TR-YÖS 2026-2027: 24 Questions on Dates, Fees, Exam Structure, Score and University Application

Related content: When Is TR-YÖS? | TR-YÖS Countdown | TR-YÖS Score Calculator | TR-YÖS Guide

TR-YÖS (Türkiye Yurt Dışından Öğrenci Kabul Sınavı, the Turkey Admission Exam for Students from Abroad) is the exam, run by ÖSYM, that candidates take when they apply for the admission quotas for students from abroad. In 2026, TR-YÖS/1 was held on April 12, and TR-YÖS/2 will be held on October 11, 2026. The exam has 80 questions and lasts 100 minutes, and the score is valid for 2 years. Placement is done not by ÖSYM but by the university you apply to. The 24 questions below answer the topics people ask about most, based on the guides.

Section 1: Getting to Know the Exam

1. What is TR-YÖS?

TR-YÖS is the exam taken by candidates from abroad who want to study at higher-education institutions in Turkey, and whose results they can use when applying to universities. ÖSYM runs the exam; each university carries out student admission with its own criteria.

2. Who can take TR-YÖS?

The following candidates, who are in the final year of high school or have graduated, can apply: foreign nationals who have not attended high school in Turkey; people who were Turkish citizens by birth and renounced their citizenship with permission, and Blue Card holders; foreigners who later acquired Turkish citizenship, and dual citizens in this situation; Turkish (T.C.) citizens who completed the whole of high school in a foreign country other than the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus); and TRNC citizens who meet the conditions. Candidates in these groups who attend high school in Turkey are placed through the YKS instead.

3. Can Turkish (T.C.) citizens take TR-YÖS?

Yes, but only if they completed the whole of high school in a foreign country other than the TRNC. T.C. citizens who attended part or all of high school in Turkey take the YKS. Graduates of the overseas program of the Open Education High School (Açık Öğretim Lisesi) who can document that they were in the relevant country throughout high school can also apply.

4. In which languages is the exam held?

According to the 2026 guides, TR-YÖS is held in Turkish, German, English, French, Russian and Arabic. The language is chosen when you apply.

5. How many questions and how many minutes?

The exam has two tests: the Quantitative Ability Test (Sayısal Yetenek Testi) with 40 questions and the Basic Mathematics Test (Temel Matematik Testi) with 40 questions, 80 questions in total. The answering time is 100 minutes.

6. Do wrong answers cancel correct ones?

Yes. In each test, the raw score is found by subtracting one quarter of the number of wrong answers from the number of correct answers; in other words, 4 wrong answers cancel 1 correct answer. That is why it matters to leave blank the questions you are unsure about and cannot narrow down by eliminating options.

Section 2: Dates, Application and Fee

7. When is TR-YÖS 2026?

TR-YÖS/1 was held on April 12, 2026. TR-YÖS/2 will be held on Sunday, October 11, 2026; the exam admission documents became available on September 29.

8. When is TR-YÖS 2027?

The dates of the 2027 sessions will be announced with ÖSYM's 2027 exam calendar; an exact date cannot be given before the calendar is published. In 2026, the first session was held in April and the second in October.

9. When are applications accepted?

Source: ÖSYM 2026 exam calendar.

10. How do I apply?

Applications are made individually through ÖSYM's Candidate Services System (Aday İşlemleri Sistemi, AİS). The candidate reads the guide, enters personal information, selects up to 5 exam center preferences and pays the exam fee by the last payment day. An application whose fee has not been paid is not considered complete.

11. How much is the TR-YÖS exam fee?

The fee varies according to the group of the country where the exam is taken. For TR-YÖS/1 it was 3,500 TL, 1,500 TL and 1,100 TL; for TR-YÖS/2 it is 3,700 TL, 1,650 TL and 1,150 TL. Candidates taking the exam in Turkey and the TRNC are in the highest group (3,700 TL for TR-YÖS/2). Payment is made on ÖSYM's website by credit card or debit card.

12. What time does the exam start?

In Turkey and at most overseas centers, the exam starts at 11:15 Turkey time; candidates are not admitted to the building after 11:00. In some countries the starting time is 09:15, 15:15 or 17:15 local time (e.g., 09:15 in the USA, 15:15 in Malaysia, 17:15 in Australia).

Section 3: Score and Result

13. How is the TR-YÖS score calculated?

A raw score (correct − wrong/4) is found for each test and converted into a standard score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. The standard scores are weighted with a coefficient of 0.45 for Quantitative Ability and 0.55 for Basic Mathematics, and converted to the 100-500 range. To have a score calculated, a raw score of at least 0.5 is required in at least one of the tests.

14. When are the results announced?

According to the ÖSYM calendar, the result date of TR-YÖS/1 was May 7, 2026; TR-YÖS/2 results will be announced on November 5, 2026. Results are accessed through ÖSYM's results system.

15. How many years is a TR-YÖS score valid?

According to the guide, the validity period of TR-YÖS is 2 years from the exam date. Which program will accept the score is decided by the university you apply to.

16. Can I take both sessions?

Yes. Separate applications are made for TR-YÖS/1 and TR-YÖS/2. Both scores can be used within the validity period; check the university's application announcement to see which session's score it accepts.

17. What score counts as "good"?

There is no single threshold. Each university announces on its own website the exams it accepts and the minimum scores, program by program. For that reason, you should set your target score according to the previous term's announcement of the university you want to apply to; do not trust generic "average score" tables.

Section 4: University Application

18. Does ÖSYM place students with TR-YÖS?

No. ÖSYM runs the exam and announces the result; it is not responsible for placement, registration, accommodation and scholarship processes. The candidate applies directly to the university with the TR-YÖS result and the other documents the university requires, and the university makes the evaluation.

19. Which universities accept TR-YÖS?

Since the 2024-2025 academic year, state universities have been taking into account, when admitting students from abroad, not only TR-YÖS but also the secondary-school grade averages set by their senates, countries' national exams and international exams. Foundation universities can also use their own exams. The accepted exams and minimum scores are on each university's website.

20. Can SAT, Abitur or IB be used instead of TR-YÖS?

They can; but the university decides which exam is accepted. According to the guide, candidates who hold exams and scores determined by universities and deemed appropriate by YÖK (such as TR-YÖS, Abitur, SAT, IB) can apply directly to the university with these documents.

21. Does the high school grade average matter?

No diploma grade is added to the TR-YÖS score itself. However, state universities can also use the secondary-school grade average as an admission criterion by senate decision; so read the criteria in the announcement of the university you will apply to, one by one.

22. Where are quotas announced?

Each university announces its quotas for admitting students from abroad and its application calendar on its own website. Because quotas and application dates differ from university to university, follow the international students page of every university on your target list separately.

Section 5: Preparation

23. How should I prepare for TR-YÖS?

The most effective plan I have seen in the coaching process is to split the week evenly between the two tests: speed on shape, number-sequence and logic questions in the Quantitative Ability test, and closing topic gaps in the Basic Mathematics test. Because Basic Mathematics weighs a little more in the score with its 0.55 coefficient, finishing the math topics early is an advantage. Solve at least one full practice exam every week and check your balance of blank and wrong answers.

24. Do I need to know Turkish?

Because the exam is held in one of six languages, you can take TR-YÖS without knowing Turkish. However, when registering for programs taught in Turkish, universities generally ask for a Turkish proficiency certificate or run a preparatory class; since the conditions vary by university, check the registration regulation of the university concerned.

Disclaimer

This content is for general information and is not an official application guide. To confirm the details, check the ÖSYM TR-YÖS guide and the official pages of the universities you apply to.