SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES - PROFICIENCY GUIDEBOOK - English Proficiency Exam (AGE/YDMS)

Oct 1, 2026

English Proficiency Guidebook for Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University School of Foreign Languages explains the Assessment in General English (AGE), also known as YDMS in Turkish. It outlines exam purpose, eligibility and study guidance, exam frequency across the year, required language levels and minimum scores for different test months, and the overall exam structure. The guide details Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking components, including timing, question types, and practical test-taking tips such as gap-filling strategy and note-taking methods.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Overview

What is the Proficiency Exam?

How many times can you take the exam?

What level do you need to take the exam?

What score do you need to pass?

What does AGE consist of?

Can I see exam samples?

Listening Section

Overview of the Listening Section

Know the Specific Purpose of the Listening Section

Know what Skills the Listening Section Questions Focus on

Be Familiar with the Listening Section Format

Scoring

Test-Taking Tips

SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES PROFICIENCY GUIDEBOOK ATTENTION Ø Please be informed that this material only contains practical information about the English Proficiency Exam of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University School of Foreign Languages. There are no exam samples or practice questions in the booklet. Ø Consult the ILC Staff if you need help or advising about how to study and improve your language skills. Last Update: May 2023 OVERVIEW • What is the Proficiency Exam? It is actually called AGE (Assessment in General English) or YDMS (Yabancı Dil Muafiyet Sınavı) in Turkish. You need to pass this exam in order to begin the studies at your department. It is held four times a year: In January, June, August and September. • How many times can you take the exam? You may take the exam as many times as you like (provided you meet the eligibility requirements) during your time at the School of Foreign Languages, but you cannot be enrolled at the school for more than two years. • What level do you need to take the exam? In order to qualify for the exam, you must have passed the B+ level with a general score of at least 64.5 (or have passed the B level with a general score of at least 79 .5) for the January and June AGE. You must have passed the A+ level with a general score of at least 64.5 to take the August AGE. In September, all students can take the AGE exam regardless of their levels and scores. • What score do you need to pass? In order to pass the exam, you need a score of 69.5. • What does AGE consist of? The exam is graded out of 100 points and consists of Listening (25 pts. ), Reading (25 pts. ), Writing (25 pts. ), and Speaking (25 pts. ) . The length of the written part of the exam (Listening, Reading, and Writing) is around 150-160 minutes, and the Speaking Exam, which is held on one of the following days, takes about 7-10 minutes per student (students take the Speaking Exam individually) . The Listening and Reading sections consist of 25 questions, each worth 1 point. Students are required to write an opinion essay in the Writing section, and there are two speaking tasks in the Speaking Exam. • Can I see exam samples? A sample of the most up-to-date version of the AGE is accessible on the AYBU SFL website: [https://aybu.edu.tr/yabancidiller/tr/sayfa/2777/Yeni%2D](https://aybu.edu.tr/yabancidiller/tr/sayfa/2777/Yeni%2D)Örnek%2DYDMS%2D(Muafiyet%2DSınavı) LISTENING SECTION Overview of the Listening Section --25 Listening questions --Each listening part will be heard twice Listening Section is worth 25% of the total AGE exam score. Appropriate to the B+ level of English according to the Common European Framework (CEFR) Know the Specific Purpose of the Listening Section The AGE Listening Section is designed to test a candidate’s ability to: 1. Understand the main ideas of complex speech for both concrete and abstract topics delivered in a standard dialect. 2. Follow extended lectures, dialogues, and complex lines of argument if the topic is reasonably familiar. 3. Follow the essentials of lectures, talks, and reports and other forms of academic and/or professional presentation. 4. Understand most radio documentaries and most other recorded or broadcast material delivered in a standard dialect. The candidate should also be able to identify the speaker’s mood, tone, attitude, etc. 5. Use a variety of strategies to achieve comprehension including listening for the gist by using contextual clues. Know what Skills the Listening Section Questions Focus on ---Listening for the gist---Listening for specific information---Listening for important details---Listening for main ideas and supporting details---Listening to infer meaning from the context Be Familiar with the Listening Section Format ---You will hear different recordings (e.g., a short talk, a conversation, or a lecture) . ---Each of the recordings will be played twice. ---Recordings will be monologues o

FAQs

How many times per year is the AGE/ YDMS proficiency exam held?

The exam is held four times a year: January, June, August, and September.

What minimum score is required to pass the exam?

A score of 69.5 is needed to pass the AGE/ YDMS proficiency exam.

What does the AGE exam consist of and how is it scored?

The exam is graded out of 100 points and includes Listening (25), Reading (25), Writing (25), and Speaking (25). The Listening and Reading and Writing are timed together around 150–160 minutes, while Speaking is about 7–10 minutes per student.

Oct 1, 2026

Uploaded by Genevieve