According to the “Our life is a standardized test” report, published by the İstanbul Chamber of Public Accountants and Financial Advisors (İSMMMO), the amount of money spent on preparing and taking standardized tests in Turkey totals TL 4.9 billion, with a major portion of it going toward private tutoring and classes.
The report noted that an estimated 5 million candidates are planning to take a standardized test designed by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), along with an additional 4.7 million candidates taking tests designed by the Education Ministry. Another 200,000 individuals are expected to take standardized tests from the Interior Ministry. These three bodies’ tests have a total of 9.9 million takers, or a seventh of Turkey’s population.
According to the report, TL 1.5 billion was spent on Student Selection Examination (ÖSS) classes that are registered with the ÖSYM. Another TL 45 million was spent on ÖSS classes that aren’t registered with the ÖSYM. TL 300 million is estimated to have been spent on private tutors to prepare candidates for the ÖSS, and an additional TL 200 million is estimated to have been spent on books for the ÖSS. Classes for the State Personnel Examination (KPSS) didn’t bring in nearly as much money, as only TL 100 million was spent on them. Classes for the Level Determination Examination (SBS), the standardized test for students looking to enter the top high schools, also brought in an impressive TL 1.2 billion. The report also examined driving schools and private security courses, noting that they collected TL 640 million and TL 110 million from candidates, respectively.
The report also took note that as the number of examinations has gone up in the past four years, the ÖSYM’s income has also been hitting figures millions higher than expectations. In 2006, the ÖSYM made TL 51 million more than expected, to reach TL 232 million. In 2007 they made TL 21 million above expectations, while this figure reached TL 100 million in 2008.
Informal studies
Study centers, or boutique testing bureaus designed to prepare small groups of students for standardized tests, have reached nearly 6,000 in number this year. It is estimated that 30,000 students attend these centers and pay approximately TL 2,000 per year on average. Since these centers are not registered formally, their income is under the table and thus is untaxed and considered to be part of the informal economy.
İSMMMO President Yahya Arıkan stated that important and sizeable resources are being spent on preparing and taking standardized tests. He added: “With all of these problems in the educational system, it is sad that we are spending this much money on the SBS and ÖSS race. Neither will solve the problems we have with universities. Turkey should put more emphasis on professional and vocational education to develop qualified individuals that can contribute to the workforce.”
