Special Talent Exams in Faculties of Sports Sciences: Academic Perspectives

Abstract

In Turkey, the establishment of Physical Education and Sports Teacher Training Schools and the efforts to train educators have a long-standing history, forming the foundation of today’s Academy of Physical Education and Sports (BESYO) and Faculties of Sports Sciences (SBF). Over time, the exams used to select students for these institutions have evolved significantly. However, the current special talent exams are widely criticized. In response to these criticisms, efforts are underway to develop a unified central exam system. This study aims to explore the perspectives of academics in Faculties of Sports Sciences regarding the special talent exams. Designed as a phenomenological study, the research employs qualitative methods, with data collected through interviews. The study group, selected using the typical case sampling technique, consists of academics from the sports sciences faculties of four different universities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom, and the data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings were categorized into two main themes: the current exam system and the proposed central exam system. Sub-themes included limitations and benefits, further divided into evaluations from the perspectives of students and faculties. The results indicate that the current system, with its varying exam practices across universities, creates unfairness and inequality of opportunity. Specifically, granting only one exam attempt and the differing difficulty levels of motor skill tests negatively impact student performance.