17.07.2025 13:37
The Ministry of National Education (MEB) published the 2025 LGS Statistics Report following allegations of "irregularities" that began when 719 students answered all questions correctly, achieving a perfect score of 500. The top scorers of the exam were made up of students from 544 schools across 66 provinces, with Istanbul leading by a wide margin with 163 top scorers. Additionally, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin announced that an investigation has been launched against 29 individuals regarding the allegations.
The announcement of the results of the High School Transition System (LGS) exam, held on June 15 across Turkey and abroad, ignited a significant debate. The fact that 719 out of 963,142 students who participated in the exam answered all questions correctly and received a perfect score of 500 raised allegations of "irregularities" and "manipulation".
In what has been described by students as one of the most challenging exams in recent years, the number of students achieving a perfect score was approximately twice as high compared to the previous year. Rumors that question booklets were shared in WhatsApp groups during the exam and that some students gained an advantage from this situation caused reactions from parents and students. The Ministry of National Education (MEB) broke its silence following the allegations and made an official statement, asserting that the exam process was conducted transparently, was open to inspection, and adhered to measurement and evaluation principles, stating that the allegations of "irregularities" did not reflect the truth.
74% INCREASE IN LGS TOP SCORERS IN ONE YEAR
MEB announced the distribution of students who scored a perfect 500 points by province in the 2025 LGS Statistics Report. According to the 2025 LGS Statistics Report published by the General Directorate of Measurement, Evaluation, and Examination Services of MEB, 719 students answered all questions correctly and received a perfect score of 500 in this year's central exam. A total of 963,142 students participated in the central exam, which was held in two sessions on June 15. The participation rate in the exam was 95.27%. The number of students who received a perfect score last year was revised by court order to 413. Thus, there was a 74% increase within one year.
HOW MANY TOP SCORERS ARE THERE IN EACH PROVINCE IN LGS?
The top scorers of the central exam consisted of students from 544 schools in 66 provinces. It was observed that major cities led the distribution of the 719 students who scored full points. Istanbul ranked first with a significant lead, having 163 top scorers. Following Istanbul were cities with high student populations such as Ankara (56), Izmir (49), Antalya (36), Konya (29), and Adana (26). Among these students, 63 were candidates from imam hatip middle schools.
According to the report, the distribution of students who scored full points in other provinces is as follows:
"23 from Gaziantep, 20 from Bursa, 19 from Kocaeli, 18 from Kayseri, 17 from Mersin, 15 from Samsun, 14 from Balıkesir, 11 from Trabzon, 10 each from Diyarbakır, Eskişehir, and Kahramanmaraş, 9 from Afyonkarahisar, 8 each from Aydın, Tekirdağ, Malatya, Manisa, Erzurum, and Denizli, 7 each from Kırşehir and Sakarya, 6 each from Isparta, Amasya, and Çanakkale, 5 each from Tokat, Sivas, Aksaray, Hatay, Mardin, and Kütahya, 4 each from Şanlıurfa, Osmaniye, Muğla, Uşak, Çorum, and Edirne, 3 each from Zonguldak, Elazığ, Giresun, Kırıkkale, Van, Niğde, Nevşehir, Kastamonu, and Batman, 2 each from Muş, Adıyaman, Yalova, Karabük, Karaman, Bolu, and Erzincan, and 1 student each from Yozgat, Düzce, Bartın, Burdur, Gümüşhane, Bitlis, Ordu, Bingöl, and Rize scored a perfect 500 points in the exam."
"AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN INITIATED FOR 29 PEOPLE"
Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin shared details of the investigation initiated regarding allegations that the LGS question booklet was shared early on TRT News. Minister Tekin stated that legal actions have been initiated against individuals, including school administrators who shared the questions.
Minister Tekin noted that complaints regarding the exam and the information they received were being investigated by the relevant authorities.
He reported that legal actions have been initiated against individuals who carried out practices that could lead to such situations, stating, "An investigation has been opened regarding 29 individuals at the school. But as I said, the investigation process is ongoing. We can conduct an administrative investigation. As a result of the administrative investigation, we can impose disciplinary penalties on the relevant individuals. If there is a situation that requires the initiation of a criminal case as a result of the disciplinary penalty and administrative investigation, a criminal case will also be opened, and those involved will be punished to the fullest extent." he said.
Recalling that the booklets were distributed to students in schools the day after the exam, Tekin stated, "It was only shared a little earlier on social media than the time we requested for the distribution of the exam question booklets. But I want to emphasize again, this happened more than an hour after the exam ended. Therefore, there is absolutely no situation that could pose any risk regarding the security of this exam or the future hopes of our children in this regard." he concluded.