Balıkesir University

Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Centre Examination Guidelines

CHAPTER ONE

Purpose, Scope, Basis and Definitions

Purpose and scope

ARTICLE 1- (1) This Directive regulates the objectives, implementation, and procedures and principles to be applied in the education and examination processes of the preparatory classes to be opened for international students who will study at Balıkesir University and foreign nationals who wish to learn Turkish in our country.

Support

ARTICLE 2- (1) This Directive has been prepared based on the Higher Education Act dated 04/11/1981 and numbered 2547.

Definitions

ARTICLE 3- (1) The following terms used in this Directive:

a) BAÜN TÖMER: Balıkesir University Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Centre,

b) Preparatory Class: BAÜN TÖMER's Language Preparatory Classes,

c) Rector: The Rector of Balıkesir University,

c) Senate: The Senate of Balıkesir University,

d) University: Balıkesir University,

e) Management Board: The Management Board of the Balıkesir University Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Centre,

f) International student: A student who is outside their country of nationality for educational purposes.

CHAPTER TWO

Principles Regarding Language Preparation Education and Instruction

Language preparation education and training

ARTICLE 4- (1) Language preparatory education and training shall be provided within the framework of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in order to enable students to comprehend what they read and hear and to express themselves adequately in writing and orally.

(2) Language Preparation programmes are organised by BAÜN TÖMER. The course schedule for preparatory classes is determined by the Management Board.

(3) Teaching in the preparatory class is conducted on a term basis. Terms consist of a minimum of 180 and a maximum of 200 teaching hours. Weekly teaching hours are scheduled for a minimum of twenty-five teaching hours. Where necessary, lessons and examinations may also be held after working hours during the week, and on Saturdays and Sundays.

(4) Students enrolled in Turkish preparatory education are required to attend preparatory education classes. There is an 80% attendance requirement for each course. Students who fail to attend 20% of the total course hours will be considered absent.

(5) Students who fail due to absenteeism are not admitted to the end-of-term examination and are directed to repeat the course. However, if a student fails the same course three times in a row due to absenteeism, their affiliation with BAÜN TÖMER is terminated.

(6) For students who have attended and successfully completed the Turkish preparatory class, the language proficiency exam result certificates shall state their language proficiency, scores in the four core skill areas, and that they have successfully completed the language preparatory education.

(7) Students enrolled in the Turkish preparatory class shall pay the course fee to the account of the University's Revolving Fund Management Directorate, as announced by BAÜN TÖMER, within the periods specified in the academic calendar.

(8) Students enrolled in Turkish preparatory education may not take courses from the education and training programmes they are registered in during this period. However, students enrolled in programmes where the language of instruction is not Turkish may apply to BAÜN TÖMER with a written request, taking into account their course schedule, and their enrolment will be evaluated by the Management Board.

(9) Students who select courses during the autumn or spring term may continue attending classes in their department while also taking language courses at BAÜN TÖMER. However, course participants must comply with the attendance requirements at BAÜN TÖMER.

(10) Guest students are not permitted to attend preparatory classes to listen to or observe lessons.

(11) The duration of preparatory Turkish language training shall not exceed two years.

Registration

ARTICLE 5- (1) International students who are unable to submit their Turkish Proficiency Certificate to the Student Affairs Unit during registration cannot enrol in the department/programme for which they have received an acceptance letter. They may take preparatory Turkish language courses at BAÜN TÖMER, or they may take preparatory courses offered by the Yunus Emre Institute or take the Turkish Proficiency Exams.

Exemption

ARTICLE 6- (1) If the student submits the certificate of completion of preparatory Turkish language training from the Yunus Emre Institute, the TYS results document obtained from the Yunus Emre Institute, or the TÖMER course completion certificate obtained from other universities, prior to the registration start date according to the registration calendar announced by the relevant Faculty/Institute of the University, the student's exemption shall be accepted.

(2) According to Balıkesir University's Guidelines for Accepting Students from Abroad, Turkish Proficiency Examination certificates and course examination certificates obtained from any university other than Yunus Emre Institute are not accepted.

(3) BAÜN TÖMER may refuse to accept certificates or exemption documents if there is any doubt or uncertainty regarding them.

(4) Students who are unable to submit a Turkish language proficiency certificate to the University within the registration period must take the Turkish language proficiency examination administered by BAÜN TÖMER.

(5) Following the examination conducted by BAÜN TÖMER, certificates obtained from other language teaching centres will not be accepted.

(6) The validity period of Turkish Proficiency Certificates, including the Turkish Proficiency Examinations of Yunus Emre Institutes, is 2 (two) years.

(7) A student who has completed their undergraduate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral education in Turkey and wishes to enrol in a programme of equivalent level shall be exempt from Turkish preparatory education if they enrol within two years of their graduation date.

Proficiency test

ARTICLE 7- (1) The principles regarding the implementation of the proficiency examination shall be determined by the relevant units and committees of the BAÜN TÖMER Directorate. Upon the recommendation of the relevant units and the BAÜN TÖMER Directorate, the "Proficiency" examination shall be conducted by the BAÜN TÖMER Directorate during specific periods of each academic year.

(2) Students who fail the proficiency test will not be allowed to retake the test.

(3) No make-up examination will be held for the proficiency examination. Students who have paid the examination fee but have not taken the examination may take the next available examination, provided that they have not started a course at BAÜN TÖMER and pay the examination fee again.

