Will the Turkish University Entrance Exam be Abolished in 2028? Clarification from the Minister of National Education

In recent weeks, heated debates have emerged in Turkey's educational circles regarding the potential abolition of the High School Entrance System (LGS) and the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS). With the gradual implementation of the new curriculum known as the 'Turkey Century Education Model,' many families and students were concerned about the fate of these decisive competitions. However, the latest official statements indicate that the centralized exam system will remain in place [1].

Minister's Clarification on Exam Abolition Yusuf Tekin, the Minister of National Education, stated clearly that there are no plans on the government's agenda to cancel the LGS and YKS exams. He emphasized that rumors regarding a total change in the exam system within the next two years are untrue and that the current structure will be maintained [2]. The ministry's primary goal is to reduce students' dependence on educational resources outside of school and focus on official textbooks to ensure educational equity [3].

The Significance of 2028 in the New Educational System Why has 2028 been highlighted as a turning point? According to the Minister, students currently in the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades are covered by the 'Turkey Century Education Model.' This group of students will reach the national exam stage in 2028 [1]. Since some topics in the new curriculum have been changed or removed, the exam questions in that year will no longer match the style of old questions [4].

Shifting from Rote Memorization to Skill-Based Assessment The biggest change in 2028 will not be the abolition of the exam, but the nature of the questions. The new system focuses on 'analytical skills' and 'critical thinking' instead of measuring memory power [2]. Questions will be designed to assess the student's ability to solve problems and interpret data. This initiative is being carried out in close cooperation with the Measurement, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) and the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) to align university entrance exam questions with the new standards [3].

Recommendations for Students and Parents Educational experts recommend that students focus on strengthening reading comprehension and conceptual problem-solving skills instead of paying attention to rumors [4]. Since new-generation questions are designed based on real-life scenarios, continuous study and careful analysis of course materials have become doubly important. The Ministry of National Education has also committed to providing all necessary resources for preparation for these exams free of charge [1].