How to Study for ALES: Graduate Reasoning & Study Plan

Preparing for graduate school or an academic position in Turkey starts with mastering the reasoning skills tested in ALES. Instead of testing faculty-specific memorization, the exam measures how quickly and accurately you solve unfamiliar problems under time pressure.

Understand the exam structure and purpose

According to ÖSYM’s 2026 ALES guide, ALES is designed for candidates applying to graduate education and academic personnel positions, using separate numerical and verbal tests to measure reasoning abilities. Success comes from training your reading speed, analytical deduction, and mathematical problem-solving together.

The numerical test centers on number problems, ratios and proportions, table and graph interpretation, and multi-step numerical logic. The verbal test focuses on dense paragraph comprehension, inference, and verbal logic puzzles where you organize variables, schedules, or categories. Identifying which section carries the highest weight for your target university program lets you allocate your study hours with precision.

Align your preparation with your target score type

Per the 2026 ÖSYM guide, raw scores are calculated by deducting 1/4 of wrong answers from correct answers, and each test is standardized separately before different weights are applied to produce numerical, verbal, and equal-weighted score types. Because both tests contribute to your final score in varying proportions, keeping both areas active in your weekly schedule protects your overall standing.

After every practice session, sort your missed or slow questions by topic—such as table interpretation or verbal ordering puzzles—using a structured practice test review method so your next study block targets the exact reasoning step that slowed you down. Re-solving those questions from scratch builds the pattern recognition you need for complex multi-question sets.

Sample 12-week plan

Weeks 1–4

Spend 5 days per week building core speed in foundational reasoning. Dedicate 45 minutes daily to numerical fundamentals—ratios, proportions, equations, and number problems—followed by 45 minutes of daily paragraph comprehension and inference drills. Complete 20 numerical and 20 verbal questions at the end of each study block, and write down the exact step where any calculation or reading slip occurred.

Weeks 5–8

Shift your focus toward multi-question sets and data analysis over 5 study days per week. Practice 60 minutes of table and graph interpretation alongside numerical logic sets, and 45 minutes of verbal logic puzzles where you practice drawing quick setup grids. Finish each week with 1 timed section drill per test to observe how quickly you transition between standard questions and multi-part logic scenarios.

Weeks 9–12

Increase your pacing practice across 6 days per week. Run 2 full timed practice tests each week and spend 60 minutes after each test re-solving every missed or time-consuming question at your own pace. Use the remaining 4 days for 50-minute targeted drills on your slowest reasoning categories, focusing on clean diagramming for verbal logic and faster arithmetic setup for data tables.

The final 4–8 weeks

Maintain a sharp 6-day weekly rhythm centered on full-length timing and mistake cleanup. Complete 2 to 3 timed practice tests per week, logging your results by section to spot any dip in reading stamina or calculation accuracy. Spend 45 minutes on non-test days reviewing your error notebook and running 15-question mini-drills on numerical logic and dense inference passages.

Track your preparation with ExamLuma

Select ALES in ExamLuma to organize your routine in one place. Set your daily study goals, start focus sessions that automatically add completed time to your subject study log, and record your practice-result logs after each mock exam. You can check your weekly statistics anytime to see how consistently you are hitting your study targets and where your test performance is climbing.

How ExamLuma helps

Keep track of your study plan in ExamLuma. ↗

Set a daily study goal and follow your progress. ↗

Record completed study sessions. ↗