TR-YÖS Exam: A Complete Guide for International Students

TR-YÖS — the Türkiye International Student Admission Examination — is a central exam organized by ÖSYM (Turkey's national testing authority) for international students who want to study at higher education institutions in Turkey. It's not required everywhere, but for a large number of state universities, it's a core part of the application, sometimes required and sometimes used as an alternative to other qualifications.

Who actually needs to take it?

Whether you need TR-YÖS depends entirely on the specific university and program you're applying to. Many state universities accept it as one route to admission for international students, either as a requirement or as one of several accepted options (alongside qualifications like SAT scores or an equivalent national exam from your home country). Private (foundation) universities are far less likely to require it, often relying instead on high school transcripts and an English proficiency score. Always check the specific admission requirements of your target university and program before assuming you do or don't need it.

Exam structure

The exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions in total, split evenly between Quantitative Relations and Basic Mathematics, and must be completed within 100 minutes. Because it's built around mathematics and quantitative reasoning rather than language-dependent subjects, it's designed to be answerable regardless of your educational background or first language.

• 80 questions total
• 100 minutes
• Covers Quantitative Relations and Basic Mathematics
• Available in multiple languages, including Turkish, English, Arabic, French, German, and Russian

How to apply

Applications are made through the ÖSYM TR-YÖS Application System. You'll create an account, fill in your personal and educational details, upload a passport-style photo and a copy of your ID or passport, and pay the exam fee through the designated payment channels. Once your application is processed, you can download your Exam Entrance Document, which you'll need on exam day. Exams are typically held both inside Turkey and at test centers in dozens of countries abroad, so many applicants can sit the exam without traveling to Turkey.

How to prepare

Because the exam is quantitative and language-independent, most preparation focuses on mathematics and logical/numerical reasoning practice rather than memorization. Past papers and practice tests, widely available online, are the most useful preparation tool, since question style matters as much as raw content — timing yourself against the 100-minute limit is worth doing more than once before the real exam.

How universities use TR-YÖS results

Universities that accept TR-YÖS generally use the score alongside your high school transcript to decide admission and, at more competitive universities or programs, to rank applicants against each other. A strong TR-YÖS score can open the door to programs with limited international seats, but it's rarely the only factor — your academic record and, for English-medium programs, your English proficiency score still matter. See our guide on studying medicine in Turkey for an example of a program where TR-YÖS is one of several accepted admission routes.

TR-YÖS is a manageable exam if you prepare deliberately, but it's worth confirming early whether your target program even requires it — for some universities and programs it's optional, and for others it's central to admission. Get in touch and we can help you check what your shortlisted universities actually require.