Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

YDS Academy (“we”, “us”, or “our”), the official and sole authorized test center for Linguaskill in Türkiye, respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information in accordance with the Turkish Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 (KVKK) and in collaboration with Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which acts as an independent data controller under its own data protection framework.

This policy applies to all visitors and users of https://linguaskillturkiye.com and individuals registering for the Linguaskill exam in Türkiye.

2. Who We Are

YDS Academy is a certified language assessment center headquartered in Türkiye. We serve as the central registration platform for all Linguaskill test applications in Türkiye and coordinate test sessions with our own branches and authorized Test Venues, including universities and institutions.

We act as a data controller under KVKK. For certain processing activities, such as test delivery, scoring, and validation, we share data with Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a department of the University of Cambridge, which acts as an independent data controller under UK GDPR and other applicable data protection laws.

3. What Personal Data We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal data:

  • Full name

  • Date of birth

  • Nationality

  • Contact information (email address, phone number)

  • ID/Passport number

  • Exam preferences and level

  • Payment information (processed via secure third-party platforms)

  • IP address and browser details (for technical and security reasons)

  • Audio, video, and screen activity recordings during online proctored exams (if applicable)

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under KVKK and GDPR, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

  • Your explicit consent (Art. 5/1 of KVKK)

  • Fulfilling our contractual obligations (Art. 5/2-c)

  • Compliance with legal obligations (Art. 5/2-ç)

  • Legitimate interests of YDS Academy and/or Cambridge (Art. 5/2-f)

5. How We Use Your Data

Your data may be used for the following purposes:

  • Registering you for the Linguaskill exam

  • Coordinating your exam session with relevant Test Venues

  • Verifying your identity

  • Conducting the exam (including remote proctoring)

  • Sharing results with you and authorized institutions

  • Providing technical and customer support

  • Compliance with legal obligations (e.g. record-keeping, fraud prevention)

6. Data Sharing and International Transfers

Your personal data is:

  • Shared within Türkiye with our own branches and official Test Venues for exam logistics and administration.

  • Transferred outside Türkiye to Cambridge University Press & Assessment in the United Kingdom for exam evaluation, validation, certification, and data storage purposes.

All data transfers are conducted under appropriate safeguards in line with Article 9 of the KVKK and UK GDPR regulations, including:

  • Adequate protection assessments

  • Standard Contractual Clauses (if applicable)

  • Data transfer consent mechanisms

Cambridge’s privacy policy is available at: https://www.cambridge.org/legal/privacy

7. Data Retention

We retain your data only as long as necessary for the purposes set out above or as required by applicable law, including:

  • Exam registration and certification: up to 10 years

  • Financial and legal obligations: up to 10 years

  • Proctoring and video recordings: generally 6–12 months

8. Your Rights Under KVKK

According to Article 11 of KVKK, you have the right to:

  • Learn whether your personal data is being processed

  • Request information about the processing

  • Learn the purpose and whether it is used accordingly

  • Know the third parties to whom your data is transferred

  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data

  • Request deletion or anonymization under the relevant legal conditions

  • Object to unfavorable outcomes arising from automated decision-making

  • Request compensation for damages due to unlawful processing

To exercise your rights, you may contact us via the contact details below.

9. Security Measures

We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to ensure the security and confidentiality of your personal data. This includes:

  • SSL encryption on our website

  • Secure data storage and access controls

  • Limited access to authorized personnel only

  • Compliance with data minimization and retention policies

10. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements or our processing practices. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions or wish to exercise your rights regarding your personal data, please contact us via our contact page.

For matters related to Cambridge’s processing of your data:
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/help/

12. Language

This Privacy Policy is written in English. A Turkish version will be made available upon request or may be provided on our website for informational purposes. In case of discrepancies, the English version shall prevail.