Mathematics score falls to five-year low in university entrance exam in Turkey

Önder Öndeş – ISTANBUL

The average of mathematics scores of students who took the University Entrance Examination (YGS) has dropped to a five-year low, according to statistics released by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM). 

The results showed that the average number of math questions answered correctly was 5.1 out of 40, while the number was 7.9 in 2016 and 5.2 in 2015. Last year saw the highest attainment in math among candidates in the last five years. 

According to experts, the decline in success stemmed from the increased number of difficult questions. 

Similar to the previous years, the area that the candidates were most successful in was Turkish, with an average of 17.7 questions out of 40 answered correctly. The number was 19.1 in 2016, 15.8 in 2015, 18.7 in 2014 and 16.8 in 2013.

When the average of scores achieved in the social sciences section was examined, it was seen that the highest number of questions answered was in 2017, since 2013. In 2017, the average of questions answered correctly was 12.3 out of 40, showing nearly a two question increase since 2016. In 2013, the average was 12.1. 

Sciences, however, continued to be the most underperformed section in the exam, with an average of 4.6 questions answered correctly, while the average was 4.7 in 2016 and 3.9 in 2015. 

Candidates who score more than 180 in the YGS are able to apply to the second round of the national university exam, or LYS, which is required in order to be admitted to undergraduate programs. Candidates who pass the 150 point threshold are also able to apply to vocational schools of higher education, associate degree programs and open universities. 

Some 86.93 percent of the candidates passed the 150 points threshold, while 70.91 percent scored 180 or higher. However, a decrease by 6 percent was observed in the number of candidates who passed the 180 point threshold when compared with 2016, which saw 76.77 percent. 

In 2015, the number was 70.40 percent, 74.90 percent in 2014, and 70.69 percent in 2013. 

The number of candidates who passed the 150 point threshold decreased since last year, when it was 90.20 percent. 

When the success of the candidates was examined according to gender, it was seen that female students achieved better results in the exam, similar to the previous years. Some 88.60 percent of the female students passed the 150 point threshold, whereas the number was 82.58 percent among male students. 

A similar picture also emerged with the case of the 180 point threshold, with 73.72 percent of female students passing it, compared to 66.04 percent of males. 

In 2016, the ratio was 79.9 percent of female students to 71.83 percent of males. 

There was a decrease in the number of candidates who scored zero in 2017 compared with last year. In 2016, 7.6 percent of the candidates scored nil, while it was 6.2 in 2017.