English exam training options online. Unified State Examination in English

The busy time for graduates is approaching - on the eve of the Unified State Examination, including English language. Millions of eleventh-graders actively study textbooks, take private lessons from tutors, and cram the rules. But in the 21st century the Internet has become a great assistant for those for whom preparation for the Unified State Exam in English is important. In this article we will provide an overview of the best online resources for preparing for this exam, and also consider the structure of the final test and give useful tips how to pass the Unified State Exam in English.

Structure of the Unified State Exam in English 2018

Unified State Exam (Unified State Exam) is a graduation examination paper at school, without which it is impossible to enter a university. Upon admission to higher education educational institution Final exam scores are also important, so schoolchildren try to pass the Unified State Exam with the highest scores. The USE in English 2018 is not mandatory, but applicants who intend to enroll in a specialized university will have to take this exam.

In terms of complexity and structure, the Unified State Exam in English is similar to the international FCE testing, for successful completion which requires upper-intermediate language proficiency.

For Russian-speaking schoolchildren, this is a fairly high bar, so it is better to start preparing for the upcoming final exam in advance - from grades 9 and 10. In this case, in 2-3 years, the student, without rushing from the initial level, will be able to fully gain knowledge and develop the skills to successfully pass the Unified State Exam in English.

Of course, it is possible to prepare for this exam faster, but for this the student must have a fairly high level of foreign language proficiency, at least Intermediate.

To prepare for successfully passing the Unified State Exam, you need not only to know the subject well, but also to understand how the exam work is structured.

What elements does the 2018 Unified State Exam in English consist of? Exam test consists of several parts: written and oral. The first part is mandatory, and the second is optional; they are taken in different days.

The written part, in turn, consists of five sections:

  • listening;
  • reading;
  • vocabulary and grammar;
  • letter.

For each section, a student can receive a maximum of 20 points. The graduate is allocated 180 minutes to complete 40 tasks. Having passed the first part of the exam with excellent marks, a student can score 80 points out of 100. To get maximum amount points you will have to come again and take it oral part. It contains only 4 tasks, for which only 15 minutes are allotted. For the oral part you can get a maximum of 20 points.

Thus, for the Unified State Exam in English, a graduate can score the maximum number of points - 100, which practically guarantees him admission to a specialized university. However, to pass the exam with a 5, it is enough to score 84 points. And for the test to be counted, it must be passed with a 3, that is, a minimum of 22 points.

As a rule, test results are published on the official website of the Unified State Exam two weeks after passing the oral part. You can find out your result on the official resource ege.edu.ru by filling out the appropriate fields with your data. Having successfully passed Unified State Exam graduate receives an electronic certificate and is entered into a special register. Paper certificates have not been issued since 2014.

How to pass the Unified State Exam in English 2018?

To understand how it works final exam in English, we will consider in detail an example of such a test. And at the end of each section we will provide useful tips from tutors who specialize in preparing students for the Unified State Exam.

Principles of passing the audition

This section consists of three parts and takes 30 minutes to complete. These are exercises 1 to 9 from a total list of 40 tasks. The student will hear an audio recording of three fragments, which the examiners will turn on and do not stop for 30 minutes. There are pauses between fragments of the recording so that the student can read the task and transfer the answers to the form. For each correct answer, the graduate will receive 1 point.

  1. 7 statements are given. Then the student will have to listen to 6 statements and match them with statements, one of which is redundant. You can get 6 b.
  2. 7 statements are given. The student listens to the dialogue and determines which statements are relevant to the dialogue (True), which are not true (False), and which are not mentioned in it (Not Stated). The maximum possible score is 7 points.
  3. There are 7 questions given, each with 3 possible answers. The student needs to listen to the audio recording and choose the correct answer. Exercise for 7 points.

In total, you can score a maximum of 20 points for listening.

Tutor tips:

  1. When preparing for testing, it is listening in this format that allows you to get used to quickly understanding the task and searching for key phrases in speech that will indicate the correct answer.
  2. When choosing an answer, rely on the meaning of the speaker’s words, since in his speech he may mention key phrases to the entire task, but if you understand the meaning of what was said, you will get only one correct answer.


Principles of passing reading

This section also consists of three parts and 9 tasks, and half an hour is also allotted for their completion, that is, about 10 minutes for each part.

  1. 7 small texts and 8 headings are given. The student must read the texts and select appropriate headings for them, leaving an extra heading. You can dial 7 points.
  2. Given a text with 6 gaps. Below are 7 passages, 6 of which the graduate needs to insert into the text instead of gaps. For the task - 6 points.
  3. A short text and 7 questions are given. Each question has 4 possible answers, from which you need to choose 1 correct answer. It is possible to get 7 b.

In total, you can score a maximum of 20 points for reading.

