Unified State Exam
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The Unified State Exam (, ''Yedinyy gosudarstvennyy ekzamen, YeGE'') is a series of mandatory, centralized examinations conducted across the
Russian Federation Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
in secondary educational institutions, such as
school A school is the educational institution (and, in the case of in-person learning, the Educational architecture, building) designed to provide learning environments for the teaching of students, usually under the direction of teachers. Most co ...
s,
lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Basic science and some introduction to ...
s, and gymnasiums. It serves as a form of State Final Certification (GIA) for educational programs of secondary general education. The USE simultaneously acts as both a school graduation examination and an entrance examination for higher education institutions, ensuring that students meet standardized educational requirements. The USE in Russian language and mathematics is obligatory; that means that every student must achieve the necessary results in these subjects to enter any
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
n university or obtain a high school diploma. Prior to 2013 it also served as an entrance examination for secondary vocational education institutions (sredniye spetsial’nyye uchebnyye zavedeniya, or SSUZy). However, a new education law annulled this provision. The exam employs standardized tasks and unified evaluation methods across Russia. Since 2009, the USE has been the only form of high school graduation exam and the primary form of university entrance exam. Students are allowed to retake the USE in subsequent years if necessary, providing them with additional opportunities to improve their scores and qualifications.


History

The USE was introduced in Russia in 2001 first as an educational experiment, initially held in a few regions of Russia:
Chuvashia Chuvashia, officially known as Chuvash Republic — Chuvashia, is a republics of Russia, republic of Russia located in Eastern Europe. It is the homeland of the Chuvash people, a Turkic languages, Turkic ethnic group. Its capital city, capital i ...
,
Mari El Mari El,; ; officially the Mari El Republic, is a republics of Russia, republic of Russia. It is in the European Russia, European region of the country, along the northern bank of the Volga River, and administratively part of the Volga Federal ...
,
Yakutia Sakha, officially the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), is a republics of Russia, republic of Russia, and the largest federal subject of Russia by area. It is located in the Russian Far East, along the Arctic Ocean, with a population of one million ...
, as well as in
Samara Samara, formerly known as Kuybyshev (1935–1991), is the largest city and administrative centre of Samara Oblast in Russia. The city is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Samara (Volga), Samara rivers, with a population of over 1.14 ...
, and
Rostov Oblast Rostov Oblast ( rus, Росто́вская о́бласть, r=Rostovskaya oblastʹ, p=rɐˈstofskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast), located in the Southern Federal District. The oblast ...
s, covering eight subjects. The first experimental examination was only held by the eight general classes. In 2002 this experiment expanded to 16 regions of Russia, and further to 47 regions in 2003. By 2006, approximately 950,000 school graduates from 79 regions participated in the USE, and in 2008, over one million students took the exam. Initially, the list of subjects varied by region. The list of schools and classes to take part in the USE in 2001–2008 was determined by local public education authorities in the regions of Russia. Presently, the USE is administered by the Ministry of Education and Science together with the regional and local public education authorities. The USE's development was led by Vladimir Filippov, while its implementation was overseen by Vladimir Khlebnikov. The Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science organizes the exam in collaboration with regional education authorities.


Subjects offered

The USE is conducted in the following subjects: * Russian language * Mathematics * Foreign languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese) * Physics * Chemistry * Biology * Geography * Literature * History * Social studies * Computer science. Russian language and mathematics are mandatory for all students.


Structure and Content

The USE's tasks are known as Control and Measuring Materials (Kontrol’no-Izmerytel’nyye Materialy, KIMs), developed by the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements. These tasks have evolved over time:


Previous Format

* Part A: Multiple-choice questions (choose one answer from four options). * Part B: Short-answer questions requiring brief responses, such as words or numbers. * Part C: Open-ended questions, such as problem-solving, essay writing, or argumentation, evaluated by regional examiners.


Current Format

Since the 2015/2016 academic year, multiple-choice questions (Part A) have been removed from all subjects. Tasks now focus on short answers (Part I) and detailed responses (Part II). Part I contains tasks in which the student must give a short written answer, usually consisting of several letters or numbers. Part II contains one or more tasks requiring the student to use creativity. Depending on the subject, tasks can include mathematical exercises, essays or questions requiring argumentative responses. Unlike part I, which is computer corrected, part II is evaluated by subject matter experts from the regional examination committee. While the initial grading may differ between subjects, a standardized 100-point scale is used for both graduation and university application purposes. The structure and content of KIMs are governed by three documents approved annually by Rosobrnadzor: the content codifier, exam specifications, and a demonstration version of the exam. The table provides the duration of exams, the number of tasks, and the maximum primary score for the 2024 USE. It also includes the minimum number of points (the lower boundary of a satisfactory grade), which is determined in test points.


