Student Selection and Placement System

In 1980, the number of the exams were increased to two, namely the ÖSS and ÖYS. If a student did not achieve the specified grade in ÖSS, they did not have the right to enter ÖYS, and thus, lost their chance to be accepted to a university. ÖSS consisted of questions about the ninth grade curriculum, and ÖYS was a test on the tenth and eleventh grade curriculum. ÖSS eliminated the students on the basis of the grade they had received in the exam, and ÖYS placed the students to the universities they wanted. This system continued until 1999 when ÖYS was dropped and the system reverted to the single ÖSS exam, with the same format and same questions.

The ÖSS exam was a 180-minute exam with 180 questions testing students' analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities, as well as knowledge of the high school curriculum.

A foreign language exam, the YDS, was conducted a week after the ÖSS. It was composed of foreign language questions in English, French, and German.

The maximum score that a student could attain on the ÖSS was 380. The highest score on the exam was 300, and the final 80 was based on a student's high school score based on their GPA, graduation rank, and school's past success on the ÖSS exam.

If a student selected a university department related to their studies at high school (namely applied sciences, social sciences, or foreign languages), their score was multiplied by 0.8. If a student preferred to study at a different department from their high school concentration, their score was multiplied by 0.3.

Students who took ÖSS in 2006 saw some major changes. The exam now lasted 195 minutes, and had two parts: ÖSS 1 and ÖSS 2. ÖSS 1 had 120 questions on the ninth and tenth grade curriculum.

ÖSS 2 is composed of 120 questions out of which students have to answer 60. Students at foreign languages departments answered ÖSS 1 and foreign language questions; tested separately in YDS.

From 2010 to 2018, students took the Transition to Higher Education Examination (YGS) in March. Those who pass the YGS are then entitled to take the Undergraduate Placement Examination (LYS), in June. Students who only take the YGS, in which students have to answer 160 questions in 160 minutes, are able to apply for associate degree programs. There were five LYS sessions, whereas the previous university entrance system, the ÖSS, was held once in a year throughout the country.

The Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) is a 3-session exam. All applicants applying to YKS are required to attend the Basic Proficiency Test (TYT). Other sessions are optional.

The first session is the Basic Proficiency Test (TYT), with 125 questions. The second session is the 2nd Field Qualification Tests (AYT), and the third session is the Foreign Language Test (English) (YDT).

Results are announced in the second half of June and students have to make their university preferences by the last week of July. They are placed in courses according to their scores and this is announced at the end of August.