Tutor tips:

  1. When completing the first task, you need to look for key phrases that will help you find the meaning of the entire text and point to the correct title. Typically, the main point is in the first sentence, so look carefully at the beginning of the paragraph to find the correct answer.
  2. To successfully complete the second task, you need to have a good understanding of how sentences are constructed in English. Gaps are often found in complex and compound sentences. You need to remember that in the subordinate clause who is used in relation to people, which - objects, and where - places. Also remember that the infinitive serves to express purpose.
  3. The questions in the third task are arranged in accordance with the position of the answers in the text, that is, at the beginning of the text you need to look for the answer to the first question, a little further - to the second, etc.

Principles of passing vocabulary and grammar

This section is designed to check lexicon schoolchildren, as well as how graduates learned grammatical structures in the English language. The student will have to complete three tasks in 40 minutes.

  1. Given a text in which 7 words are missing. To the right of the text there are words that need to be grammatically transformed (for example, putting a verb in the past tense) and inserted in place of the gap. Assignment for 7 points.
  2. Given a text with 6 gaps. On the right there are words that need to be transformed not only grammatically, but also lexically, that is, to form a single-root word that matches the meaning of the text and insert it in place of the gap. You can dial 6 points.
  3. Given a text with 7 gaps and 7 blocks of words with answer options. For each pass, the student must pick up 1 correct option out of 4 offered. It is possible to get 7 b.

In total, you can score a maximum of 20 points for vocabulary and grammar.

Tutor tips:

  1. If in the first task you are given a verb, then you need to put it in right time or use it in the correct form of voice (active or passive), or form a participle from it. The adjective often needs to be put in the superlative or comparative degree, and convert the numeral, as a rule, into an ordinal one.
  2. In the second task, most often, it is necessary to transform words of the same root by adding prefixes and suffixes, including negative ones.
  3. In the third task, usually, you need to demonstrate knowledge of word combinations - collocations. You will have to choose from 4 words that are similar in meaning; in order to choose the correct answer, you must carefully read the text.

Principles of submitting a letter

There are only two tasks in this section (write a letter and an essay), for which the student is given 80 minutes to complete.

  1. Given is the text of a short letter from a friend asking questions. The graduate must read the message and write a letter back to the friend, answering and asking questions. Volume: 100−140 words. You can get 6 b.
  2. A controversial statement has been given. The student needs to write an essay-argument on the topic, express his opinion, and give the opposite point of view, as well as explain his disagreement with it. Volume: 200−250 words. For this task - 14 points.

In total, you can score a maximum of 20 points for written work.

How to write a letter to a friend in English:

  1. A letter to a loved one is written in an informal style.
  2. Design of the "header". On the right top corner you need to write the address: first the city, then the country of residence. But it is better not to indicate the street name and house number, since even if the address does not exist, it can be interpreted as a disclosure of secret information.
  3. In the same corner, below the address, skipping one line, you need to write the date.
  4. Then on the left is written an informal address to the addressee: Dear Nil/Joe (the name will be indicated in the task). Keep in mind that in this case it is not acceptable to write Hello. Don't forget to add a comma after the address. Continuation of the letter - from a new line.
  5. Each paragraph, according to the rules, begins with a red line. You should start your letter by expressing gratitude to your friend for the message he received (Thanks a lot for your last letter). It wouldn’t hurt to apologize for the long answer (Sorry I haven’t been in touch for so long). It would be a good move if you mention some information from the message you received.
  6. Then the main part (second and third paragraphs) is written. In the second part you need to answer the questions received in the letter, and in the third part you need to ask questions to your friend.
  7. The fourth paragraph is the final one, it is necessary to notify the recipient about the end of the message (I"ve got to go now!). It would be good form if you offer to keep in touch (Take care and keep in touch!).
  8. At the end, you need to write a standard cliche - Best wishes, All the best (a comma is required), or others. Under this phrase on the next line you need to write your name.

How to write an essay on the Unified State Exam in English:

The essay is also written in a neutral style and contains five paragraphs:

  1. Introduction: the topic-problem is formulated and the existence of two opposing points of view is immediately indicated.
  2. Own opinion: express your own point of view on this issue and give 2-3 arguments in its defense.
  3. Opposing Opinions: Opposing points of view are presented and arguments are given to support them.
  4. Expressing disagreement: you need to explain the reason for disagreement with opposing opinions, and defend your point of view without using arguments from the second paragraph.
  5. Conclusion: a conclusion is written on the question posed.

