Turkey Ministry of National Education launches digital common exam system

The Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB) has officially implemented a new digital Common Written Exam System (OYSS) for middle and high schools. Integrated into the Education Information Network (EBA) infrastructure, the system aims to standardize measurement and evaluation processes through digital question preparation, online grading, and detailed performance analysis.

Under the new model, teachers will use a hybrid approach: they will create two original open-ended questions based on specific learning outcomes, while the remaining questions will be selected from a centralized digital question pool. The ministry plans to populate the pool with approximately 8,000 questions initially, adding 8,000 more each term. The system will be active for various subjects across grades 5-11, starting from the first term of the 2026-2027 academic year.

The rollout has faced criticism from the Eğitim-Bir-Sen union, which expressed concerns regarding the increased bureaucratic workload for teachers and the lack of sufficient pilot testing. Additionally, Minister Yusuf Tekin addressed controversies regarding the exam schedule falling on November 10, the anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s death, clarifying that exams will be scheduled after morning commemoration ceremonies to ensure student participation.