Beytullah Çınar
Division Coordinator
Türkiye holds a prominent place globally in terms of the opportunities it offers to students in the field of education. Thanks to the conveniences provided to students and the increase in educational and living standards, the number of students choosing Türkiye for educational purposes is growing day by day.
The İstinye University Turkish Preparatory Program offers Turkish language education for international students enrolled in Turkish-medium departments. The main objective of the program is to ensure that international students who do not yet possess a sufficient level of Turkish reach a language proficiency that will allow them to easily follow their departmental courses and effectively use Turkish in their academic studies.
Curriculum
The Turkish Preparatory Program operates on a two-level system. Students starting at the Basic (Temel) level study for two semesters, while students at the Intermediate (Orta) level complete the program within a single academic term. Instruction at both levels is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), with materials developed in accordance with these standards. Students at the Basic level cover the A1 and A2 levels over the course of a year, while students at the Intermediate level complete the B1 and B2 levels within one semester.
Our Turkish program offers 20 hours of instruction per week, spread across 4 days.
Throughout the program, students' four core language skills, listening, speaking, reading, and writing, are developed through an integrated approach. Courses are designed to develop these four skills in a balanced manner and are conducted using textbooks appropriate to each level's learning outcomes. In addition to textbooks, online systems and supplementary resources are used to further support students' skill development.
In the Turkish Preparatory Program, students take one midterm exam and one final exam each term. In addition to these exams, student progress is also assessed through homework and projects, providing students with regular feedback throughout the process. Students who successfully complete a level may progress to the next level or become eligible to take the Turkish Proficiency Exam.
Exams Accepted by the University for Exemption
Students may take the Turkish Proficiency Exam administered by the Turkish Preparatory Program. Students who score 60 or above on this exam are eligible to begin their departmental studies.
Students who submit documentation to the Turkish Preparatory Unit showing that they have completed Turkish B2 level at one of the universities listed below are also eligible to begin their departmental studies. (Only documents issued by universities are accepted.)
İSTANBUL
Boğaziçi Üniversitesi, İstanbul Üniversitesi, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, Marmara Üniversitesi, Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi
ANKARA
Hacettepe Üniversitesi, Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Gazi Üniversitesi, Ankara Üniversitesi
BURSA
Uludağ Üniversitesi, Bursa Teknik Üniversitesi
Seviye Belirleme Sınavı (Placement Test)
Before taking the Turkish Proficiency Exam, every student must take the Placement Test. The purpose of this test is to determine which level students will start from if they study in the Turkish Preparatory Program. Measuring grammar, vocabulary, and reading skills, this test is held on the same day as the Turkish Proficiency Exam, but in a separate session. The exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, and students have 50 minutes to complete it.
The Placement Test does not determine whether a student can start their degree program. That decision is made through the Turkish Proficiency Exam—which measures the ability to follow classes in a Turkish-medium university program and fulfill other necessary requirements—or through accepted certificates from recognized institutions. Students who score 25 points or higher on the Placement Test qualify to take the Turkish Proficiency Exam.
Students can check the announcements section on the website to see whether they qualify for the Turkish Proficiency Exam and at which level they will study in the Turkish Preparatory Program.
Türkçe Yeterlilik Sınavı (Turkish Proficiency Exam)
The Turkish Proficiency Exam assesses listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Starting in September, it is administered regularly throughout the year for newly registered students. For enrolled students in the Turkish Preparatory Program, the exam is administered 4 times a year: in September, January, June, and August.
The Turkish Proficiency Exam is conducted in two sessions within a single day.
In the first session, students' listening, reading, and writing skills are tested. The first session begins with the listening section, after which candidates can complete the remaining sections in whichever order they prefer. The total time allocated for this section is 90 minutes.
In the second session, students' speaking skills are evaluated. The speaking exam lasts approximately 15 minutes. Students take the speaking exam in pairs in a designated order. Therefore, students must be ready outside the exam classroom prior to their assigned time slot.
Exam content
Listening section
The listening section includes a total of 3 audio tracks, each measuring different skills. The listening section is worth 25 points in total, with each question worth 2.5 points.
Track 1
Format of an announcement regarding an event.
It is approximately 1.5 minutes long and contains 3 or 4 fill-in-the-blank questions.
Track 2
Format of an academic panel.
Two or three speakers express their views on a topic and comment on each other's opinions.
It lasts approximately 2–2.5 minutes and contains 3 or 4 True/False/Not Stated questions.
Track 3
An excerpt from a lecture/presentation. A single speaker talks on a specific topic for 2–2.5 minutes.
It contains 3 or 4 fill-in-the-blank questions.
Reading Section
The reading section consists of 2 texts measuring different skills. It is worth 25 points in total, with each question worth 2.5 points.
Text 1: Can be an email or a letter, 90–130 words in length, featuring 3 or 4 multiple-choice questions.
Text 2: An academic text consisting of 350–400 words (approx. one page), featuring 6 or 7 fill-in-the-blank questions.
Writing Section
In the writing section, students are asked to write an essay 250–300 words in length. Students are given two prompt options but focus on and write about only one. Prompts include key ideas to assist students in structuring their essays.
Speaking Section
The speaking section consists of three parts, but only two are evaluated. In the first part, students introduce themselves and answer simple questions; this part is unassessed.
In the second part, students are presented with two scenarios. They are asked to compare both options by explaining their pros and cons, and then come to a joint decision aligned with the prompt. Students have 5–6 minutes to discuss this between themselves. The examiner may ask questions for further detail.
The third part is discussion-focused. The examiner asks one student for their thoughts on a topic. Once that student shares their opinion, the second student offers their perspective. Finally, the first student provides a closing response to the feedback. The procedure repeats with a new question directed at the second student, lasting about 6–7 minutes in total.