DGS and e-TEP Exams Held in Turkey; 2026 Academic Marathon in Kastamonu

Details of the DGS Exam Across Turkey

Today, Sunday, July 19, 2026, the Assessment, Selection and Placement Center of Turkey (ÖSYM) conducted the Vertical Transfer Exam, known as DGS, in 81 provinces of the country as well as the city of Nicosia in Northern Cyprus [3]. This exam, designed for associate degree graduates to enter bachelor's degree programs, was implemented this year with the participation of more than 239,000 candidates in 103 examination centers [5].

According to published reports, candidates in this academic competition answered 100 questions (50 mathematical and 50 verbal questions) within 135 minutes [5]. In the city of Kastamonu, examination venues hosted candidates from the early hours of the morning who were striving for their educational future. According to strict ÖSYM rules, candidates were prohibited from entering exam buildings after 10:00 AM, and the exam began exactly at 10:15 AM [2].

e-TEP Exam; A New Step in Language Proficiency Assessment

In addition to DGS, this weekend's academic marathon included the Electronic English Language Proficiency Exam (e-TEP), which was held on Saturday, July 18 [4]. This exam, introduced as a local alternative to international exams such as TOEFL and IELTS, evaluates candidates' skills in four sections: reading, listening, speaking, and writing [2].

Although the e-TEP exam was held centrally in electronic exam centers in major cities such as Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, and Adana, its reflections in local media across the country, including the "Kastamonu Gündem Newspaper" (Kastamonu Gündem Gazetesi), were very extensive [4]. This exam is designed with the aim of reducing dependence on foreign resources in language assessment and providing valid certificates at B1 to C1 levels [2].

The Role of Local Media and the Situation in Kastamonu

The Kastamonu Gündem newspaper, with real-time coverage of news related to these two exams, emphasized the importance of logistics and the order of holding examinations in this region. In Kastamonu, as in other parts of Turkey, civil registry offices were open on Sunday to resolve potential ID card issues for candidates so that no candidate would be left out of the competition [5].

The simultaneous holding of these two exams demonstrates the Turkish educational system's efforts toward digitalization and standardization of assessment processes. Candidates in Kastamonu passed this sensitive stage of their academic life by observing security and educational protocols.

Results Calendar and Next Steps

After the end of this two-day marathon, eyes are now fixed on the results announcement date. According to the official announcement by ÖSYM, the results of the DGS 2026 exam will be published on August 13, 2026 [5]. Candidates can access the results using their national ID number and password in the AIS system.

Additionally, the results of the e-TEP language exam are scheduled for publication on August 18, 2026 [4]. The validity of this exam's results is generally suggested to be two years, but different institutions may consider different time frames for its acceptance based on their internal regulations [2].