Start of the 2026 LGS Marathon in Turkey; One Million Students Compete for the Future

Academic Marathon in the Shadow of Football Fever The 2026 High School Entrance Exam (LGS) in Turkey was accompanied by an unexpected event. While the educational calendar originally scheduled the exam for June 14, the Ministry of National Education (MEB) moved the exam forward by one day due to the overlap with the critical 2026 World Cup match between the Turkish national football team and Australia [4]. Consequently, more than one million students gathered at examination centers on Saturday, June 13, to compete for seats in the best public and private high schools [1].

Stunning Participant Statistics in 2026 According to official data released by Yusuf Tekin, the Minister of National Education, a total of 1,022,658 eighth-grade students volunteered to participate in this exam this year [1]. The exam was held simultaneously in 81 provinces and 920 districts across Turkey. Additionally, for students residing abroad, 11 examination centers were established in 8 different countries to ensure educational equity for all Turkish citizens [2]. This volume of participants demonstrates the high importance of this exam in determining the academic destiny of Turkish teenagers.

Technological Innovations and Welfare in This Year's Exam LGS 2026 witnessed several innovations for the first time in the history of the exam. One of the most significant changes was the use of CCTV systems equipped with artificial intelligence in question distribution rooms and certain exam halls to enhance security and transparency [2]. Furthermore, for the first time, the Ministry of National Education distributed special nutrition packs during the break between the two exam sessions for students who had requested them, which was met with a 91% approval rate from candidates [1].

Exam Structure and Next Steps The LGS exam was conducted in two separate booklets. The first part (Verbal) included 50 questions in the fields of Turkish Literature, History of the Revolution, Religious Culture, and Foreign Language, for which candidates had 75 minutes to answer. After a 45-minute break, the second part (Numerical) consisting of 40 Mathematics and Science questions was held over 80 minutes [3].

According to the official announcement by the Ministry of National Education, the results of this decisive exam will be announced on July 10, 2026, through the ministry's official website [2]. Immediately after the announcement of results, the process of school selection and placement in Science High Schools (Fen Lisesi), Anatolian High Schools, and other project schools will begin, continuing until mid-August.