The early stage of passing the Unified State Exam is coming to an end, so we have collected tips from those who have already passed the exam for those who are yet to do so. The guys share their personal experiences and tell what happened in the classroom, why they took the exam early, and what those who will take the Unified State Exam in the summer should pay attention to. The first subject is mathematics – specialized and basic.
Galina Sysoeva
I took basic mathematics early because on May 22 I am flying to Croatia for the World Dance Championships as part of the Russian national team. During the test, I was the only one in the room; the rest of the guys were taking specialized mathematics in another room.
My set of documents was printed right in front of me and very quickly, after which the observers helped me fill out the registration form.
The tasks in the KIM were the same as in all the collections we used to prepare for. In my opinion, everything is simple.
I advise graduates not to worry during the exam and solve all the tasks in a row in the remaining time - then there will be no surprises for you in the exam.
Nikita Dobrovolsky
I’m retaking the Unified State Exam in specialized mathematics this year, so I’m doing it ahead of schedule. I can say that I came across an easy option.
I'm not sure that I completed all the tasks correctly, but some of them were much easier than those that I was used to during preparation.
I didn’t really like that it wasn’t written how to fill out Part C correctly, so it took me seven sheets, while the others took a maximum of three.
Yana Veteranan
I took the exam in specialized mathematics ahead of schedule because last year I made a mistake during the main period. I missed the first task, forgot it and wrote down all the answers in the wrong order.
This year I didn't like how everything was organized. Now CMMs are printed right in the classroom. While the teachers were typing them, they ran out of paper and had to do it all over again. Some students were nervous, others were laughing and joking.
The first part was very simple - there were no problems that we did not solve. But the second part seemed difficult. The tasks are the same as in the collections, but much more calculations need to be done. If I solved the first part in an hour, then I spent the rest of the allotted time on solving the second part - although, in theory, this is what should be done. There was a guy sitting behind me, he even cursed several times because of the second part. Six out of 14 people left an hour later - I don’t know what they managed to decide there.
Alexey Ryabovsky
I had already taken the Unified State Exam in specialized mathematics, but I entered the wrong university where I wanted. I decided to re-enroll.
The atmosphere in the classroom was calm, the tasks were no easier than at the main stage, and even more difficult than last year. Graduates, remember that you are running out of time - this is the main difficulty you will face in the exam.
I didn’t even use drafts based on the experience of the previous year, knowing that there would be no time to rewrite. I wrote all the allotted hours without being distracted. I didn't have time to do the second part of task 16. If I had had at least half an hour more, I would have decided until the end.
The most important advice is to decide. If you know how to solve this or that task, you won’t even have to think; when you see the tasks, you’ll start writing right away and save time.
If you are applying for a high score, then you will not have a chance to sit and think.
Who is allowed to take the Unified State Exam?
All graduates of educational institutions in Russia who have annual grades in all subjects of the curriculum for grades X-XI (XII) not lower than satisfactory are allowed to pass the state final certification.
The decision whether or not to admit a student to state certification is made by the pedagogical council of the institution in which the educational process is carried out and is formalized by order.
To be admitted to the Unified State Exam since 2015, students must receive credit for the final essay, which must be written in December or no later than April of the current year. Graduates of previous years write a final essay if they wish.
All important information about the final essay is in the “Final essay for the Unified State Exam” section.
What tasks are found on the Unified State Exam?
Unified State Examination tasks are provided during the exam in the form of an individual package of CMMs (testing and measuring materials).
Projects of KIMs for the 2019 Unified State Exam in all subjects have been published on the website www.ege.edu.ru, which is the official portal of the Unified State Examination. You can get acquainted with them in the section of the FIPI (Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements) Unified State Examination website / Demo versions, specifications, codifiers. On the same site you can find demo versions of CMMs from previous years.
The demo version shows what the tasks on the Unified State Exam will be like, but does not reflect all elements of the content of the tasks. In order to clearly know which topics need to be reviewed before the exam, open the document called “Specification”. It lists all the relevant topics.
In addition, the “Demo version” section may contain applications with additional materials (for example, dictionaries of accents and paronyms for the Russian language exam). These apps will help you prepare for the exam because they contain material that may be particularly challenging.
All demo versions are in the section “Demo versions of CMMs for the Unified State Exam”.
What teaching aids should you use when preparing for the Unified State Exam?
