Applications for 2026 ALES/3 opened on 7 October and close on 15 October 2026. The exam will be held on 29 November, with results scheduled for 17 December. Candidates apply through ÖSYM's Candidate Transactions System, known as AİS. If you plan to use ALES for a graduate application in Türkiye, check your photograph, education record and payment status before the regular window closes.
2026 ALES/3 dates at a glance
The dates in ÖSYM's 2026 examination calendar match the current ALES application guide. Regular applications run from 7 to 15 October, and the payment deadline is 16 October. The late application option is available only on 21 October 2026. ÖSYM charges 50 percent more on that day, so it should not be treated as a normal extension.
Regular application: 7-15 October 2026
Payment deadline: 16 October 2026
Late application day: 21 October 2026
Exam: 29 November 2026 at 10:15
Scheduled result date: 17 December 2026
The 2026 guide lists the exam fee as TRY 1,200. Before paying, compare that figure with the live amount shown in AİS and confirm that the transaction appears in your application record. ÖSYM can amend its calendar, so use the official examination calendar, rather than an undated screenshot or a social media post.
What is ALES, and who needs it?
ALES is the Academic Personnel and Graduate Education Entrance Examination. Turkish universities use its scores in many master's and doctoral admissions, while certain academic recruitment and state-sponsored overseas study processes also use it. Graduates of undergraduate programs can apply, and final-year students should check whether their intended graduate program will accept the score by its own application deadline.
International applicants should not assume that every Turkish graduate program requires ALES. A university may waive it for foreign nationals, ask for GRE or GMAT instead, or set separate rules for applicants who earned their degree abroad. Read the institute's current call and contact its international or graduate office if the wording is unclear. Our guide to choosing a university in Türkiye explains other points worth comparing.
Which ALES score type should you target?
The same exam produces quantitative (SAY), verbal (SÖZ) and equally weighted (EA) scores by applying different weights to the two tests. The graduate institute or vacancy notice states which type it accepts. Do not infer the required score from the department's name. Open two or three current program calls and note the score type, minimum score, undergraduate GPA weighting, language requirement and any interview or written examination.
How to apply through ÖSYM AİS
Candidates whose photograph and education details are valid in the system can usually apply through ÖSYM AİS or the official Candidate Transactions mobile app. If your photograph has expired, your education record is missing, or the guide directs you to in-person service, you may need an ÖSYM application centre.
Sign in to AİS and select the 2026-ALES/3 application.
Check your identity, contact, education and exam-centre details.
Complete the required fields and approve the application.
Pay through a channel listed in the guide before the deadline.
Open the application record again and verify the exam name, centre choice and payment status.
Save a copy of the completed application record.
Payment by itself does not create a valid application. The reverse is also true: saving the form without completing the required payment leaves the process unfinished. Use the application record in AİS for the final check.
If your photograph or education record is wrong
The validity of your photograph affects whether you can complete the process online. Corrections to an education record can depend on whether the university is connected to YÖKSİS, Türkiye's higher education information system. Deal with either problem early. Read the relevant section of the guide, then contact your university or an ÖSYM application centre instead of waiting until the evening of 15 October.
Exam format: questions, timing and language
The 2026 guide sets out two tests: 50 quantitative questions and 50 verbal questions. Candidates have 150 minutes in total. The questions measure numerical, logical and verbal reasoning rather than knowledge from a specific undergraduate major. The examination is in Turkish.
This language point matters for international candidates. Even if a graduate program is taught in English, ALES itself is not an English-language admissions test. Check whether your target university expects ALES from your applicant category before paying. If you are still working on language readiness, the A2 and B1 language-level guide can help you separate general language planning from formal admissions requirements.
Preparation should follow the score type you need. Practice both sections first, identify where time is being lost, and then give extra attention to the test with the larger weight in your target score. A mock exam is useful only if you review why an answer was wrong or slow.
What to bring on exam day
Entry to examination buildings closes at 10:00, and candidates arriving later will not be admitted. Download your admission document from AİS when ÖSYM makes it available and make sure the photograph is visible on the printout. You also need an identity document accepted under the guide.
Check the building and room shown on your admission document.
Print the document with a clearly visible photograph.
Prepare an accepted original identity document.
Read the guide's list of prohibited belongings.
Allow extra travel time for the security check.
ÖSYM normally makes the admission document available shortly before the test; it is not mailed to candidates. Follow ÖSYM's notices rather than guessing the release date.
How long is an ALES score valid?
ALES results remain valid for five years from the date on which they are announced. That does not force every university to use the same minimum score or admissions formula. The current program announcement can specify the accepted score type, threshold and examination period, and those published conditions govern your application.
If funding is part of your plan, keep admissions and scholarship applications on separate checklists. The KYK scholarship and student loan guide covers a different government process, while the TÜBİTAK 2205 guide concerns eligible undergraduate students rather than ALES applicants.
Notes for applicants educated outside Türkiye
An ALES result does not replace degree recognition, certified translations, language proof or a university's own international application. Requirements differ by institution and degree level. Ask whether your diploma needs recognition or a formal equivalence procedure, and check how your transcript must be submitted. If you will need immigration permission, review the student visa mistakes guide separately; an exam application does not create immigration status.
Final check before you leave AİS
Do not treat the application as complete until the correct exam session, exam-centre choice and payment record all appear in the system. Download the official guide and read the sections that match your circumstances. Candidates with an expired photograph, an incomplete education record or a need for accessible testing arrangements should not rely on a short online summary.