Mathematics levels

Since 2015 the mathematics exam has been divided into two levels: * Basic Level: Required for students not pursuing higher education or applying to universities where mathematics is not a subject of admission. * Advanced Level: Required for students applying to universities where mathematics is a key subject in the entrance exams.


Examination Periods and Dates

The Unified State Exam (USE) follows a structured schedule each year, consisting of multiple periods to accommodate different student needs. A proof of valid reasons, such as illness or other circumstances, is required for eligibility in special testing periods. However, the absolute majority of students take their exams during the main period. The key examination periods include: * Early Period (March – April) – Reserved for Olympiad participants,
athlete An athlete is most commonly a person who competes in one or more sports involving physical strength, speed, power, or endurance. Sometimes, the word "athlete" is used to refer specifically to sport of athletics competitors, i.e. including track ...
s, and other students who are unable to attend the main session. * Main Period (Late May – June) – The primary examination window for all high school graduates. * Additional Testing Days – Available for students who miss their exams due to
illness A disease is a particular abnormal condition that adversely affects the structure or function (biology), function of all or part of an organism and is not immediately due to any external injury. Diseases are often known to be medical condi ...
, valid personal circumstances, or overlapping elective exam dates. * Retake Period (July) – Provides students with an opportunity to improve their scores or meet the minimum requirements for university admission. * Supplementary Period (September) – Intended for students who did not pass the mandatory exams required for a high school diploma. Below is the specific schedule for the 2025 examination period.


Paper forms

The Unified State Exam (USE) uses standardized forms to record students' responses. These forms must be completed according to strict guidelines to ensure accurate processing and evaluation. All answer sheets must be filled out using a black gel pen. The forms include: * Registration Form: Used to register participants. * Answer Sheet No. 1: Records responses for Part 1 tasks. * Answer Sheet No. 2: Used for detailed responses in Part 2 tasks. Additional sheets are provided if needed.


Structure and Filling Instructions

To ensure clarity and consistency, all forms must adhere to the following instructions: * Strict Formatting: When completing the forms, students must follow the specified character format as shown at the top of each sheet. Each letter, digit, or symbol (including punctuation marks like commas, periods, hyphens, etc.) should be written in a separate box. Writing multiple symbols in one box is not allowed.


Registration Form

The Registration Form is used to register participants for the exam. The following information must be filled out: * Region Code, Educational Institution Code, Class (including number and letter), Exam Center Code, and Room Number. * Subject Code, Subject Name, and Exam Date (in DD-MM-YY format). * The participant must sign within the designated rectangular box. Students must write their Last Name, First Name, and Patronymic in uppercase block letters, placing one letter per square box. The series and number of the identification document (such as a passport or birth certificate) are recorded in designated boxes at the top of the sheet.


Answer Sheet No. 1

This sheet is used to record responses for Part 1 tasks. At the top of Answer Sheet No. 1, students are required to fill out the following information: * Region Code * Subject Code * Subject Name * The participant must sign within the designated rectangular box.


Filling in Responses

Task numbers are pre-printed on the sheet. To record the response, students must: * Write each letter, number, or symbol (including punctuation) in a separate square box. * If there are multiple symbols, each must be written in a separate box. If a student makes a mistake in the "Results of Tasks with Short Answers" section, the original answer should not be crossed out. Instead, the student should: * Write the correct answer in the "Correction of Mistaken Answers for Tasks with Short Answers" section. * Task numbers are not pre-printed in this section. The student should write the task number, followed by a hyphen, and the corrected answer. Answer Sheet No. 1 is scanned and graded by a computer. Failure to follow the specified format may lead to errors in recognition, which may affect the correctness of the answer.


