Exams

The Turkish Proficiency Exam (TYS) is a proficiency exam developed by the Yunus Emre Institute according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to measure the language proficiency of individuals who learn Turkish as a foreign or native language.

TYS ALTE (The Association of Language Testers in Europe) is the first Turkish language examination to have received international recognition following its accreditation (Q-mark). It is essential that individuals’ proficiency in Turkish is assessed and evaluated using measurement tools whose validity and reliability have been proven. For this reason, the aim is to standardise the teaching process across various institutions teaching Turkish abroad through the TYS.

The TYS not only increases foreign students’ interest in Turkey but also facilitates the acceptance of their applications for employment and education. The TYS is administered in three sessions. Sessions 1 and 2 of the TYS (reading, listening, writing) are group tests, whilst Session 3 (speaking) is conducted individually for each candidate. The total duration of the exam is 180 minutes, comprising 105 minutes for Session 1, 60 minutes for Session 2 and 15 minutes for Session 3.

Candidates who hold a Turkish Language Proficiency Certificate are exempt from attending a Turkish preparatory class when they are admitted to study at any institution in Turkey. Furthermore, the Turkish Language Proficiency Certificate may be required of foreign nationals wishing to work as Turkish language teachers, counsellors or interpreters. Consequently, this certificate offers individuals a significant advantage when applying for jobs.