Statement by the President of the Turkish Assessment Selection and Placement Center: YKS Exam is More Than an Administrative Duty

A Different Approach by ÖSYM to the YKS Exam Bayram Ali Ersoy, the President of the Assessment, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), made significant statements regarding the nature of the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS) for 2026. Emphasizing that the organization does not view the exam as just a routine administrative task, he noted: "We do not see YKS as an ordinary exam duty; it is also a major social responsibility" [1]. These words reflect the high sensitivity of Turkish educational institutions toward educational justice and the fate of millions of young people competing for university entrance.

Examination Details and Staggering Candidate Statistics According to the official announcement by ÖSYM, the 2026 exam marathon will take place on June 20 and 21. A total of 2,425,628 candidates have registered to participate in this exam [2]. Ersoy mentioned that of this number, more than 921,000 are testing their luck for the first time, while approximately 193,000 are participating in this competition for the fifth time or more [1][2].

The exam is conducted in three main stages:
1. Basic Proficiency Test (TYT): Saturday, June 20, at 10:15 AM.
2. Field Qualification Test (AYT): Sunday, June 21, at 10:15 AM.
3. Foreign Language Test (YDT): Sunday afternoon, June 21 [2][3].

Diversity of Candidates: From 16-Year-Olds to 87-Year-Olds One of the noteworthy points in the statistics provided by the President of ÖSYM is the wide age range of participants. The youngest candidate this year is 16 years old, while the oldest is 87 [3]. Additionally, more than 20,000 candidates over the age of 50 are participating, demonstrating the passion for education at all ages in Turkish society. In terms of gender, women constitute the majority of candidates with 1,324,000 participants [2].

Exam Security and Logistical Measures Ersoy emphasized that all security measures have been taken for a healthy examination process across 81 provinces of Turkey as well as Northern Cyprus. For the first time, the exam will also be held in 4 new districts to facilitate candidate access [3]. He added that the center is working with all its might to provide a calm and stress-free environment for students, as this exam is a turning point in their professional lives.

Result Announcement Date and Next Steps After completing this two-day marathon, candidates will have to wait about a month. According to the published official calendar, the YKS 2026 results will be announced on July 22, 2026, through the official ÖSYM results system [4]. Following the announcement, the sensitive process of department selection will begin, which will determine the academic future of students in Turkey's public and private universities.