Turkish University Entrance Exam Candidate Arrested for AI Cheating in YKS 2026

While only a few days have passed since the 2026 Turkish Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS), news of a sophisticated cheating attempt using artificial intelligence has shocked the country's educational community. According to reports published on June 26, 2026, a young candidate who tried to answer questions using modern technology was arrested and sent to prison [1].

Details of the Cheating Scandal in Istanbul's Çekmeköy District The incident occurred during the second session of the YKS exam, known as the Field Qualification Test (AYT), at a school in the Çekmeköy district of Istanbul. The suspect, identified as "Mustafa Eren K.", managed to bring a smartphone hidden in his underwear into the examination hall despite strict physical searches at the entrance [3]. Reports indicate that he waited for a suitable opportunity during the exam to execute his plan.

The Candidate's Method: From Photography to ChatGPT According to investigations by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the 20-year-old candidate took photos of pages 37 and 39 of the Science (Fen Bilimleri) section question booklet during the exam. His goal was to send these images to the ChatGPT artificial intelligence application to receive correct answers in the shortest time possible [2]. However, his suspicious behavior caught the attention of the hall proctors. Although he initially tried to continue the exam, he was stopped by officers at the end of the session while exiting, and the mobile phone was discovered during a secondary search [4].

Suspect's Confession: "I Had a Moment of Lapse" In his initial statements, the suspect claimed he did not intend to cheat from the beginning. In his defense, he said: "Since I came to the exam center alone and had no place to leave my phone, I brought it inside with me. During the exam, it suddenly occurred to me to take photos of the questions and solve them with AI. I regret my actions; it was just a moment of lapse" [1][3]. However, the court did not accept these defenses, citing existing evidence and the explicit violation of the rules of the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM).

Legal Consequences and New Challenges for Exam Security Mustafa Eren K. was referred to court on charges of violating Law No. 6114 (Law on the Duties and Organization of the Student Selection and Placement Center) and was arrested by a judge's order. This incident has once again sparked heated debates about the security of national exams in the age of artificial intelligence [2]. Experts believe that ÖSYM must update its inspection protocols to counter small digital tools and advanced AI applications to maintain educational fairness among millions of candidates [4].