Answer Sheet No. 2

Answer Sheet No. 2, used for extended responses, has a slightly different structure. At the top, students must enter the Region Code, Subject Code, and Subject Name, similar to Answer Sheet No. 1. Additional fields such as "Reserve - 5," "Answer Sheet No. 2 (Sheet 2)," and "Sheet Number" are filled out in the same format, using uppercase characters and individual boxes. Below these fields, there is a large blank grid intended for extended answers or detailed solutions. * Students must continue using a black gel pen for all entries. * There is no need to maintain the strict character format used in Answer Sheet No. 1 within this section. Instead, students should write their responses clearly and legibly, following the grid layout. * Students must indicate the task number before writing the answer. * Rewriting the task instructions is unnecessary. After completing the response, any remaining empty space on the page should be filled in neatly to prevent tampering. The letter "Z" is commonly used for this purpose, though any consistent pattern is acceptable. All forms are highly secured against forgery, featuring elements such as holograms and
watermark A watermark is an identifying image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light (or when viewed by reflected light, atop a dark background), caused by thickness or density variations i ...
s. Incorrectly filled forms may result in unrecognized responses, which are counted as errors. The reverse side of the form is not intended for use. All Unified State Exam (USE) forms are sized at 210 mm × 297 mm. File:Unified State Exam 2023 - 1.jpg, Registration form File:Unified State Exam 2023 - 2.jpg, Answer Sheet No. 1 File:Unified State Exam 2023 - 3.jpg, Answer Sheet No. 2 (Page 1) File:Unified State Exam 2023 - 4.jpg, Answer Sheet No. 2 (Page 2) File:Unified State Exam 2023 - 5.jpg, Additional Answer Sheet


Scoring System

Each completed USE task is awarded 1 or more points. The sum of these points forms the candidate's primary score. The number of primary points varies depending on the subject. For example, in 2024, the minimum number of primary points is in the Basic Mathematics USE (21 primary points), while the maximum is in the
Foreign language A foreign language is a language that is not an official language of, nor typically spoken in, a specific country. Native speakers from that country usually need to acquire it through conscious learning, such as through language lessons at schoo ...
s USE (82 primary points). Next, the correspondence between primary and test scores is established, with the maximum test score always set at 100. The conversion scale from primary to test scores depends on a
statistical analysis Statistical inference is the process of using data analysis to infer properties of an underlying probability distribution.Upton, G., Cook, I. (2008) ''Oxford Dictionary of Statistics'', OUP. . Inferential statistical analysis infers properties of ...
of the USE results for all exam participants and is calculated using a specialized computer program. This scale is not uniform across subjects. For instance, in the
Russian language Russian is an East Slavic languages, East Slavic language belonging to the Balto-Slavic languages, Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European language family. It is one of the four extant East Slavic languages, and is ...
USE in 2024, 30 primary points out of 50 were converted into 58 test points, whereas in the Advanced Mathematics USE, 10 primary points out of 32 were also converted into 58 test points. Another characteristic of the conversion scale is its
non-linearity In mathematics and science, a nonlinear system (or a non-linear system) is a system in which the change of the output is not proportional to the change of the input. Nonlinear problems are of interest to engineers, biologists, physicists, mathe ...
—a small change in primary points at the edges of the scale (i.e., close to zero or the maximum value) leads to a significant change in test points. In contrast, in the middle of the scale, a 1-point change in primary score usually results in an increase of 1 or 2 test points.


Results and Retakes

Since 2009, students can view their USE results online through regional information centers. However, due to privacy concerns, Rosobrnadzor no longer allows publishing personal results on public platforms. Students who fail a mandatory exam can retake it in the same year, but failing both Russian and mathematics requires waiting until the following year.


Percentage of graduates who failed the exam on the first attempt


Appeals Process

There are two main types of appeals for the Unified State Exam (USE): # Violation of Exam Procedures: #* If there is a violation of established exam procedures, the participant can file an appeal on the exam day with an authorized representative of the State Examining Commission. If the appeal is upheld, the participant's exam results will be annulled, and they will be allowed to retake the exam on another day as specified in the official schedule. # Disagreement with the Scores: #* If a student disagrees with their score, they can submit an appeal within two working days of the exam results being announced. The appeal will be reviewed by a conflict commission, which may lead to a reassessment of the score (including the possibility of a lower score). If errors are found in the processing or checking of the exam papers, the conflict commission will forward the information to the Regional Information Processing Center (RIPC) for recalculation. #* The conflict commission does not review appeals related to the content or structure of the exam materials, nor does it address issues related to the student's compliance with exam rules.