You probably noticed that many publications bear the “Recommended by FIPI” stamp. In fact, the expert council of FIPI (Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements) has not reviewed or recommended any textbooks or manuals for many years. Use textbooks from reputable publishers and read recommendations on sites you trust.
It is best to use manuals on subjects from the Federal List, which is recommended by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
The FIPI website www.fipi.ru contains a Federal bank of test tasks, which includes materials that were used during the Unified State Examination in previous years in all general education subjects. Unfortunately, this section of the site also contains tasks in an outdated format.
The list of recommended publications is in the “Textbooks and Manuals” section.
What are the deadlines for the Unified State Examination?
The main dates for the Unified State Exam are May-June. In addition, in April, graduates can take the Unified State Exam early.
In February 2015, for the first time, the Unified State Examination in Russian language and geography will be held for persons who have already completed these courses. In addition, since 2015, additional deadlines for passing the Unified State Exam have been introduced in September for graduates who received an unsatisfactory result on the exam in May. Those who are dissatisfied with the results of the main period and are thinking about entering a university next year can also take the exam in September.
All dates are in the “Unified State Exam Calendar” section.
How many tasks are there in KIM?
All KIMs for one subject are standardized and contain the same number of tasks in the same thematic sequence. But the number of tasks in different subjects and the time for completing them do not match, for example, the 2015 Unified State Exam in the Russian language requires completing 25 tasks in 210 minutes.
You can get exact information about the number of tasks for each subject in the section “Demo versions of KIMs for the Unified State Exam”.
How long does it take to pass the Unified State Exam?
In general, the Unified State Examination in each subject lasts at least 180 minutes. In different years, the duration of the exam in certain subjects differed slightly (by 5-10 minutes). This depends on the structure of the exam task. The shortest exams - in basic mathematics, biology, geography and English - take three hours, the longest - in specialized mathematics, social studies, history, physics, computer science, literature - last almost four hours. The duration of the Unified State Examination for more than four hours is not allowed, since in this case a lunch break is required.
In all regions of the country, the Unified State Exam begins at 10:00 local time. The announced duration of the exam does not include the time allocated for preparatory activities (instructing USE participants, opening special delivery packages with exam materials, filling out registration fields on USE forms).
The duration of the Unified State Examination for each subject is determined in advance and is established by order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation annually.
The duration of the Unified State Exam in 2016 is now stated in the Projects of demo versions in the subjects:
Unified State Examination in mathematics basic 180 minutes (3 hours)
Unified State Examination in mathematics profile 235 minutes (3 hours 55 m)
Unified State Exam in Russian 210 minutes (3.5 hours)
Unified State Exam in Social Studies 235 minutes (3 hours 55 m)
Unified State Exam in Physics 235 minutes (3 hours 55 m)
Unified State Exam in History 235 minutes (3 hours 55 m)
Unified State Exam in Biology 180 minutes (3 hours)
Unified State Exam in Chemistry 210 minutes (3.5 hours)
Unified State Examination in computer science 235 minutes (3 hours 55 m)
Unified State Examination in Literature 235 minutes (3 hours 55 m)
Unified State Examination in Geography 180 minutes (3 hours)
Unified State Examination in Foreign Languages 180 minutes (3 hours)
Is it true that it is easier to pass the Unified State Exam early than at the main stage?
All KIMs are formed in accordance with the Federal State Educational Standard for complete secondary general education and approved codifiers and specifications (see the section “Demonstration versions of KIMs for the Unified State Exam”). Options for KIMs in the early period are no easier and no more difficult than at the main stage of the exam. Since 2015, FIPI has been publishing one real version of the KIM for the early period, which makes it possible to assess the real complexity of the exam tasks. The content (general formulation of questions) and complexity of tasks in these CIMs do not differ from what is offered in the Demo version and in the exams in May-June.
Why are different CMMs needed in different time zones? Will my region have different quests than others?
All KIMs are formed in such a way as to ensure variability in the sets of individual examination tasks. In each time zone, a separate set of tasks is used for this, from which an individual version is formed for each student. KIMs, which are used in different regions of the country and in different time zones, may have noticeable differences from each other, sometimes even the wording of the tasks does not coincide (“in which words one letter N is missing” and ““ in which words are two letters NN missing”) . However, all KIMs are formed in accordance with the Federal State Educational Standard of Complete Secondary General Education and approved codifiers and specifications, and all Unified State Exam tasks are similar to those offered in manuals and collections of standard options.
