic centers in Istanbul specialised in YKS. Our support does not stop at the exam: we sit with each student and family, read the results together in Arabic and build a list of YKS preferences based on real rankings. Classes and guidance run in person in Istanbul and online. Discover ILEAP Academy, and read our YKS score calculation guide to understand your results.

Frequently asked questions

How many preferences can I list?

In 2026, students could list up to 24 programs in the main preference round.

Does the order of my list matter?

Yes. ÖSYM gives you the highest choice on your list that your score allows, so put the programs you want most at the top.

What if I am placed but do not register?

You lose that place, and if you take YKS again the next year, your OBP bonus is halved.