Every year many successful students benefit from scholarships awarded through the State Boarding School and Scholarship Examination. This exam is held across Turkey and is open to numerous primary, middle and high school students. The scholarship exam covers students in grades 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
Candidates from low-income families who achieve strong academic results often ask questions such as “how many points are needed to win the 2021 İOKBS scholarship” and “what are the eligibility requirements?” Under the İOKBS scholarship program, eligible students who meet both academic and financial criteria may receive a scholarship or the right to boarding school education.
What is İOKBS?
Previously known as PYBS, the scholarship exam administered by the Ministry of National Education has been updated and is now called İOKBS. It covers students in grades 5 through 11 and awards scholarships according to student achievement. Successful candidates in the exam receive a government-funded scholarship, and those eligible for boarding receive the right to attend state boarding schools.
The İOKBS scholarship targets students from families with limited financial means; eligibility is determined by calculating the annual per-person household income. If a family’s annual income exceeds the specified threshold, the student will not qualify for the scholarship. Academic success alone is not sufficient; the program aims to ensure that students from economically disadvantaged families can continue their education without financial difficulty.
Students who meet the conditions and succeed on the İOKBS are paid the scholarship by the state every three months. The exam is held separately for each grade level between fifth and eleventh grade, and scholarships are awarded within predetermined quotas. Scholarships are non-repayable for those who qualify.
Who Can Take İOKBS?
Each year many students apply for İOKBS. Applications are accepted when students meet the required criteria. The students eligible to apply are:
- Citizens of the Republic of Turkey or the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
- Students enrolled in one of the eligible grades: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11.
- Students who have not been subject to disciplinary transfers during the year the exam is held.
- Students who demonstrate a certain level of academic achievement.
- Students whose family income meets the program’s specified financial thresholds.
How to Apply for İOKBS?
Students wishing to take the İOKBS must complete the application process. İOKBS applications are submitted through the Ministry of National Education’s website. The steps to apply include:
- Completing the application form on the Ministry of National Education site or the official e-Okul portal accurately and fully.
- Providing correct school achievement and household member information on the form.
- Submission will be reviewed by the school administration.
- If the school administration detects incorrect or false information, the application will be canceled.
- Applications can be submitted through the MEB or e-Okul system by students in grades 5 through 11.
When Is the İOKBS Exam Held?
Students and families are often eager to learn the dates for the İOKBS exam. For 2021, applications were held in February, and the exam originally planned for April was postponed because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister of National Education stated that a new exam date would be announced according to the course of the pandemic. In 2020 the exam was postponed to September and conducted that month.
There was a possibility that the 2021 exam might be held in September, but no official date had been announced at the time.
How Are İOKBS Results Announced?
Students and parents often ask where and how to learn İOKBS results. The Ministry of National Education publishes the İOKBS results. Students or their parents can request the result document from the school principal where the student studies. The school administration obtains the result from the Provincial Directorate of National Education website, signs it, and delivers the document to the student or parent.
Results are typically available within about a month after the exam. Students who want a printed certificate should request it from their school administration. Results can also be checked online via official channels.
How to Win İOKBS?
Students in grades 5 to 11 who wish to win İOKBS must meet both academic and financial conditions. Eligible candidates must have demonstrated academic achievement at their school and come from households that meet the financial eligibility criteria.
Students who meet those conditions and obtain scores within the exam’s minimum and maximum thresholds may be awarded a scholarship or boarding placement based on available quotas. Quotas are allocated among categories such as children in need of protection, children of teachers, students in areas without a local school, and other students.
How Many Points to Win İOKBS?
Candidates often ask what minimum scores are needed to win the İOKBS scholarship. Below are the published minimum scores by grade and quota type for the 2021 İOKBS (PYBS):
Minimum scores for 5th grade:
- Other Students Quota: 450.184
- Teacher’s Child Quota: 311.902
- Children in Need of Protection Quota: 143.967
- No Local School Quota: 439.906
Minimum scores for 6th grade:
- Other Students Quota: 419.755
- Teacher’s Child Quota: 172.85
- Children in Need of Protection Quota: 118.702
- No Local School Quota: 415.313
Minimum scores for 7th grade:
- Other Students Quota: 409.379
- Teacher’s Child Quota: 163.983
- Children in Need of Protection Quota: 129.643
- No Local School Quota: 410.205
Minimum scores for 8th grade:
- Other Students Quota: 394.447
- Teacher’s Child Quota: 152.052
- Children in Need of Protection Quota: 129.576
- No Local School Quota: 344.631
Minimum scores for 9th grade:
- Other Students Quota: 394.447
- Teacher’s Child Quota: 152.052
- Children in Need of Protection Quota: 129.576
- No Local School Quota: 344.631
Minimum scores for 10th grade:
- Other Students Quota: 388.864
- Teacher’s Child Quota: 187.762
- Children in Need of Protection Quota: 138.222
- No Local School Quota: 338.206
Minimum scores for 11th grade:
- Other Students Quota: 405.668
- Teacher’s Child Quota: 205.417
- Children in Need of Protection Quota: 148.879
- No Local School Quota: 352.656
These are the minimum scores set for the 2021 İOKBS (PYBS) scholarship exam. Students who meet or exceed the relevant thresholds for their grade and quota may be awarded scholarships.
What Does the “Other Students” Quota Mean?
The İOKBS provides a 10% quota for students who receive special legal rights. These groups include:
- Children who have lost family members,
- Children in need of protection,
- Children of martyrs and veterans,
- Children of personnel serving abroad who receive monetary compensation,
- Children whose parent is disabled due to military or official duty.
In addition to these, teacher’s children, children in need of protection, and children who do not have a school in their area are allocated a 5% quota. The remaining 80% of total placements fall under the “other students” quota. If reserved quotas are not filled, remaining candidates can be considered under the other students quota.
What Should İOKBS Winners Do?
Students who win the İOKBS scholarship must register at the school administration of the school affiliated with the Provincial Directorate of National Education where they study. Students who win the boarding scholarship should also complete their applications through their school administration.
According to the Ministry’s guidelines, successful students will have their scholarship procedures completed by their school administration via the e-Burs Module for the relevant scholarship period.
How Much Is the 2021 İOKBS Scholarship?
Students who qualify for the İOKBS scholarship receive financial support. For the first half of 2021, the scholarship amount was set at 340 TL per month. No official announcement was made for the second half of the year at that time.
When Is the İOKBS Scholarship Paid?
Scholarship payments are made once a month on the 25th. Recipients receive their scholarship payments monthly.
Which Bank Pays the İOKBS Scholarship?
Scholarship funds are deposited into accounts opened for students at VakıfBank or PTT branches. Students can withdraw funds using the bank card provided by the institution where their scholarship account is opened.
This article reviewed topics such as “how many points are needed to win the 2021 İOKBS (PYBS) scholarship” and the various quota types under which students can apply. It provides a clear overview of the İOKBS scholarship exam, aimed at students who demonstrate academic success while facing financial hardship.