If I am a winner of the All-Russian Olympiad, is this taken into account when passing the Unified State Exam?
The diploma of the winner of the All-Russian Olympiad is equivalent to 100 points in the subject of the Olympiad. If you plan to enter a university in a specialty that corresponds to the profile of the Olympiad, you will be admitted without passing exams. If you enter a specialty that does not correspond to the profile of the Olympiad, then the diploma of the winner of the All-Russian Olympiad will be equal to 100 points for one entrance test corresponding to the subject of the Olympiad.
The Unified State Exam has a flexible schedule that takes into account the capabilities of everyone who wants to take it. Schoolchildren will have to take it without fail, but college graduates and previous years can choose when to take it.
The Unified State Exam takes place in two stages - Early and Main. In earlier years there were several waves: early winners, medalists, etc. However, over time, all this was simplified and now there are only two stages.
In this article we will be interested in the early stage. It starts in March and ends in April. The early stage is practically no different from the main stage in terms of its tasks and conditions.
Who can take the Unified State Exam early?
The following are allowed for the early Unified State Examination:
- graduates of previous years;
- graduates of colleges, technical schools, schools;
- guys who are about to serve in spring conscription;
- schoolchildren who are about to move for permanent residence to another country;
- participants in all-Russian or international competitions and competitions that take place during the main stage;
- graduates who will undergo planned treatment during the main stage;<
- graduates who, due to geographical and climatic conditions, will not be able to attend the main stage.
In any case, in order to become a participant in the early Unified State Exam, you must provide reasons for this. That is why some graduates try to have reasons to pass the Unified State Exam early.
Advantages of the early stage of the Unified State Exam
The fact that many people try to pass the Unified State Exam early is explained by some advantages:
- The sooner you get through this Unified State Exam, the better. It is difficult to spend a whole year, or even two, in preparation for exams; passing the exam ahead of schedule is a way out of the situation.
- Fewer participants, fuss and mistakes in the organization. These are undoubted advantages.
- The exam results are published much earlier.
- The weather is better too. During the main stage it is hot, and in spring it is cooler, i.e. conditions are more comfortable.
Disadvantages of taking the Unified State Exam early
Fast does not mean better, so early Unified State Examination has its disadvantages:
- There is little time for preparation, and you will also have to go through part of the school program on your own;
- In some subjects you will have to be the first to know about changes in the Unified State Exam structure;
- If you do not live in a big city, then you will have to travel far to the point for taking the Unified State Exam early.
In any case, the early stage of the Unified State Exam is not much different from the main stage. We would like to warn you that many people think that the tasks at the early Unified State Examination are easier than at the main stage. This is wrong. Basically, this opinion is formed due to the fact that one option, which is published on the official website, is most often more a demonstration than a real one. Therefore, when looking through the published early options, do not be fooled, the real options are much more complicated.
Like last year, in 2017 there are two “streams” of the Unified State Exam – an early period (it takes place in mid-spring) and the main period, which traditionally starts at the end of the academic year, the last days of May. The official draft Unified State Exam schedule “specifies” all the dates for taking exams in all subjects in both of these periods - including additional reserve days provided for those who, for good reason (illness, coincidence of exam dates, etc.) were unable to pass the Unified State Exam within the specified time frame.
Schedule of early period for passing the Unified State Exam – 2017
In 2017, the early “wave” of the Unified State Exam will start earlier than usual. If last year the peak of the spring exam period occurred in the last week of March, then this season the spring break period will be free from the Unified State Examination.
The main dates of the early period are from March 14 to March 24. Thus, by the beginning of the spring school holidays, many “early-term students” will already have time to pass the tests. And this may turn out to be convenient: among the graduates who have the right to take the Unified State Exam in the early wave are guys who will participate in Russian or international competitions and competitions in May, and during spring break they often go to sports camps, specialized shifts in camps, etc. d. Pushing exams earlier will allow them to make the most of the exams.
Additional (reserve) days early period of the Unified State Exam 2017 will be held from April 3 to April 7. At the same time, many will probably have to write exams on reserve dates: if in the last year’s schedule no more than two subjects were taken on the same day, then in 2017 most elective exams are grouped “in threes”.
Separate days are allocated only for three subjects: the Russian language exam, which is mandatory for graduates and all future applicants, as well as mathematics and the oral part of the foreign language exam. At the same time, this year “early-term” students will take the “speaking” part before the written part.
