CHP's Harsh Criticism of ÖSYM; "Will You Ever Conduct a Flawless Exam?"

On July 1, 2026, the Assessment, Selection, and Placement Center in Turkey (ÖSYM) released an official statement announcing serious changes to the results of the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) held in June. According to the announcement, following the review of objections and scientific analyses, one question in the literature section was canceled, and the answer to one question in the mathematics section was changed [2][4]. This immediately drew a sharp reaction from Yıldırım Kaya, Vice President for Education Policies of the Republican People's Party (CHP).

Details of the Cancellation and Key Changes in YKS 2026 According to the official statement from ÖSYM, in the Field Proficiency Test (AYT) held on June 21, 2026, the answer to question number 23 in the mathematics booklet, which was previously announced as option "C," was changed to option "A" [2]. Additionally, question number 20 in the Turkish Language and Literature-Social Sciences-1 booklet was canceled due to scientific errors [4]. The assessment center stated that candidates' scores would be recalculated based on the remaining valid questions in accordance with the 2026 exam manual [2][5].

Yıldırım Kaya's Sharp Reaction: "Youth are Not Lab Rats" CHP Vice President Yıldırım Kaya described the move as an "educational scandal" in a video and written statement. Addressing ÖSYM officials, he asked, "ÖSYM, can you never conduct a proper exam?" [1]. Kaya noted that similar mistakes are repeated every year, adding that playing with the future and destiny of millions of young people who have worked for years for this exam is unacceptable [3]. He emphasized that such incompetence destroys public trust in educational justice in the country.

Recurring Annual Mistakes and Management Crisis In another part of his speech, Kaya pointed out that this is not just a simple technical error but indicates a lack of seriousness in the country's assessment and evaluation system. He stated, "Every year we witness the same mistakes, the same incompetence, and the same victimization of students. Those who cannot guarantee exam security and accuracy in evaluation must be held accountable" [1][3]. These criticisms come as Kaya had previously warned about educational inequalities and the pressure on students before the exam was held.

Consequences of the Decision for Candidates The change in answer keys and the cancellation of questions at a stage where candidates are waiting for final results could shift the rankings of many students. Educational experts believe these late changes have caused significant psychological stress for families and have once again brought the necessity of structural reforms in ÖSYM to the top of the news agenda. The CHP has announced that it will follow up on this issue in Parliament to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the coming years.