YÖS and SAT Exams

Everything you need to know about the YOS and SAT exams

The YOS exam

Yabanci Uyruklu Ogrenci Sinavi

A Turkish domestic exam designed for international students who want to study in Turkey. It tests reasoning ability and mathematical analysis rather than subject knowledge.

Questions

100 minutes

Duration

Arabic, Turkish, English

Languages

International Recognition

Exam Sections

Reasoning (IQ) questions

40 questions

Measures reasoning ability

Mathematics questions

35 questions

Mathematical analysis, numbers and sequences

Geometry questions

5 questions

Quadrilaterals, triangles and other geometry topics

Important Notes

Some universities require a YOS certificate for admission

Private universities do not require a YOS certificate

A YOS score can significantly raise your effective high-school average

The exam is not especially hard, but the time is short relative to the number of questions

The SAT exam

Scholastic Assessment Test

An American international exam used for admission at many universities worldwide, including some Turkish universities.

MathematicsReadingWriting

Recognition: Internationally recognised

The difference between the YOS and the SAT

YÖS

A Turkish domestic exam, accepted only at Turkish universities

SAT

An American international exam, accepted worldwide including at some Turkish universities

Scope: YOS is Turkish and domestic; the SAT is American and international

Language: YOS is available in Arabic, Turkish and English; the SAT is English only

Content: YOS focuses on reasoning and mathematics; the SAT on reading, writing and mathematics

Question count: YOS has 80 questions, the SAT has 150

Duration: YOS takes 100 minutes, the SAT takes 3 hours

Preparation: YOS is quicker to prepare for; the SAT needs a longer run-up

Cost: YOS is TRY 100-250, the SAT is USD 50-100

YOS score thresholds by programme

Medicine and dentistry

85% and above

Engineering programmes

70% and above

Humanities and social sciences

60% and above

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the YOS exam difficult?

Not especially, but the time is tight relative to the number of questions (80 questions in 100 minutes). It rewards practising for speed and accuracy.

Do private universities require the YOS?

No. Private universities in Turkey do not require a YOS or SAT certificate for admission.

How many times can I sit the YOS?

You can sit it more than once at different universities, since each university runs its own exam.

What is the difference between the unified YOS and a university's own YOS?

The unified exam (TR-YOS) is accepted at all public universities, whereas a university-specific YOS is only accepted by the university that ran it.

Can I get into a Turkish university without the YOS or SAT?

Yes. Private universities require no entrance exam, and some public universities accept alternative qualifications.

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