The March exams are planned to be distributed by date as follows:
March 14th(Tuesday) – exam in mathematics (both basic and specialized level);
March 16(Thursday) – chemistry, history, computer science;
18th of March(Saturday) – Unified State Exam in foreign languages (oral part of the exam);
20th of March(Monday) – Russian language exam;
March 22(Wednesday) – biology, physics, foreign languages (written exam);
March 24(Friday) - Unified State Examination, literature and social studies.
There is a nine-day pause between the main and reserve days of the early period. All additional tests for “reservists” will take place over three days:
April 3(Monday) – chemistry, literature, computer science, foreign (speaking);
5th of April(Wednesday) – foreign (written), geography, physics, biology, social studies;
April 7(Friday) – Russian language, basic and.
As a rule, the bulk of those taking the Unified State Examination ahead of schedule are graduates of previous years, as well as graduates of secondary specialized educational institutions (in colleges and vocational lyceums, the secondary school program is usually “passed” in the first year of study). In addition, school graduates who will be absent for valid reasons during the main period of taking the Unified State Exam (for example, to participate in Russian or international competitions or to be treated in a sanatorium) or who intend to continue their education outside Russia can “shoot” the exams early.
Graduates of 2017 can also, at their own request, choose the date for taking exams in those subjects for which the program has been completed in full. This is relevant primarily for those who are planning - the school course on this subject is taught up to grade 10, and passing one of the exams early can reduce tension during the main period of the Unified State Exam.
Schedule of the main period for passing the Unified State Exam – 2017
The main period for passing the Unified State Exam in 2017 starts on May 26, and by June 16, most graduates will have completed the exam epic. For those who were unable to pass the Unified State Exam on time for a good reason or chose subjects with the same deadlines, there are reserve exam days from June 19. Like last year, the last day of the Unified State Exam period will become a “single reserve” - on June 30 it will be possible to take the exam in any subject.
At the same time, the exam schedule for the main period of the Unified State Examination 2017 is much less dense in comparison with early exams, and most graduates will probably be able to avoid “overlapping” exam dates.
Separate exam days are allocated for passing compulsory subjects: Russian language, basic and specialized level mathematics (students have the right to take either one of these exams or both at once, so they are traditionally spaced out over several days in the main period schedule).
As last year, a separate day is allocated for the most popular elective exam - social studies. And two separate days are allocated for passing the oral part of the exam in foreign languages. In addition, a separate day is allocated for the subject that is not the most popular on the Unified State Exam - geography. Perhaps this was done in order to space out all natural science subjects in the schedule, reducing the number of coincidences.
Thus, in the Unified State Exam schedule there remain two pairs and one “troika” of subjects, exams for which will be taken simultaneously:
- chemistry, history and computer science;
- foreign languages and biology,
- literature and physics.
The exams must take place on the following dates:
26 of May(Friday) – geography,
May 29(Monday) – Russian language,
May 31(Wednesday) – history, chemistry, computer science and ICT,
2 June(Friday) – specialized mathematics,
June 5(Monday) – social studies;
June 7(Wednesday) – ,
the 9th of June(Friday) – written foreign language, biology,
June 13(Tuesday) – literature, physics,
June 15(Thursday) and June 16(Friday) – foreign oral.
Thus, most schoolchildren will prepare for graduation “with a clear conscience”, having already passed all scheduled exams and received results in most subjects. Those who missed the main examination period, chose subjects with the same deadlines, received a “fail” in Russian or mathematics, were removed from the exam, or encountered technical or organizational difficulties while taking the Unified State Exam (for example, a lack of additional forms or a power outage), exams will be taken on reserve dates.
Reserve days will be distributed as follows:
June 19(Monday) – computer science, history, chemistry and geography,
June 20(Tuesday) – physics, literature, biology, social studies, written foreign language,
21st of June(Wednesday) – Russian language,
22nd of June(Thursday) – mathematics at a basic level,
June 28(Wednesday) – mathematics at the profile level,
June 29(Thursday) – oral foreign language,
30 June(Friday) – all subjects.
Can there be changes to the Unified State Exam schedule?
The draft official Unified State Exam schedule is usually published at the beginning of the school year, discussed, and the final approval of the exam schedule occurs in the spring. Therefore, changes are possible in the Unified State Exam schedule for 2017.
However, for example, in 2016, the project was approved without any changes and the actual exam dates completely coincided with those announced in advance - both in the early and in the main wave. So the chances that the 2017 schedule will also be adopted without changes are quite high.