(4) The Turkish Proficiency Examination to be conducted by BAÜN TÖMER at the beginning of the academic year;

a) Postgraduate students who score at least 85 out of 100 points at C1 level may commence their studies.

b) For students starting their undergraduate and bachelor's degree programmes, a score of 70 or above at B2 level is sufficient. However, in order for students to be able to select courses from the third semester onwards in their bachelor's degree programme, they must obtain a certificate at C1 level.

c) Students who fail to obtain a C1 level certificate cannot select courses in the third semester. These students must either take the C1 level course at BAÜN TÖMER or Yunus Emre Institute during the summer school period or take the Turkish Proficiency Exam and submit a C1 level Turkish proficiency certificate to the Student Affairs Office upon passing the exam.

(5) The total score ranges for grammar proficiency and the four skills in the Turkish Proficiency Exams conducted by BAÜN TÖMER are as follows, out of 100:

Placement test

ARTICLE 8- (1) The placement test is conducted to assess the Turkish language proficiency levels of students enrolled in preparatory education and training and to place them in classes of the same level based on this assessment. Students are divided into groups according to their levels, corresponding to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): A1, A2, B1, B2, and C1.

(2) Classes are formed based on the scores obtained in the placement test. Furthermore, when forming classes, factors such as the scores obtained by students in the test and their countries of origin may also be taken into consideration to create mixed classes.

(3) Students who do not wish to take the placement test will be enrolled directly at the beginner level (A1). Transfers between groups may be made based on the recommendation of the relevant course instructors and the student's performance in the course.

Exams and grades

ARTICLE 9- (1) Examinations shall be held at the end of the term on dates determined by BAÜN TÖMER. End-of-term examinations shall consist of reading, comprehension, listening, writing, speaking, and grammar proficiency, in accordance with the skill areas.

(2) Students who have fulfilled the attendance requirement may take the end-of-term examination.

(3) The end-of-term examination consists of five sections covering four skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing) and language proficiency. All sections are weighted equally at 20% to calculate the end-of-term pass mark. Students must achieve a minimum total of 70 points to pass the end-of-term examination.

Appeal against the examination result

ARTICLE 10- (1) Students may appeal their examination results by submitting a written application to the BAÜN TÖMER Directorate within five (5) working days of the announcement of the results. Upon review of the application, if an error is identified, the necessary correction shall be made. No requests for grade changes shall be processed after the expiry of this period.

Excuse examinations

ARTICLE 11- (1) The Management Board shall decide whether students shall be considered excused from taking the end-of-term examination and submitting an application with supporting documentation for the reasons specified below:

a) Illness: If, on the relevant examination dates, the student or one of their first or second degree relatives has a serious illness requiring hospitalisation, preventing the student from attending the relevant examination, the student must document this situation with a medical report and submit it with their application.

b) Death of a Close Relative: Students who are unable to attend the relevant examination due to the death of a first or second degree relative during the relevant examination dates must document this situation and submit it with their application.

c) Traffic Accident and Unforeseen Circumstances: In the event that the student is involved in a traffic accident on the day of the examination, the accident report obtained from the relevant traffic department or the document related to unforeseen circumstances must be submitted to the BAÜN TÖMER Directorate within a maximum of three (3) working days from the examination date, attached to the form.

c) Force Majeure: In the event of a force majeure (fire, flood, earthquake, destruction, pandemic, etc.) that prevents the student from taking the examination, the student shall be entitled to a make-up examination. The student must submit the relevant document obtained from the official authorities to the BAÜN TÖMER Directorate within three (3) working days of the examination date, attached to the form.

d) Detention and Imprisonment: Students who are unable to attend the examination due to being detained or imprisoned on the relevant examination dates must document this situation and submit it as an appendix to their application.

e) Assignment by Universities and Other Official Institutions: Students who are unable to attend the relevant examination due to being assigned by the university or other official institutions for reasons such as national or international competitions, sporting activities, etc., on the relevant examination dates must document this situation and submit it with their application.

(2) Applications for leave of absence, together with supporting documents, shall be submitted in writing to the central directorate within five (5) working days following the end of the leave period. No action shall be taken on applications for leave of absence submitted after this period.

(3) Students whose excuses are accepted and who are granted the right to take a make-up exam shall exercise their exam rights on the date, at the location and at the time determined by the BAÜN TÖMER Directorate.

Successful and unsuccessful students

ARTICLE 12- (1) Students studying at BAÜN TÖMER who pass the Proficiency Exam or the C1 level end-of-term exams in the preparatory classes are awarded a proficiency certificate appropriate to their level of Turkish. The proficiency certificate is valid for two (2) years. Successful students must apply to the relevant units at the end of each semester in order to continue in their registered department/programme.

THIRD SECTION

Miscellaneous and Final Provisions

Discipline

ARTICLE 13- (1) Disciplinary matters and procedures concerning BAÜN TÖMER preparatory class students shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Article 54 of Law No. 2547.

Cases where no ruling has been made

ARTICLE 14- (1) In cases not covered by this Directive, the decisions of the Board of Directors shall apply.

Entry into force

ARTICLE 15- (1) This Directive shall enter into force on the date of its adoption by the Senate.

Executive

ARTICLE 16- (1) The provisions of this Directive shall be implemented by the Rector.