University Admissions

The USE is the primary method for university admissions in Russia. USE plays a role of unified entrance exam to the most universities in the country. Applicants submit their USE results along with their applications. Usually, applicants use results from two, three, or four USE subjects. The Russian language exam is mandatory for every application. Results are valid for four years. Some universities may conduct additional exams for creative or specialized fields.


Controversies and Opinions

The debate surrounding the Unified State Exam (USE) has continued since its introduction in 2001. It became especially heated in 2008 when all regions joined the USE system, and most high school graduates began taking the exam. A portion of graduates and their parents, some university professors, and certain school teachers view the USE negatively. The main reason is that students often receive lower scores on the USE compared to the grades they were given in school or in traditional examination formats. However, since 2009, the final high school diploma grade for each subject is calculated as the average of the student’s grades from the last two years of study, regardless of their USE results. Additionally, USE scores are not converted into the traditional five-point grading scale.


Arguments in Favor of the USE

# Helps eliminate
corruption Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense that is undertaken by a person or an organization that is entrusted in a position of authority to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's gain. Corruption may involve activities ...
and
nepotism Nepotism is the act of granting an In-group favoritism, advantage, privilege, or position to Kinship, relatives in an occupation or field. These fields can include business, politics, academia, entertainment, sports, religion or health care. In ...
in university admissions. # Assesses students’ knowledge and abilities more objectively than traditional exams. # Encourages students to prepare more thoroughly, including independent study. # Allows for the comparison of education quality across different schools and
regions In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
. # Enables students to apply to universities far from their place of residence without traveling, by simply submitting their USE results by mail or electronically. This also simplifies applications to multiple universities without requiring entrance exams at each one. # Identifies talented students from rural areas who previously lacked opportunities to take entrance exams in major cities. # Partial computerization of grading saves time and money by reducing the need for human examiners. # Raising USE standards is believed to improve overall education quality, teacher qualifications, and the quality of educational materials. # The USE is similar to standardized exams in developed countries (e.g., USA, Israel), which could eventually lead to the international recognition of Russian high school diplomas. However, the Russian model more closely resembles the Chinese system, where university admission is based solely on state exam results. # The USE provides a wider grading scale (100 points) compared to traditional exams (effectively four levels), allowing for better differentiation among top students.


Arguments Against the USE

# The transition from comprehensive exams to standardized tests discourages students from developing reasoning, argumentation, and problem-solving skills, weakening logical and critical thinking abilities. # The USE in
social studies In many countries' curricula, social studies is the combined study of humanities, the arts, and social sciences, mainly including history, economics, and civics. The term was coined by American educators around the turn of the twentieth century as ...
has been criticized for containing ambiguously worded questions and controversial answer choices. # Some test questions can be answered through guessing or elimination without actual knowledge of the subject. # The USE does not completely eliminate
corruption Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense that is undertaken by a person or an organization that is entrusted in a position of authority to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's gain. Corruption may involve activities ...
. # A single standardized test cannot adequately assess both weak and highly prepared students. # It does not account for school specialization—students from humanities-focused and science-focused schools take the same mandatory exams. # The USE format differs from regular classroom assessments, forcing students and teachers to spend additional time learning the exam procedures rather than focusing on the curriculum. # The USE has led to a new form of tutoring aimed specifically at preparing students for the exam rather than deepening their knowledge. # Errors in the computerized grading of sections A and B can misinterpret student answers, marking them as incorrect. # Non-language subjects cannot be taken in the languages of Russia’s ethnic minorities, except Russian. # The Russian language USE cannot replace a full-fledged final essay exam, which previously had the highest status among high school exams. # Although the USE was intended to increase access to higher education for low-income students, university budget-funded places are still primarily awarded to students from wealthy families. # High school students perceive the USE as a stressful experience associated with emotional pressure and increased workload.