Tutor tips:

  1. It is strongly recommended not to exceed the required volume. Only 10% error is acceptable, that is, for a letter it is permissible to write from 90 to 154 words, and for an essay - from 180 to 275 lexemes. If a student writes even one word less, he will not receive a single point for the task. If the volume is exceeded, the examiner will count the specified limit from the entire text and will evaluate only it, while the examiner will deduct points for the fact that the work is not completed, the topic is not disclosed or conclusions are not written.
  2. You should not write paragraphs containing only one sentence. Every thought must be revealed and argued. You can use such speech constructions as I believe, In my opinion, etc.
  3. Watch your writing style: in your letter, never use colloquial expressions like Wish me luck! or Guess what?, and in an essay it is better not to write informal well, cause and slang expressions.
  4. At the same time, it is recommended to use linking words in written work, since they add logic to the text, allow you to contrast either two parts of a sentence or supplement one of them.

Principles of passing oral speech

This is the shortest part of the exam, which is taken on another day, and lasts only 15 minutes, during which the student must complete four tasks.

The peculiarity of this part of the test is that the graduate performs tasks in front of a computer, on the screen of which a timer is turned on, and all answers are recorded through a microphone. At the same time, the examiner in the audience monitors the progress of testing.

  1. Popular science text appears on the monitor. In 90 seconds you need to quickly read it to yourself, and in the next 90 seconds you need to read it out loud with expression. Execution time: 3 minutes. For the task - 1 point.
  2. An advertisement of an advertising nature is displayed on the screen. Based on the keywords, you need to create five direct questions for this text. 90 seconds are allotted for preparation, after which you must have time to formulate each of the questions within 20 seconds. Execution time: 3 minutes. Behind correct execution- 5 B.
  3. Three photographs are offered, from which you need to choose one and describe it in accordance with the proposed plan. Execution time: 3.5 minutes. You can get - 7 b.
  4. Two pictures are shown that need to be compared, describing the differences and similarities, and explaining the choice. Execution time: 3.5 minutes. It is possible to dial - 7 points.

You can get a maximum of 20 points for the oral part.

Tutor tips:

  1. To prepare for the first assignment, you should work on texts on different topics, reading them with expression: you must observe all pauses, natural intonation, and logical stress. It is also important to meet the allotted time, but there is no need to rush too much.
  2. To successfully complete the second part oral exam, you need to practice the ability to ask questions to a variety of texts. When writing questions, do not forget to use auxiliary verbs and put them in correct form, agreeing with a noun.
  3. In 2018, at the Unified State Exam, the third task will ask you to describe a photograph to a friend. Therefore, when composing text, you need to use appeal. At the beginning of the description, you need to indicate which photo you chose (I"ve chosen photo number...). It is also important to answer ALL questions asked in the task, indicate where and when. Do not forget about the introductory phrase (I"d like to show you a picture from my photo album./Would you like to have a look at my picture?) and the final cliche (I hope you liked my picture./That"s all for now.).
  4. When performing the fourth task, the emphasis should be on comparing images, and not on their descriptive characteristics. When comparing pictures, you need to use such common cliches as In comparison to the first picture, this one... The first picture depicts... whereas/while the second picture depicts..., The main difference is that... etc.

This is what the Unified State Exam in English will look like in 2018 - the test is not easy, but you can successfully pass it if you prepare for it in advance, including using Internet resources.


Universal sites for preparing for the Unified State Exam

Before you start using a variety of online resources to prepare for the Unified State Exam, it is advisable to take a demo version of the exam, which can be downloaded from the official website of the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements.

Resources for preparing for the Unified State Exam in all school subjects:

  1. Examer - simulator for self-study for the Unified State Examination in history, English and Russian languages, chemistry, mathematics, physics and other school subjects. The program simulates tasks that may appear on an exam in the selected subject. After completing all the tasks, the Examiner sums up the results and tells you what mistakes were made. In addition, the program contains such sections as Theory, Options + expert verification, online game Unified State Exam Arena. The first part is free, then you have to pay.
  2. For many graduates a good helper became the “Unified State Exam 100 points” group in social network VK.com. By web address

Increasingly, parents of schoolchildren are turning to our school with a request to prepare future graduates for the Unified State Exam in English 2018. Therefore, we decided to write a detailed article in which we will tell you how to prepare for this exam: we will look at its structure and give practical advice for successfully passing each part of the Unified State Exam, and we will also present the best textbooks and online resources for preparing for this difficult test.

What is the Unified State Exam in English 2018

The Unified State Examination in English 2018 is a final exam at school, which is counted as an entrance exam to a university, which is why it is so important to pass it with a high score. For now, this exam is not mandatory, but if a graduate is going to enter a specialized university, he needs to pass this test.

In structure and level of difficulty, the Unified State Exam is similar to the international FCE exam. This means that in order to pass successfully, the student must have a level (above average). This is a high level, so we recommend starting to prepare for the Unified State Exam in English from the 10th grade, then in 2 years the student will be able to master the entire required amount of material at a normal pace.

