Earthquake survivor became the top scorer in the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS)

One of the top scorers of the Higher Education Institutions Exam (2024-YKS) in Turkey is the earthquake victim student Arda Taşdemir from Malatya. Arda, who took the exam last year but did not get the desired result and did not make a choice, retook the exam this year and became the first in Turkey.

The results of the Higher Education Institutions Exam (2024-YKS) organized by the Assessment, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) on June 8-9 were announced today. The student who ranked first in Turkey in the numerical field in the YKS-AYT exam was Arda Taşdemir, also an earthquake victim from Malatya.

Becoming the first in Turkey in the YKS exam
Arda Taşdemir, who studies at Fetih Gemuhluoğlu Science High School in Malatya, went to Elazığ, his hometown, to continue his education at Cemil Meriç Science High School to complete the remaining semester after their house was damaged in the disaster of the century on February 6, 2023. Arda, who took the YKS exam last year, ranked in the top 5000 due to the stress caused by the earthquake. Unable to achieve the desired result, Arda returned to Malatya without making a choice, started at a private course center, and prepared for the exams again. With the support of his teachers and family during this period, 18-year-old Arda Taşdemir went through a good preparation process and became the first in Turkey in the YKS exam he took this time. As the results were announced, the Taşdemir family was overwhelmed with joy, and the teachers from the course center did not leave Arda alone on this happy day.

Describing his happiness, Arda Taşdemir stated that he went through a challenging process and said that this result was a surprise for himself as well. Explaining that his goal was to rank in the top 1000, Arda said, ‘I have always had a habit of working hard in my life, I continued this habit and succeeded.’

“The earthquake affected my exam preparation process, the biggest factor in taking the YKS for the second time was the earthquake”
Arda, who also said he was both happy and surprised, mentioned that undoubtedly his family and teachers had a great contribution to this success. Arda, who explained that working in a quiet and comfortable home environment during the exam preparation process was a factor that led him to success, said that the earthquakes that occurred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6 affected them greatly, just like everyone else. Mentioning that they had to change cities during that period and that this situation affected his exam preparation process, Arda Taşdemir said, ‘This situation affected my exam preparation process. The biggest reason for me to take the YKS for the second time was this earthquake that happened.’

Dreaming of Istanbul Technical University
Stating that he will research universities well during the preference period and then decide, Taşdemir said that his dream since childhood has been Istanbul Technical University (ITU). Arda Taşdemir, who also mentioned that he is happy to have made his family proud, gave advice to students who want to succeed in the exam. Arda, who wanted the exams to be well analyzed, said, ‘They should understand their shortcomings and work on them, analyze the exams they take well, and try to keep their psychology very strong.’

Father Gökhan Taşdemir explained that it has been Arda’s dream since childhood and he worked towards this goal, saying, ‘He tried to do everything possible to succeed with determination. His teachers at school also supported him during this process.’ Reminding that before the earthquake, his son went to Fetih Gemuhluoğlu Science High School but after the earthquake, he graduated by attending Elazığ Cemil Meriç Science High School for half a semester, father Taşdemir expressed his gratitude to the teachers there and said, ‘Our teachers here have contributed a lot. All of them made great efforts for Arda’s success. When we went back to Elazığ, our teachers there opened their doors to us, we thank all of them.’ Father Gökhan Taşdemir said that the biggest share of Arda becoming the champion in Turkey in the exam was his disciplined and planned study.

Mother Serpil Taşdemir thanked their child who made them experience this great pride, saying, ‘Arda has never disappointed me. He has never upset us both morally and educationally since his childhood. The efforts of our teachers were also great during this process. Undoubtedly, he is the biggest hero of this process. I have never told him to study one day. He did it with his own perseverance. I want to say to mothers whose children take exams. They should never put pressure, never tell them to study because this distances them from the lesson.’ The course center and primary school teachers who visited Arda at his home also shared this happiness. His teachers stated that Arda Taşdemir becoming the first in the YKS exam as a high school graduate was a first.