Legal Proceedings

On May 15, 2009, the
Supreme Court of Russia The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation () is a court within the judiciary of Russia and the court of last resort in Russian administrative law, civil law, criminal law and commercial law cases. It also supervises the work of lower courts ...
upheld the legality of the Unified State Exam (USE) as a form of state final certification for secondary education and dismissed a lawsuit seeking to annul the corresponding order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. The lawsuit was filed by a group of parents of schoolchildren who opposed the use of standardized test formats in the exam. On April 21, 2009, the Supreme Court of Russia ruled that it is legally justified to prohibit the USE (for non-language subjects) from being conducted in languages other than Russian. In August 2018, the Central District Court of
Novosibirsk Novosibirsk is the largest city and administrative centre of Novosibirsk Oblast and the Siberian Federal District in Russia. As of the 2021 Russian census, 2021 census, it had a population of 1,633,595, making it the most populous city in Siber ...
rejected a lawsuit filed by Artem Veselov, a graduate of Novosibirsk Gymnasium No. 4, against the Ministry of Education of the Novosibirsk Region. The graduate demanded an increase in his USE score for social studies. Veselov disagreed with the experts' decision, who marked his answer incorrect because he cited a Higher School of Economics textbook that was not included in the official list of recommended school materials.


Scandals

In the spring of 2010, 70 teachers in the Rostov region were arrested for taking the USE on behalf of students in exchange for a 40,000-ruble bribe. Similar criminal cases were investigated in the Saratov region, the
Republic of Dagestan Dagestan ( ; ; ), officially the Republic of Dagestan, is a republic of Russia situated in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe, along the Caspian Sea. It is located north of the Greater Caucasus, and is a part of the North Caucasian Fede ...
,
Perm Krai Perm Krai (, ; ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (a Krais of Russia, krai), located in Eastern Europe. Its administrative center is Perm, Russia, Perm. The population of the krai was 2,532,405 (2021 Russian census, 2021 ...
, and other regions. In May 2013, students who took the exam in the Far East of Russia uploaded their completed answer sheets online. Due to the time zone difference, students in the European part of Russia were able to access this information before their exams. The scandal drew the attention of Russian Prime Minister
Dmitry Medvedev Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev (born 14 September 1965) is a Russian politician and lawyer who has served as Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia since 2020. Medvedev was also President of Russia between 2008 and 2012 and Prime Mini ...
. As a result, some students’ exam scores in the Belgorod region were annulled. In 2018, Dmitry Gushchin, a well-known educator from Saint Petersburg and creator of the educational website Reshu-EGE, exposed leaked exam tasks for mathematics, and later for chemistry, by publishing them online. These materials had already been widely circulated on the internet. As a result, Rosobrnadzor (the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science) filed a lawsuit against Dmitry Gushchin.


Idea of Partial Abandonment of the USE

On April 9, 2014, Minister of Education Dmitry Livanov announced that starting in 2015, there were plans to reintroduce oral exams for humanities subjects. It was also planned to eliminate Section "A" from the USE. In August 2016, after being appointed
Minister of Education An education minister (sometimes minister of education) is a position in the governments of some countries responsible for dealing with educational matters. Where known, the government department, ministry, or agency that develops policy and deli ...
, Olga Vasilyeva stated that the USE would not be abolished but that further reforms in the Russian education system were necessary. In June 2024, deputies of the State Duma from the LDPR,
CPRF The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF; ) is a communist political party in Russia that officially adheres to Marxist–Leninist philosophy. It is the second-largest political party in Russia after United Russia. The youth o ...
, and SRZP factions proposed a bill aimed at abolishing the Unified State Exam and returning to a system of traditional state examinations.


International Comparisons

The USE is often compared to standardized exams in other countries, such as: * United States:
SAT The SAT ( ) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Since its debut in 1926, its name and Test score, scoring have changed several times. For much of its history, it was called the Scholastic Aptitude Test ...
and ACT * United Kingdom:
A-level The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational ...
s * Germany:
Abitur ''Abitur'' (), often shortened colloquially to ''Abi'', is a qualification granted at the end of secondary education in Germany. It is conferred on students who pass their final exams at the end of ISCED 3, usually after twelve or thirteen year ...
* France:
Baccalauréat The ''baccalauréat'' (; ), often known in France colloquially as the ''bac'', is a French national academic qualification that students can obtain at the completion of their secondary education (at the end of the ''lycée'') by meeting certain ...
* China:
Gaokao The Nationwide Unified Examination for Admissions to General Universities and Colleges (), commonly abbreviated as the Gaokao (), is the annual nationally coordinated undergraduate admission exam in mainland China, held in early June. Despite the ...


Sources

{{Admission tests, state=expanded Higher education in Russia School examinations Standardized tests