In principle, you can prepare to take the exam in 1 year, but only if at the time of starting preparation the student already speaks English at an (intermediate) level. Don't know what level the graduate has? Then invite him to pass.

How is the Unified State Exam in English held in 2018? The exam consists of written and oral parts, which are held on different days. On one day, schoolchildren take the written part, it includes the following sections: listening, reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary. In total, on this day the graduate needs to complete 40 tasks in 180 minutes. A student can receive a maximum of 20 points for each section. Thus, for this day you can score 80 points.

The second part - oral - takes place on another day and available upon request. It lasts only 15 minutes and consists of 4 tasks. On this day, a graduate can earn another 20 points. We strongly advise all graduates to take the oral part: in case of unsuccessful answers you do not lose anything, but in case of successful - earn extra points.

Thus, a graduate can score a maximum of 100 points in the exam. The minimum score to pass the exam is 22 points.

Below we present a table for converting Unified State Exam scores in English into a five-point system.

Unified State Exam results are usually published 14 days after passing the second part of the exam, but in some cases they are known after 12 days. You can find out your results on the official Unified State Exam website by filling out all the required fields. Paper USE certificates were canceled in 2014, so now only electronic certificates are available.

Structure of the Unified State Exam in English 2018 and principles for successfully passing each part

In this chapter, we will tell you in detail about what tasks the graduate will have to complete in each part of the exam. In addition, we will provide advice from our teachers who prepare schoolchildren to take the Unified State Exam. By the way, if you are looking for a teacher who will prepare your child for the exam, pay attention to. They have been doing this for several years now and have developed their own strategy for successful preparation; they know what pitfalls await them in the exam, what typical mistakes schoolchildren make and how to get rid of these mistakes.

As an example, we will present you with a demo version of the Unified State Exam in English, provided by the official website of the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements fipi.ru.

Listening

The listening test lasts 30 minutes and consists of three parts. The first two parts are the first and second tasks, respectively, and the third part is tasks No. 3-9 (out of a total list of 40 tasks).

Listening for the Unified State Exam in English in 2018 includes 3 audio fragments combined into one recording. The examiners turn on the recording and do not stop it until the very end, but there are pauses between fragments to read the tasks and transfer the answers to the form. For each correct answer in this and other parts of the exam, the student receives 1 point. Let's see what the graduate will have to do in listening.

Exercise 1: 7 statements are given. The student listens to 6 statements and matches them with statements, one of which is redundant.

6 points.

Example:

Listening task 1

Task 2: 7 statements are given. The student listens to the dialogue and determines which statements correspond to the content of the dialogue (True), which do not correspond (False), and which are not mentioned in it (Not Stated).

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Listening task 2

Task 3: 7 questions are given, each of them has 3 possible answers. The student listens to the audio recording and selects the correct answer to each question.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Listening task 3

Our tips:

  1. When preparing for the exam, you need to do as many listening tasks as possible in exam format. This way, the graduate will get used to quickly reading assignments and catching key words in speech that will help them find the correct answer.
  2. When choosing an answer, you need to rely not on the words mentioned in the speaker’s speech, but on the meaning of his words. So, for example, in his speech he may in one way or another mention all the answers to the task, but if you delve into what was said, you can understand that there is only one correct answer.

Reading

The reading lasts 30 minutes and consists of 3 parts (9 tasks). We recommend spending no more than 10 minutes on each part in order to complete the allotted half hour.

Exercise 1: There are 7 short texts (3-6 sentences each) and 8 headings. You need to read the texts and choose the appropriate heading for each of them. In this case, 1 heading will be redundant.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Reading task 1

Task 2: Given a text that has 6 gaps. Below are 7 passages, 6 of which must be inserted in place of the gaps.

Maximum points: 6 points.

Example:

Reading task 2

Task 3: A short text and 7 questions for it are given. For each question there are 4 answer options, from which you need to choose 1 correct one.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Reading task 3

Our tips:

  1. When completing the first task, you need to look for keywords that will indicate the meaning of the text and help you find the desired title. In addition, often the main meaning of a paragraph is reflected in the first sentence, and the rest give some minor details. Therefore, in some cases you just need to carefully read the first sentence in order to complete the task correctly.
  2. To successfully complete the second task, you need to have a good understanding of how they are constructed in English. complex sentences. The fact is that the missing part in most cases is part of a compound or complex sentence. For example, if a student understands that subordinate clause who is used to refer to people, which to refer to objects, and where to refer to places, he will be able to successfully complete most tasks. It also needs to be repeated, for example, that the infinitive is used to express purpose.
  3. In the third task, the questions are arranged in the order in which they are answered in the text. That is, the answer to the first question will be at the beginning of the text, and not in the middle or end, the answer to the second question will be after the answer to the first, etc.

