The KPSS General Ability & General Knowledge session consists of 120 questions with a total time limit of 130 minutes. This gives you about 65 seconds per question. The structure is identical across Bachelor's (Lisans), Associate (Ön Lisans), and High School (Ortaöğretim) levels; only the difficulty level varies according to the candidate's education level.
KPSS Question Breakdown
Half of the 120 questions come from General Ability (Turkish + Mathematics), and the other half from General Knowledge (History, Geography, Civics, Current Affairs). The breakdown in recent exams is as follows:
| Test | Subject | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| General Ability (60) | Turkish | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | |
| General Knowledge (60) | History | 27 |
| Geography of Turkey | 18 | |
| Civics | 9 | |
| Current Affairs | 6 |
This breakdown reflects ÖSYM's practice in recent exams. ÖSYM may make small annual adjustments to subject weights. For exact details, check the exam guide for the relevant year.
Do Wrong Answers Penalty Right Answers?
Yes. In the KPSS, four wrong answers cancel out one correct answer. Scoring is based on net correct answers:
Net score = Correct answers − (Incorrect answers ÷ 4)
This rule penalizes random guessing. However, if you can eliminate two options, making an educated guess is statistically advantageous. It is safer to leave questions blank if you have no idea.
How to Manage the 130 Minutes
- Take practice exams under realistic timing. Time management is learned through practice. Facing exam pacing for the first time on test day is a common mistake.
- Use the pass system. Answer what you know on your first pass, mark time-consuming questions, and return to them on your second pass.
- Don't get stuck on a single question. Spending 4–5 minutes on one question ruins your 65-second average and leaves easy questions unanswered at the end.
- Leave time for the optical answer sheet. Set aside the last 5–10 minutes to transfer your answers.
- Keep your processing speed sharp. Speed in math requires daily practice. Between study sessions, you can practice calculations with our fast math game and keep your vocabulary active with our word search game.
Question Count and Duration in Other Sessions
Group A Field Knowledge sessions (September 12–13, 2026) consist of field tests such as law, economics, business, public finance, and accounting. The question count and duration for each session are specified in that year's guide. DHBT is a 40-question test lasting 60 minutes; details are available in our article What is DHBT and who takes it?.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a passing score in KPSS?
There is no passing threshold for central placement; your ranking determines the outcome. However, some institutional exams require a minimum score of 70 or 80. See our article on KPSS score types for details.
How many net points equal how many score points?
There is no fixed equivalent. The KPSS score is a standard score calculated using the average and standard deviation of candidates in that specific year. The same number of net scores can yield different points in different years depending on exam difficulty.
Related articles: