Tragedy of Seconds in Turkey's 2026 University Exam; Students Left Behind Closed Doors

While millions of students in Turkey compete in a breathtaking race for university seats, tragic incidents at exam center entrances have returned to the headlines. Today, June 25, 2026, multiple reports have been published regarding candidates who, despite months of effort, were barred from participating due to very minor delays [1].

The Osmaniye Incident: When Seconds Change Destiny One of the most heart-wrenching cases this year involves Rümeysa İşçi, an 18-year-old candidate in the city of Osmaniye. Heading to the exam center for the Area Qualifications Test (AYT), she reached the school just seconds before the final closing of the doors due to heavy traffic. However, security guards locked the door right before her tearful eyes. In an interview with the media, Rümeysa stated: "I arrived on time and there were still seconds left, but they locked the door on me. A year of my effort vanished in seconds" [1][3]. This incident occurred while the parents of other students tried to convince officials by chanting "Let her in," but strict regulations prevented her entry.

The 15-Minute Rule: An Impenetrable Barrier to Dreams In Turkey, a regulation known as the "15-minute rule" is enforced, stating that exam center doors close exactly 15 minutes before the start of the exam, after which no candidate is allowed entry under any circumstances. This year, in cities like Bursa and Kayseri, images were released of candidates who fell into tears and pleas behind closed doors with delays ranging from 10 seconds to 2 minutes [3]. These images have once again revived long-standing debates about the necessity of flexibility in educational regulations.

Official Response from ÖSYM: Why Don't the Rules Change? In response to widespread criticism, the Measurement, Selection and Placement Center of Turkey (ÖSYM) issued an official statement today, June 25, 2026. Listing 6 main reasons, the organization emphasized that it is impossible to change or make this rule flexible [2]. According to ÖSYM, exam security, preventing organized cheating, and maintaining the peace of mind of candidates already inside the classrooms are the most important reasons for the early closure of doors. The organization believes that the presence of latecomers could disrupt the concentration of others and undermine educational justice [4].

Social Reactions and Requests for Revision Many educational experts and civil society organizations believe that this level of strictness imposes unbearable psychological pressure on young people. While the exam center emphasizes "order and security," critics point to previous recommendations from supervisory bodies suggesting that late candidates should take the exam in separate halls to maintain security without wasting their year-long efforts [2]. As of now, Turkish educational authorities have shown no sign of changing this procedure for future years.