When is KPSS: how the exam calendar actually works

There is no single answer to “when is KPSS,” because KPSS Lisans is not one exam day, it is a cycle of sessions spread across a window that OSYM sets afresh each year, and the score from that cycle then gets used in recruitment rounds for the following year or more. Anyone searching for a fixed date is asking the wrong question; the right question is which session and which cycle.

Why KPSS is a cycle, not a single date

KPSS Lisans opens with applications, followed weeks later by the Genel Yetenek and Genel Kultur session that every candidate sits, and then, on separate days, the sessions candidates opt into: Egitim Bilimleri for teacher candidates, the Ogretmenlik Alan Bilgisi Testi (OABT) for a specific teaching branch, and Alan Bilgisi for A group specialist cadres. For the 2026 cycle, OSYM opened applications on 1 July 2026, closed them on 13 July 2026, ran the Genel Yetenek and Genel Kultur session on 6 September 2026 and the Alan Bilgisi sessions on 12 September 2026, according to the notices OSYM published on osym.gov.tr.

Where the actual dates come from

The only source that is binding for a given cycle is OSYM’s own sinav takvimi (exam calendar) at osym.gov.tr/Sayfa/SinavTakvimi, together with the current KPSS Kilavuzu published alongside it. Every other site, including this one, is reporting what that calendar says, not setting it. Treat any date you read anywhere else as provisional until you have checked it against that page directly.

Why scores are used a year ahead

A KPSS score is not spent the moment it is issued. It feeds tercih (preference) rounds that OSYM runs afterward, and those placement cycles often draw on scores from the exam sat months earlier. That is part of why candidates sometimes see recruitment notices referencing a KPSS score from the previous year’s exam rather than expecting a brand new sitting to appear on short notice. Understanding how that placement mechanism works, and what “tercih robotu” tools actually do with a score once it exists, is covered in what KPSS preference matching tools do.

What determines whether you can even apply

Applying to a given cycle requires meeting the eligibility set out in that cycle’s KPSS Kilavuzu, principally holding, or being on track to hold, a bachelor’s degree recognised in Turkey. The step by step mechanics of registering on the OSYM Aday Islemleri Sistemi (AIS) portal before a deadline closes are explained in how to apply for KPSS.

Planning around the calendar rather than guessing it

Because the calendar shifts year to year and a missed application window cannot be reopened, the practical approach is to check the OSYM sinav takvimi directly rather than relying on a remembered date from a previous cycle, and to build in a margin before the application deadline for document preparation. This site’s exam countdown tool can track the days remaining to a specific KPSS or ALES session once you have the confirmed date from OSYM, which is useful once you are past the “which date” question and into the “how much time do I actually have” one.

Once you have a date, know your target score

Knowing when the exam is only matters if you also know what score you are aiming for. The realistic benchmarks candidates use to judge whether a KPSS result is competitive for civil service placement are laid out in how much KPSS score you need to become a civil servant.

FAQ

Does KPSS happen on the same date every year? No. OSYM sets a new calendar each cycle, and the application window, Genel Yetenek session and any Alan Bilgisi or OABT sessions each get their own dates within that cycle.

Where can I find the confirmed KPSS date for the current cycle? On OSYM’s sinav takvimi at osym.gov.tr/Sayfa/SinavTakvimi, and in the KPSS Kilavuzu published for that cycle.

How many sessions does KPSS Lisans actually have? Up to four, depending on the candidate’s target: Genel Yetenek and Genel Kultur for everyone, plus optional Egitim Bilimleri, OABT and Alan Bilgisi sessions on separate dates.

Can I use a KPSS score from an earlier cycle for a later recruitment notice? Yes, in many cases; KPSS scores remain usable across recruitment notices for a period the notice itself specifies, which is why tercih rounds often draw on scores issued well before the round runs.

Is there a way to know how much time is left before the next session? Once OSYM confirms a date for your target session, a countdown tool such as this site’s exam countdown can track the remaining days for you.