Ankara Prepares for LGS 2026: Over One Million Students Compete

Historic Change in Exam Timing Due to the 2026 World Cup One of the highlights of this year's LGS exam is the change of its schedule from Sunday to Saturday, June 13, 2026. According to the official announcement by the Ministry of National Education (MEB), this decision was made due to the potential overlap of the exam with the Turkish national football team's critical 2026 World Cup match against Australia [1]. To prevent any disruption caused by traffic, noise pollution, or street celebrations, and to maintain student focus, educational authorities preferred to hold this academic marathon one day earlier so that candidates could compete in complete peace [3].

Ankara; The Center for Management and Logistical Readiness In Ankara, the capital of Turkey, all schools and exam centers have been placed on full alert. According to final statistics, a total of 1,022,658 students registered for entry into Turkey's top high schools this year, of which 1,022,104 are domestic and 554 are in international centers [2]. In Ankara, schools such as the "Hacı Ömer Tarman" Anatolian High School have served as models, disinfecting all classrooms and installing seat numbers and guide signs for precise candidate direction. Additionally, June 12 was declared an administrative holiday in all schools to fully prepare the environment for the exam [4].

2026 Innovations: Nutrition Packs and Smart Security The Ministry of National Education introduced two major innovations for the first time this year. First, the distribution of nutrition packs containing fruit cereal bars, walnuts, raisins, and mineral water on the desks of all candidates to maintain their energy levels between the two exam sessions [5]. The second innovation is the use of surveillance systems equipped with Artificial Intelligence in exam areas. These cameras not only control the entry and physical search process but also provide live monitoring of question distribution in quarantine rooms to ensure exam integrity and fairness [2].

Exam Structure and Results Announcement Date The LGS 2026 exam is held in two sessions; the first session (Humanities) starts at 09:30 AM with 50 questions and 75 minutes, and the second session (Science and Mathematics) begins at 11:30 AM with 40 questions and 80 minutes [1]. Students are allowed to stay in the school yard and rest during the 45-minute break between the two sessions. According to the academic calendar, the results of this major competition will be announced on July 10, 2026, via the Ministry of Education's official website, after which the school selection process will begin [3][5].