Controversy in Turkey's 2026 University Entrance Exam; Dr. Mehmet Boztepe's Request to Cancel Questions

With the conclusion of the 2026 Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) in Turkey, a wave of protests regarding several controversial questions has emerged on social media and in educational circles. In the midst of this, Dr. Mehmet Boztepe, the Governor of the Bahçelievler district of Istanbul, who is originally from Malatya, reacted to these controversies by issuing an official statement and calling for the immediate intervention of the Assessment, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) [1].

Dr. Boztepe's Call for Justice in the Exam Dr. Mehmet Boztepe, referring to the anxiety and concerns of candidates and their families after the exam, emphasized that maintaining public trust in the country's educational and executive institutions is a priority. In his statements, he noted that ambiguities in questions of an exam with this level of importance could affect the future of thousands of young people. Boztepe asked ÖSYM officials to review questions that have technical or scientific flaws to prevent any injustice [1].

Proposal to Accept Two Correct Options or Cancel the Question One of the key points in Dr. Boztepe's call is the provision of practical solutions to solve the current crisis. He specifically pointed to one of the controversial questions where it seems both options "A" and "C" could be correct. Boztepe stated: "In my opinion, to end public debates and prevent the violation of candidates' rights, the assessment center should either declare both options correct or proceed to completely cancel that question" [1]. This proposal has been met with widespread acclaim on social media, where candidates complain about "information pollution" and "unfair claims."

Initial Reaction of the Assessment Center (ÖSYM) Reports indicate that the Turkish Assessment Center had already begun its technical reviews under public pressure. According to the latest news, the ÖSYM Management Board, after reviewing scientific analyses, decided to cancel one question in the Turkish Language and Literature-Social Sciences-1 section of the AYT (Field Qualification Test). It is also said that the answer to one of the mathematics questions has been changed [2]. However, Dr. Boztepe believes these actions are not enough and more transparency should be applied regarding all disputed questions.

Importance of Transparency in Final Results While candidates await the announcement of the final 2026 exam results, the entry of bureaucratic figures like Dr. Boztepe into this issue shows the high sensitivity of society toward educational justice. He emphasized that ÖSYM must take decisive steps to prevent any doubt in the final results so that peace returns to the country's educational environment [1]. Now, eyes are on the next official statements from this organization to see if Boztepe's suggestions regarding other suspicious questions will be implemented.