Grammar and vocabulary

This section of the Unified State Exam in English 2018 tests the graduate’s knowledge of grammatical structures and vocabulary. The student is given 40 minutes to complete it. Let's see what the student has to do.

Exercise 1: Given a text in which 7 words are missing. To the right of the text are words that need to be transformed grammatically (for example, put the verb in the right tense) and inserted in place of the gap.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Grammar and vocabulary, task 1

Task 2: Given a text with 6 gaps. On the right are words that need to be transformed both lexically and grammatically - to form a single-root word that matches the meaning of the text.

Maximum points: 6 points.

Example:

Grammar and vocabulary, task 2

Task 3: Given a text with 7 gaps. You need to choose 1 correct answer out of the four proposed for each of them.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Grammar and vocabulary, task 3

Our tips:

  1. The transformation of a word in the first part, as a rule, occurs according to the following principle. If you are given a verb, you must either use it in the correct tense, put it in the correct voice (active or passive), or form a participle from it. If an adjective is given, you must put it in the comparative or superlative degree. If you need to change a numeral, most likely you need to make it ordinal.
  2. The second part mainly tests knowledge of suffixes and prefixes, including negative ones, and the ability to form different parts of speech from a word with the same root.
  3. In the third part, knowledge of word combinations, so-called collocations, is most often tested. In addition, out of 4 words you will need to choose the most appropriate in meaning, that is, you need to know the difference between similar words, read into the context.

Letter

The graduate is given 80 minutes to write and check 2 written works.

Exercise 1: Given is the text of a short letter from a friend asking questions. The student needs to read it and write a response letter: answer the friend’s questions and ask him questions.

Volume: 100-140 words.

Maximum points: 6 points.

Example:

Letter, task 1

A letter to a friend is written in an informal style. The structure of this work is as follows:

  1. Making a “hat”

    In the upper right corner we write the address: on the top line we indicate the city, below it - the country of residence. No need to write the street and house number: This may be considered a disclosure of confidential information, even if the address is fictitious.

    After the address, skip 1 line and write the date the letter was written in the same upper right corner.

    Next, as usual, on the left we write an informal address: Dear Tom/Jim (the name will be given in the task). It is unacceptable to write Hello here. After the address, put a comma and continue writing the text of the letter on a new line.

  2. Text of the letter

    We start writing each paragraph with a red line.

    In the first paragraph, you need to thank your friend for the letter you received (Thanks a lot for your last letter) and apologize that you didn’t write earlier (Sorry I haven’t been in touch for so long). You can also mention some fact from the letter you received.

    In the fourth paragraph, you need to summarize - inform that you are finishing the letter (I’ve got to go now! It’s time for my favorite TV show), and offer to keep in touch (Take care and keep in touch!).

  3. End of the letter

    At the end, you need to write a final cliche phrase, which is always followed by a comma: All the best, Best wishes, etc.

    On the next line, under this phrase, you indicate your name.

Task 2: A statement (usually controversial) is given. The graduate writes an essay in which he discusses this topic, expresses his point of view, and also gives an opposing opinion and explains why he disagrees with it.

Volume: 200-250 words.

Maximum points: 14 points.

Example:

Letter, task 2

The essay is written in a neutral style and consists of 5 paragraphs:

  1. Introduction: we formulate the topic-problem and immediately indicate that there are two opposing points of view.
  2. Your opinion: we express our point of view (one) on this issue and give 2-3 arguments that confirm it.
  3. Opposing opinions: we write 1-2 opposing points of view and give arguments in favor of their existence.
  4. We express disagreement: we explain why we do not agree with the above points of view, and provide arguments in defense of our own opinion. However, they should not repeat the arguments from point 2.
  5. Conclusion: We draw a conclusion on the topic, point out that there are different points of view, and finally confirm our point of view.

Our tips:

  1. Stick to the required volume. It is permissible to deviate by 10% from the specified number of words, that is, you can write from 90 to 154 words in a letter and from 180 to 275 in an essay. If a graduate writes at least 1 word less (89), he will be given 0 points for the assignment. If the limit is exceeded, the examiner will count 140 words in a letter or 250 in an essay and evaluate it, and will deduct points for unfinished work, assignment design, topic disclosure, etc.
  2. Avoid paragraphs consisting of one sentence; you need to supplement and justify each of your thoughts. To do this, you can use the constructions In my opinion, I believe, etc.
  3. Monitor the style of written work: colloquial expressions like Guess what? or Wish me luck!, but in an essay it is better to stick to a more formal style. It is important not to overdo it with “informality”: all kinds of well, cause and slang expressions are unacceptable.
  4. Use linking words, they make the text logical and allow you to complement or contrast sentences.

Oral speech

The oral part of the exam is the shortest, it takes only 15 minutes. The graduate needs to complete as many as 4 tasks, for which he can receive a maximum of 20 points. The student submits assignments in front of the computer, his answers are recorded using a headset, and the time countdown is shown on the screen. There is an organizer in the audience who monitors the progress of the exam.

