YDS questions: an explained sample from each section, with answers

5 original questions in YDS’s question types, each with its correct answer and a short explanation below. They are not real exam questions; ÖSYM’s past papers are published only on ÖSYM’s site.

Short answer

YDS has 80 five-option questions in 180 minutes: vocabulary, grammar (especially connectors), sentence completion, translation and reading. Wrong answers do not count against you; each correct answer is worth 1.25 points. The samples below mirror those types exactly.

Sample questions and answers

Question 1 · Vocabulary

The new regulations are expected to ___ the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the sea.

  1. resemble
  2. retain
  3. reduce — correct answer
  4. rely
  5. reveal

Explanation: Regulations are expected to make the amount of plastic waste smaller: reduce. Retain (keep) and reveal (show) break the meaning.

Question 2 · Grammar

___ repeated warnings from engineers, the launch went ahead as scheduled.

  1. Because
  2. Despite — correct answer
  3. Whereas
  4. Even if
  5. Although

Explanation: "Repeated warnings" is a noun phrase; the contrast needs "despite". Although and even if need a full clause.

Question 3 · Grammar

Sales of printed maps have fallen sharply; ___, the company has shifted most of its staff to the app division.

  1. consequently — correct answer
  2. likewise
  3. nevertheless
  4. otherwise
  5. meanwhile

Explanation: The second clause is the result of the first, so "consequently". Nevertheless shows contrast, likewise similarity.

Question 4 · Reading

Passage

Honeybees share the location of food through a movement known as the waggle dance. The angle of the dance shows the direction of the food in relation to the sun, while the length of the dance signals how far away it is. Bees that watch more dances are more likely to find the food on their first flight.

According to the passage, the length of the waggle dance tells other bees ___.

  1. how much food is available
  2. how many bees should join the flight
  3. how far away the food is — correct answer
  4. where the sun is at that moment
  5. whether the food source is safe

Explanation: The passage says the length of the dance signals the distance. The sun is only a reference for direction; amount and safety are never mentioned.

Question 5 · Translation

Although the project was delayed, the final results exceeded expectations.

Choose the Turkish sentence closest in meaning.

  1. Proje gecikmeseydi nihai sonuçlar beklentileri aşardı.
  2. Proje gecikmiş olsa da nihai sonuçlar beklentileri aştı. — correct answer
  3. Nihai sonuçlar beklentileri aşmasına rağmen proje gecikti.
  4. Proje geciktiği için nihai sonuçlar beklentileri aştı.
  5. Proje gecikince nihai sonuçlar beklentilerin altında kaldı.

Explanation: "Although" sets up a contrast: "gecikmiş olsa da". "Geciktiği için" gives a cause; the fourth option reverses the contrast.

How to approach YDS questions

  • In vocabulary items, read the meaning relationship around the gap first (cause, contrast, result); look at the options afterwards.
  • In connector items check two things: the meaning relationship and what follows (a clause or a noun phrase).
  • In reading, read the question first and scan the text for its key word; the answer is stated in the text, do not add your own interpretation.
  • Split the time over 80 questions: about 2 minutes each; mark a hard one and move on.

Frequently asked questions

Where are past YDS questions?

ÖSYM publishes the main question booklet and answer key on its site after each exam; copies elsewhere are usually unauthorised. Prepina does not republish them and writes original questions in the same format instead.

Are these as hard as the real exam?

They are written to YDS’s question types and difficulty range, but the real exam has 80 questions and time pressure is the main factor. For a timed run, take the 5-question test on the exam page.

Do wrong answers lose points?

No. Only correct answers count in YDS, so marking the most likely option always beats leaving a blank.

How should I study the explanations?

Read the explanation of every question you got wrong and do 3–5 more of the same type; Prepina’s daily plan brings your weak types back automatically.

All YDS questions and answers

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