The Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and United States Embassy in Turkmenistan announce the 2025-2026 testing schedule for the U.S. Government-funded FLEX Exchange Program for High School Students for the 2026-2027 academic year. The program provides competitively selected secondary school students with a scholarship to spend a year living in the U.S. with a volunteer host family, attending a U.S. high school to foster understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Turkmenistan. The FLEX scholarship covers travel, housing and living expenses. Students with disabilities are strongly encouraged to participate in the competition.
FLEX testing is open to all high school students who meet the following requirements:
• Born between January 1, 2009 and May 31, 2010; students in the final year of school who are required to complete military service are ineligible;
• Are currently enrolled in a secondary school, having an academic standing of good or better;
• Have previously studied English and demonstrate English language ability at the time of registration;
• Have not lived in the United States for more than three months in the last five years;
• Are eligible to receive a U.S. visa;
• Are citizens of Turkmenistan.
In order to participate in the competition please bring a proof of eligibility (original birth certificate or passport), one recent photograph (3×4 cm), and a black pen.
All students participating in the testing must wear school uniforms.
FLEX 2026-2027 Testing Schedule
| Testing Center |
Date |
Time |
School |
| Mary, Mary region |
January 4, 2026 |
9:00 |
School 19, Mary |
| Dashoguz, Dashoguz region |
January 6, 2026 |
9:00 |
School 4, Dashoguz |
| Turkmenabat, Lebap region |
January 8, 2026 |
9:00 |
School 2, Turkmenabat |
| Balkanabat and Turkmenbashy, Balkan region |
January 10, 2026 |
9:00 |
School 3, Balkanabat |
| Аshgabat and Ahal |
January 11, 2026 |
9:00 |
School 20, Ashgabat |
* If for some reasons, high school students from the regions miss the Round 1 test in their home region, they will have an opportunity to take FLEX Round 1 test in Ashgabat.
Students can only participate in one Round 1 Test per year.
Please contact American Councils for further information:
tel. (+99312) 36-90-22; (+99363) 50-20-36
https://americancouncilstm.org/flex/
FLEX is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by
American Councils for International Education.