Exercise 1: Popular scientific text is displayed on the screen. In 1.5 minutes you need to prepare and in the next 1.5 minutes read it out loud expressively.

Lead time: no more than 3 minutes.

Maximum points: 1 point.

Example:

Oral speech, task 1

Lead time: about 3 minutes.

Maximum points: 5 points.

Example:

Oral speech, task 2

Task 3: Show 3 photos. You need to choose 1 and describe it according to the plan proposed right there in the task.

Lead time: about 3.5 minutes.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Oral speech, task 3

Task 4: 2 pictures are given. It is necessary to compare them, describe the similarities and differences, and explain why the chosen topic is close to the graduate.

Lead time: about 3.5 minutes.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Oral speech, task 4

Our tips:

  1. Take advantage online trainer for the oral part of the exam on the website injaz.ege.edu.ru. It completely simulates the exam, so you will become familiar with the format and understand exactly what you need to do, what time to meet, etc.
  2. To practice the first part of the exam you need take texts on different topics and learn to read them with the correct expression: there should be pauses in speech, logical stresses, natural intonation. In addition, the graduate must complete it in one and a half minutes, because the score is reduced if the text is not read to the end. However, you can’t rush either, because it’s not the reading speed that is being tested, but the ability to read the text expressively.
  3. To successfully complete the second task, you need learn to ask questions to various texts. In principle, the task itself is elementary; most errors are associated with the loss of auxiliary verb or its incorrect agreement with a noun. This problem can be easily solved by repeating question-writing exercises.
  4. In the third task, the examinee needs to select 1 photo from 3 proposed and describe it. Here's our main advice - read the assignment carefully. The point is that it changes a little every year, so learn to answer according to the wording of 2018. In 2018, graduates will have to describe a photograph to a friend, that is, the monologue should address him. In addition, it is necessary answer all questions in the assignment, for example, if it says where and when the photo was taken, you need to answer both questions - where and when. At the beginning, you must definitely indicate which photo we will be talking about (I’ve chosen photo number...). Don't forget also about the introductory one (Would you like to have a look at my picture? / I'd like to show you a picture from my photo album.) and the final one (That's all for now. / I hope you liked my picture.) phrases that make speech logical.
  5. In the fourth task you need to do the main focus of the speech is on comparing pictures, and not their description. In this case it is necessary use speech cliches: The first picture depicts... whereas/while the second picture depicts..., The main difference is that..., In comparison to the first picture, this one... etc. More similar speech cliches you learn with our article “Compare and Contrast Phrases”.

Textbooks and websites for preparing for the Unified State Exam in English 2018

Now you are familiar with the structure of the exam and understand that graduates will face a difficult test. However, you can pass the Unified State Exam in English in 2018 easily and successfully if you prepare well for it in advance. And in this the student will be helped, first of all, by a good teacher, as well as resources for preparing for this exam. We would like to introduce you to some textbooks and websites that our teachers use when preparing their students for the Unified State Exam. Take note of at least a few of them.

  1. The Macmillan Exam Skills for Russia textbook series includes books on preparation for each part of the Unified State Exam. With authentic texts and exercises, this series is one of the best for exam preparation. These books are quite complex, so we recommend that students with at least an Intermediate level study using them.
  2. "Model exams Unified State Exam options edited by Verbitskaya" - exist in various variations, include typical Unified State Exam assignments with answers. Using the book, you can check how well a graduate is prepared to take the exam.
  3. fipi.ru is the official website of the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements, which presents a large bank of standard tasks for the Unified State Exam. On the specified page, click on the inscription “English” and in the tab that opens on the left, select the skill that you want to train. Please note: there are no answers to the assignments on the site, therefore, to ensure that the graduate’s efforts are not wasted, we advise you to study with the teacher and submit completed assignments to him for checking.
  4. , talkenglish.com , podcastsinenglish.com - sites with educational podcasts in English. Of course, there are no standard tasks for the Unified State Exam, but you can practice listening comprehension skills in an interesting way and take a little break from the same type of exam tasks.

Our teacher Natalya has already prepared more than a dozen excellent students for the Unified State Exam in English, in her article “Exam, be good to me, or How to successfully pass the Unified State Exam in English,” she shares personal experience and advice for graduates.

So, now you can imagine the amount of work and know the secrets of successfully passing the Unified State Exam in English. We wish all graduates easy exams and high scores! And if you haven’t found a suitable teacher yet, sign up with us at.

I managed to finish school even before the Unified State Exam was introduced. Of course, there are many more opponents of such an examination system than supporters, but this is our reality, which is much easier to put up with than to resist.

