EGE ( USE)

1. EGE (USE) Сущенко Елизавета, 11 «А» МОУ «Гимназия 56»

2. In recent years, the Russian education system has undergone significant changes. Most experts still canґt decide whether these are for better or worse. The main task of current reform is preserving the best elements of the old Soviet system while creating new mechanisms to address the needs and demands of the modern world.

3. «EGE»? • The most popular topic of discussion is the so-called "ediny gosudarstvenny ekzamen" (EGE) - the Unitied State Exam implemented upon high school graduation. The standardised test was introduced in Russia for the first time this year. Its structure is very similar to that of a well-known American SAT. Moreover, just like its foreign counterpart, the Russian standardised test greatly effects students’ options when selecting higher education institutes.

4. The EGE has been introduced gradually since 2001 across the Russian Federation, and serves as a school-leaving and university-entrance examination (by 2009 it will truly be a nationwide examination). Students typically take two subject areas of the test, from among the following: • Russian language (mandatory) • Geography • Mathematics • Biology • History • General knowledge (social sciences) • Chemistry • Physics • Literature • Foreign languages (English, French, German) • Informatics

5. Who introduced EGE? FURSENKO, Andrei Alexandrovich Minister of Education and Science of Russia As education minister, Fursenko has strived to introduce into the education system the Common State Examination (EGE) which was conceived by his predecessor Vladimir Filippov (such examination is used to determine matriculation to third level education). Fursenko reversed his initial disapproval of the EGE to support it in August 2004. Since the autumn of 2004 the EGE has been brought into force on a trial basis in a number of regions in Russia. In August 2006 the Russian government approved of a bill which states that the EGE will be implemented nationwide from 2009 onwards. However, because of pressure from certain members of the educational profession who are dissatisfied with the new project - notably the rector of Moscow State University (MGU) Viktor Sadovnichy - the bill contains a number of conditions which allows for the top Russian universities to admit students based on their performances in the specialized All-Russia Schools' Olympiad and not in the EGE. In January 2007 the law on the introduction of the EGE was approved by the State Duma, while in February of the same year further approval was received from the Federation Council and from President Putin.

6. «Lucky» • Alumni-2009 not to be envied: they were the first "lucky" to experience for yourself all the charm of a new system of admission to higher education. But most likely, the structure of graduate school and university entrance exam to continue in 2010, so the EGE will be a basic test, which will take the students. In the delivery of Russian language and mathematics have some more details. They shall be first, and if the student does not pass one of these exams twice, ie, failed to "retake" it is not allowed to "profile" exams and receive a certificate of secondary education. What undoubtedly makes important to address this issue, as Preparations for the unified state examination in Russian language and mathematics at the beginning of the school year. And can not be excluded that in grades 10-11 will "coach" the students directly to the delivery of EGE. But in our view to this issue should be approached more seriously, chose a course of additional education. However, more recently, there is a huge choice of schools, on the basis of which you can prepare your child to EGE.

7. This year, the EGE passed the 1 million 97 thousand 690 Russian graduates. Of these, 1 million 60 thousand - is directly graduates and more than 37 thousand - are those who have graduated from high school in the past, and now those who passed the EGE as an entrance test.

8. Defenders of standardised testing say the process helps evaluate intellectual aptitude and the quality of education in Russia in an unbiased and consistent manner - a much needed tool in the current state of the Russian education system. The knowledge that high school and college officials gain from this new structured method of evaluation helps them better judge high school graduatesґ level of preparation and more fairly compare applicants.

9. However, according to some experts, the standardised testsґ "undercover mission" is to also fight corruption and the grade-buying tendency that seems to infect the Russian education system on all levels. According to a UNESCO report in June 2009,this year bribery in the Russian education system was worth about $150 mn. Some experts suggest that the tradition of bribing oneґs way into a good school or university has existed in Russia "since Soviet times". Most teachers believe the test implementation approach chosen by education officials is not equipped to solve the problem. "Education reform should assist the people involved in the process - teachers and pupils - not the government officials with their artificial charts and far-fetched goals," says Elena, a maths teacher and headmistress at a Moscow private school. "Cheaters will always find a way around the system.

10. The new testing method creates far more problems than it actually solves. Instead of helping our graduates show their knowledge and prove worthy of the selected profession, the new system handicaps their expressional ability and creates confusing results, thus leaving room for manipulation and plain computer mistakes," she says. Just like Elena, Sergey, a history teacher, is opposed to the reform innovation, calling for a"better and clearer curriculum and new teaching methods, instead of confusing testing procedures alien to the very Russian mentality".