TYT and AYT Explained: Subjects, Questions and Timing in YKS

TYT and AYT are the two main sessions of YKS, Türkiye’s university entrance exam. Almost every question students ask about YKS comes back to them: which subjects are tested, how many questions there are, and which test a major needs. This guide explains TYT and AYT one by one, with the numbers from the 2026 exam, so you can see exactly what you are studying for.

TYT and AYT in one minute

First, TYT (Temel Yeterlilik Testi) is the basic proficiency test. Every candidate takes it, and it is enough on its own for two-year associate programs. Then there is AYT (Alan Yeterlilik Testleri), a set of field tests in maths, science, literature and social sciences. You need AYT for most four-year bachelor’s programs, from medicine to law.

In addition, both tests take place on the same June weekend: TYT on Saturday morning and AYT on Sunday morning. A third session, the foreign language test YDT, follows on Sunday afternoon for language programs. You can find the full rules in ÖSYM’s 2026 YKS guide.

TYT: the test everyone takes

TYT has 120 questions in 165 minutes. The questions test general skills more than deep subject knowledge:

• Turkish (Türkçe), 40 questions: for example reading comprehension, paragraphs, grammar and word meaning.
• Social sciences, 20 questions: history 5, geography 5, philosophy 5 and religious culture 5. Students who are exempt from religious culture answer 5 extra philosophy questions instead.
• Basic maths (Temel Matematik), 40 questions: for instance numbers, problems, basic algebra and geometry.
• Science, 20 questions: physics 7, chemistry 7 and biology 6.

Turkish and basic maths make up two thirds of the test. For this reason, they decide most TYT results. Arab students should notice something important here: the Turkish section is not a language test for foreigners. It is written for native speakers, so it needs serious and early practice.

AYT: the field tests

AYT has 160 questions in 180 minutes, split into four tests. However, you do not answer all of them. You choose the tests that match your score type:

• Literature and social sciences 1, 40 questions: Turkish literature 24, history 10 and geography 6.
• Social sciences 2, 40 questions: history 11, geography 11, philosophy group 12 and religious culture 6.
• Maths, 40 questions: advanced maths, including functions, calculus and geometry.
• Science, 40 questions: physics 14, chemistry 13 and biology 13.

Which tests does your major need?

Your target major decides which AYT tests count for you. There are four score types for bachelor’s programs:

1. SAY (science): AYT maths and AYT science, used for example by medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering and architecture.
2. EA (equal weight): AYT maths plus literature and social sciences 1, used for example by law, business, economics and psychology.
3. SÖZ (verbal): literature and both social sciences tests, used for instance by history, Turkish literature and some teaching programs.
4. DİL (language): the YDT foreign language test, used for example by translation and language teaching programs.

In every score type, TYT still counts for 40% of the result. In other words, a student who aims for medicine cannot ignore the Turkish questions in TYT. Choose your score type early, because it decides half of your study plan.

Time per question

The time limits are tight, so planning your time matters. In TYT, you have about 1.4 minutes per question, and in AYT you have about 1.1 minutes per question if you answer all four tests. In practice, SAY and EA students answer only 80 AYT questions, so they have about 2.2 minutes per question, but the AYT questions are much longer and harder.

Moreover, every wrong answer costs a quarter of a correct one, because net = correct answers minus wrong answers divided by four. So speed alone is not the goal. You need speed and accuracy together, and only timed practice builds both.

How to study for TYT and AYT

A balanced plan usually looks like this:

• First months: build the TYT base, especially Turkish and basic maths, and learn the Turkish terms used in questions.
• Middle months: then add the AYT tests of your score type, topic by topic.
• Last months: finally, take full timed practice exams every week, then review every mistake.

Common mistakes with TYT and AYT

• Starting with hard AYT topics, although TYT counts in every score type.
• Studying without a timer, so the real exam suddenly feels too fast.
• Ignoring the Turkish wording, because knowing the maths is not enough when the question is long.
• Guessing at random, even though four wrong answers cancel one correct answer.

Many students reverse the right order and start with hard AYT topics. As a result, they reach spring with a weak TYT, and TYT counts for 40% of every score. For more context on the exam as a whole, read our complete YKS exam guide and our guide on YKS for foreign students.

Preparing for TYT and AYT with ILEAP Academy

ILEAP Academy is one of the first Arabic centers in Istanbul specialised in YKS. We explain TYT and AYT topics in Arabic, teach the Turkish wording of the questions and run timed practice exams, in person in Istanbul and online. Discover ILEAP Academy to find the right group for your score type.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to take both TYT and AYT?

You must take TYT. AYT is needed for most bachelor’s programs, so only students who aim for two-year associate programs can skip it.

Can I choose which AYT tests to answer?

Yes. You answer the AYT tests that your score type needs, for example maths and science for SAY, or maths and literature-social sciences 1 for EA.

Which part of TYT is hardest for Arab students?

Usually the Turkish section, because it tests reading and grammar at a native level. Early, regular practice with real questions makes the biggest difference.