The Unified State Exam in English is a difficult exam. In 2017, enter a good university with basic level It is unlikely that you will be able to pass the English language exam. To get a high score, you need to start preparing for the exam as early as possible.

As we know, the written part consists of 40 tasks, for which students are allocated 3 hours, and includes:

  • listening test;
  • reading test;
  • lexical and grammatical tasks, also in the form of a test;
  • letter consisting of two stages.

It is worth saying that for the first part of the English language exam, a maximum of 80 points is given; if a student needs to increase his score, then he must come on the second day to pass the oral part.

If the written part can be trained by studying independently using all kinds of manuals, then for the oral part you need a teacher.

This post will be devoted to the most successful study guides for preparing for the Unified State Exam in English on your own.

1. Macmillan Exam Skills for Russia

This is the only book to date for preparing for the Unified State Exam, which consists of 15 complete tests in the new Unified State Exam format, including the oral part. When working on the tests, all changes in the exam format were taken into account. The tests were created in collaboration with M.V. Verbitskaya, chairman of the subject commission on foreign languages Unified State Exam. The website Macmillan.ru presents Additional materials on the Unified State Exam for students and teachers: online tests, audio files, video tips, etc.

2. A.I. Nemykina, A.V. Pochepaeva - Unified State Exam. Oral part

The manual is a collection of tests for testing oral speech skills, as well as a simulator for practicing the skills of passing the oral part of the Unified State Exam in English on a computer. It is with this textbook that you should start preparing for the oral part if you study on your own. At the beginning it is given full analysis oral part tasks, and then 20 tests with explanatory materials.

3. Afanasyeva O., Evans V., Kopylova V. - Practice Exam Papers for the Russian National Exam

Given tutorial with an audio application contains 20 versions of English language tests in the Unified State Exam format.
Distinctive features of the textbook are variable tasks corresponding to advanced and high levels of preparation for the Unified State Exam, as well as texts of various genres for listening and reading. It should be noted that there are excellent examples of completing tasks in all types of speech activity.

Download the 2010 manual from this link.

Textbooks from 2007 along with audio are available.

4. Muzlanova E.S. - English language. Unified State Exam textbook

The manual is compiled on a thematic basis and consists of 16 thematic blocks that cover the entire range of topics provided for by the Unified State Examination codifier in English. The blocks consist of 5 sections: reading, listening, speaking, grammar and vocabulary, writing. Each section includes exam-type tasks, as well as useful tips for completing them, which will allow students to successfully prepare for the exam. After completing all tasks, students will be able to check the answers with the keys.

5. Verbitskaya M.V. - Unified State Exam. English language. Typical exam options. 10 (30) options

This textbook is part of the “Unified State Exam” series, known to all graduates. FIPI - school", which was prepared by the developers of control measurement materials for the unified state exam. Available in 2 types: 10 test options and 30 options. The difference, as you understand, is only in the number of tests. The collection of 30 tests presents 15 thematic options for all sections of the Unified State Exam, 15 standard exam options, oral part tasks, instructions for implementation, answers to all tasks, etc.

You can download a textbook from 2015 with 30 options.

6. Yuneva S.A. — Opening up the world with English. 150 essays for the Unified State Exam. Getting ready for the Unified State Exam

The manual is addressed to students independently preparing for the Unified State Exam in English, as well as to teachers who can use it in class and when preparing students for tests, exams or Olympiads. It includes 150 essays compiled in accordance with all the requirements for a written statement with elements of reasoning. The main purpose of this guide is to help students excel in essay writing.

This page contains demo options Unified State Examination in English for 2003 - 2019.

Since 2015, Unified State Examination in English comprises two parts: written and oral, including five sections: “listening”, “reading”, “grammar and vocabulary”, “writing” (written part) and “speaking” (oral part).

Answers to the tasks of the first three sections are given in demonstration versions, and evaluation criteria are given for the tasks of the fourth and fifth sections.

In comparison, the criteria for assessing the performance of task 40 of the “Writing” section in the written part of the exam, as well as the wording of task 40, in which the exam participant is offered a choice of two topics of a detailed written statement with elements of reasoning “My opinion,” have been clarified.

Demo versions of the Unified State Examination in English

Note that demo options are presented in pdf format, and to view them you must have, for example, the free Adobe Reader software package installed on your computer.

