· 7 min read
Turkish Language Test: The TYS Exam Guide
By Language Lab editorial team
The Turkish language test explained: TYS from the Yunus Emre Institute, its four sections in 180 minutes, B2 and C1 certificates, fees by country and dates.
The international Turkish language test is the TYS, the Türkçe Yeterlik Sınavı or Turkish Proficiency Exam, developed by the Yunus Emre Institute. It measures reading, listening, writing and speaking in 180 minutes, with 80 questions and 100 points in total. Successful candidates receive a Turkish Proficiency Certificate at B2 or C1, depending on their score; the exam does not certify lower levels. The certificate carries the Q-mark of ALTE, the Association of Language Testers in Europe, and the Institute describes TYS as the first Turkish exam with approved international validity. It is held three times a year at Yunus Emre centres abroad and in Ankara. The third sitting of 2026 was on 27 September, and the fee depends on the country: 800 Turkish lira in Türkiye, 140 euros in Germany.
TYS at a glance
| TYS | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Türkçe Yeterlik Sınavı (Turkish Proficiency Exam) |
| Run by | Yunus Emre Institute, through its Measurement, Evaluation and Accreditation Centre |
| Skills | Reading, listening, writing and speaking |
| Length | 180 minutes; 80 questions; 100 points |
| Certificate | Turkish Proficiency Certificate at B2 or C1, by score |
| Quality mark | ALTE Q-mark, shown on the certificate since the exam of 15 January 2022 |
| Frequency | Three times a year |
| Where | Yunus Emre centres abroad; Ankara in Türkiye |
| Format | Paper-based; the Institute says an online version is in preparation |
The four sections
| Section | Questions | Points | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 40 | 25 | 60 minutes |
| Listening | 30 | 25 | 45 minutes |
| Writing, task 1 | 1 | 10 | 20 minutes |
| Writing, task 2 | 1 | 15 | 40 minutes |
| Speaking, conversation | 7 | 15 | 10 minutes |
| Speaking, independent | 1 | 10 | 5 minutes |
| Total | 80 | 100 | 180 minutes |
- Sessions. Reading and listening form the first session, 105 minutes in all, followed by a 15-minute break; writing is the second session, 60 minutes; speaking is the third, 15 minutes.
- Reading and listening. Six texts each, with gap-fill, multiple-choice and matching questions. Texts include academic and literary pieces, opinion columns, reports, interviews, dialogues, announcements and advertisements.
- Writing. The first task is guided: completing a text, filling in a form, writing a petition, summarising, or interpreting a table, picture or graph. The second is a composition on a given topic.
- Speaking. In the conversation part you answer questions on one topic as a two-way exchange. In the independent part you are given a topic and up to one minute to prepare.
- Marking. Writing and speaking are assessed with rating scales by at least two assessors.
What the certificate says
TYS does not have a separate paper for each level. Everyone sits the same exam, and candidates who succeed are awarded the certificate at B2 or at C1. The Institute does not fix the score bands in advance: it states that the ranges for B2 and C1 are set after each exam, from an analysis of the results. If your Turkish is below B2, TYS will not give you a certificate, so treat it as an upper-level target.
Dates
| 2026 sitting | Exam date | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| First | 1 February 2026 | 8 December 2025 to 3 January 2026 |
| Third | 27 September 2026 | 3 to 28 August 2026 |
These are the two 2026 sittings whose dates appear on the pages checked. In both, applications opened about eight weeks before the exam and closed about four weeks before it, and they are made online through the Institute's exam system. The 2026 calendar was announced on 18 November 2025. When checked on 13 October 2026, the calendar for 2027 had not yet been posted on the TYS site.
Fees
| Country | TYS application fee |
|---|---|
| Türkiye | 800 TL |
| Germany, France, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Italy | 140 EUR |
| Spain | 120 EUR |
| United Kingdom | 100 GBP |
| United States, Japan | 160 USD |
| Canada | 80 USD |
The Institute publishes a fee for each of 57 countries and reserves the right to change them; the list was last updated on 6 August 2026.
How to prepare
- Download the official TYS sample from the exam site: reading and listening texts with sample questions, six listening audio files, and the writing and speaking sections.
- Practise against the clock. Reading gives you 60 minutes for 40 questions.
- Prepare writing in both kinds: a guided task such as a form or summary, and a free composition.
- Rehearse speaking aloud on a topic with one minute of preparation.
- Test yourself instead of rereading. A 2013 review of learning research rated practice testing and distributed practice as high utility.
How long to get there
B2 in Turkish is a serious goal for an English speaker. The US State Department places Turkish in Category III, hard languages, at about 44 weeks or 1,012 class hours to a speaking and listening score of 3 on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale. Language Lab's Turkish course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, useful practice for the speaking section.
Frequently asked
What is the official Turkish language test?
TYS, the Türkçe Yeterlik Sınavı or Turkish Proficiency Exam, developed by the Yunus Emre Institute. Its certificate carries the ALTE Q-mark.
What levels does TYS certify?
B2 and C1. Candidates who succeed receive the Turkish Proficiency Certificate at one of those two levels, depending on their score.
How long is the TYS exam?
180 minutes in total: reading 60, listening 45, writing 60 and speaking 15. There are 80 questions and 100 points.
How often is TYS held?
Three times a year. In 2026 the first sitting was on 1 February and the third on 27 September.
How much does TYS cost?
It depends on the country. Examples from the Institute's list, updated on 6 August 2026: 800 TL in Türkiye, 140 EUR in Germany, 100 GBP in the United Kingdom and 160 USD in the United States.
Is there a Turkish exam for beginners?
TYS itself awards certificates only at B2 and C1. The Yunus Emre Institute's own courses use separate course and placement exams.
Sources: Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, Türkçe Yeterlik Sınavı (TYS) site: Türkçe Yeterlik Sınavı, TYS Örneği, TYS Başvuru Ücretleri, 2026 Yılı TYS Takvimi and the announcements of the 2026 sittings; US Department of State, National Foreign Affairs Training Center, Foreign Language Training; Dunlosky et al., Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2013. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: Hagia Sophia and its ablution fountain, Istanbul, ImanFakhri / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
