YÖK responds to claims of university placement with negative net scores: 'This is not possible'

YÖK issued a statement regarding reports and social media posts in some media outlets claiming that students were being placed in universities with negative net scores.

"It is not possible for any candidate's score to be calculated with a negative net score," the statement said, reminding that the tests and their weightings used in calculating scores based on YKS score types are published in the exam guide.

The statement, which noted that the placements mentioned in the reports were made to associate degree programs based on the Basic Proficiency Test (TYT) score and to the Turkish Language and Literature program based on the verbal score type, included the following:

"According to the new exam system implemented since 2018, a candidate's answers in the Turkish Test and the Basic Mathematics Test are taken into account when calculating their TYT score. The TYT score is calculated for candidates who have a raw score of 0.5 or higher in at least one of these two tests. Looking at some of the examples given in the reports, it is seen that the relevant candidates have a raw score of 0.5 or higher in at least one of the Mathematics or Turkish tests. For this reason, the candidates' TYT scores were calculated."

The statement, which also shared the examples mentioned in the reports, explained that the Secondary Education Achievement Score (OBP) calculated for each candidate in the YKS is multiplied by a coefficient of 0.12 and added to their exam scores, thus calculating the candidates' placement scores.

The statement indicated that for all candidates whose exam scores were calculated in the relevant score type, placement scores were calculated for that score type, and that candidates who did not have a TYT score or whose TYT score was not calculated did not have their numerical, verbal, equal weight, or language exam/placement scores calculated, even if they had taken the Field Proficiency Test (AYT) and/or the Foreign Language Test (YDT).

The statement, which explained that in central placement, candidates are placed by ÖSYM by taking into account their placement scores for higher education programs, any additional points, their preferences for higher education programs, and the quotas and conditions of these programs, said, "In the examples included in the reports, it is seen that the candidates have a raw score of 0.5 or higher in at least one of the tests required for the calculation of the TYT score."

"BECOMING A UNIVERSITY STUDENT WITH A NEGATIVE NET SCORE IS OUT OF THE QUESTION"

The statement specified that for any candidate's verbal score to be calculated, they must have a raw score of 0.5 or higher in at least one of the Turkish Test or Basic Mathematics Test in the TYT, and the Turkish Language and Literature-Social Sciences-1 Test or Social Sciences-2 Test in the AYT, stating, "It is seen that the candidate mentioned in the report received a raw score of 0.5 in the mathematics test in the TYT, which is required for the calculation of their verbal score. In the AYT test, the candidate has a raw score of 0.5 in the Turkish Language and Literature section of the Turkish Language and Literature-Social Sciences-1 Test, 1 in the History-1 section, and 3.5 in the Geography-1 section. By adding 40 percent of the TYT score and their OBP to these scores, their placement score is determined. As can be understood from these explanations, it is out of the question to become a university student with a negative net score."

The statement, which expressed that after all candidates' scores are calculated, candidates are placed centrally by ÖSYM, starting from the candidate with the highest score within the quota of the preferred program, taking into account their scores, preferences, and any program conditions, included the assessment: "The calculation of a candidate's raw score does not mean they have won a university spot, but it allows them to make preferences to be placed in university programs."

The statement explained that the system ranks those who prefer that program according to their success scores up to the number of quotas, and that those who enter the ranking win, and that if there are empty quotas after the first placement, candidates who could not be placed in a program can still make preferences in the relevant score type, the system ranks the candidates who made preferences for the remaining quotas according to their success scores, and those with higher scores earn the right to be placed for the remaining quota number.

The statement, which provided the information that 3 million 120 thousand 870 people applied for the YKS in 2024, recorded the following:

"2 million 819 thousand 362 candidates took the TYT Exam, and the scores of 2 million 755 thousand 301 of them were calculated. The scores of 64 thousand 61 candidates could not be calculated because they did not meet the relevant conditions. The number of candidates whose scores were calculated and who preferred and were placed in associate degree programs was 532 thousand 915. Of the 2 million 755 thousand 301 candidates whose TYT scores were calculated, 1 million 776 thousand 496 took the AYT Exam, and 978 thousand 805 have only a TYT score.

In a study to be conducted on the periods when the threshold was or was not applied before and after the YKS, it may be possible to encounter those who had negative net scores in any of the field tests related to the program in which the candidates were placed.

After 2022, the YKS introduced a competitive approach based on success ranking. Placement procedures are carried out according to the candidates' preferences and scores. By its nature, the exam gives the opportunity to be placed to those who have a higher score and ranking than other candidates who prefer the relevant program.

In conclusion, it is respectfully announced to the public that the misleading reports and posts made despite the explanations regarding the functioning of the system and the fact that candidates cannot be placed with a negative net score should not be given credence."