Demo version of the Unified State Examination in English for 2003
Demo version of the Unified State Examination in English for 2004
Demo version of the Unified State Examination in English for 2005
Demo version of the Unified State Examination in English for 2006
Demo version of the Unified State Examination in English for 2007
Demo version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2008
Demo version of the Unified State Examination in English for 2009
Demo version of the Unified State Examination in English for 2010
Demo version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2011
Demo version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2012
Demo version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2013
Demo version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2014
Demonstration version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2015 (written part)
Demo version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2015 (oral part)
Demonstration version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2016 (written part)
Demonstration version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2016 (oral part)
Demonstration version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2017 (written part)
Demonstration version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2017 (oral part)
Demonstration version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2018 (written part)
Demonstration version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2018 (oral part)
Demo version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2019 (written part)
Demonstration version of the Unified State Exam in English for 2019 (oral part)

Changes in demo versions of the Unified State Exam in English

Demonstration versions of the Unified State Exam in English for grade 11 for 2004 - 2008 included five sections: “listening”, “reading”, “grammar and vocabulary”, “writing”, “speaking”. Answers were given to the tasks of the first three sections in demonstration versions, and evaluation criteria were given for the tasks of the fourth and fifth sections.

Demonstration versions of the Unified State Exam in English for grade 11 for 2009 - 2014 already consisted of four sections: “listening”, “reading”, “grammar and vocabulary”, “writing”. Answers were given to the tasks of the first three sections in demonstration versions, and evaluation criteria were given for the tasks of the fourth section.

Thus, from demo versions of the Unified State Exam 2009 - 2014 the “speaking” section was excluded.

IN 2015 Unified State Examination in English began to consist of two parts: written and oral. Demonstration version of the written part of the Unified State Exam 2015 in English Compared to the demo version of the Unified State Exam 2014, it had the following differences:

  • Numbering there were assignments through throughout the entire version without letter designations A, B, C.
  • Was The form of recording the answer in tasks with a choice of answers has been changed: The answer now needs to be written down in a number with the number of the correct answer (rather than marked with a cross).
  • Listening tasks A1-A7 demo version of 2014 were transformed into task 2 written part of the 2015 demo.

IN 2015 V Unified State Examination in English again the “speaking” section is back, now in the form oral part of the Unified State Exam.

IN demo versions of the Unified State Exam 2016 - 2018 in English compared with demo version 2015 in Englishthere were no significant changes: The wording of the tasks for the oral part of the exam and the criteria for their evaluation were clarified.

IN demo version of the 2019 Unified State Examination in English compared with demo version 2018 in English The criteria for assessing the performance of task 40 of the “Writing” section in the written part of the exam were clarified, as well as the wording of task 40, in which the exam participant was offered a choice of two topics for a detailed written statement with elements of reasoning “My opinion”.

On our website you can also get acquainted with educational materials for preparing for the Unified State Exam in mathematics prepared by teachers of our training center "Resolventa".

For schoolchildren in grades 10 and 11 who want to prepare well and pass Unified State Examination in mathematics or Russian language for a high score, the Resolventa training center conducts

We also organize for schoolchildren

English is the most popular of the four languages ​​taken as part of the Unified State Exam. The current test is almost no different from testing in 2015, with the exception of some improvements in the wording of the oral part task and the fact that the passing score for the entire exam has increased to 22 points compared to last year’s 20. Passing English is no more difficult or easier than German, French or Spanish . The structure of the Unified State Exam in English is also no different from the Unified State Exam in other foreign languages.

Testing is spread over two days. On the first day, the student takes a mandatory written part, consisting of four sections:

  1. listening;
  2. reading;
  3. grammar and vocabulary;
  4. letter.

There are a total of 40 tasks in the written part, and 180 minutes are allotted for them. If they wish, students can come on the second day of the exam and take the oral part, which consists of four tasks (to test speaking skills). You have 15 minutes to complete the oral exam.

It is worth noting that only for the written part you can get no more than 80 points.

The conditions for taking the test in 2019 are no different from last year. But before you start taking practice assignments and online tests, study general information about the exam.

Unified State Examination

To pass the exam, you need to correctly solve at least 17 tasks from section 3 or 2 and 3. Thus, you gain 17 primary points, which, when translated into test scores, give 22. Use our table to reflect your results in a convenient five-point score.

Structure of the Unified State Exam written test

In 2019, the written part of the test consists of four sections, including 40 tasks.

  • Section 1: Listening (1–9), answers to tasks are a number or a sequence of numbers.
  • Section 2: Reading (10–18), the answers to the tasks are a number or a sequence of numbers.
  • Section 3: Grammar and Vocabulary (19–38), the answer to the task is a number, a word or several words written without spaces or punctuation.
  • Section 4: Writing (39–40), consists of two tasks - writing a personal letter and a statement with elements of reasoning.

Preparation for the Unified State Exam

  • Take the Unified State Exam tests online for free without registration or SMS. The tests presented are identical in complexity and structure to the actual exams conducted in the corresponding years.
  • Download demo versions of the Unified State Exam in English, which will allow you to better prepare for the exam and pass it easier. All proposed tests have been developed and approved for preparation for the Unified State Exam by the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements (FIPI). All official versions of the Unified State Exam are developed in the same FIPI.
    The tasks you will see most likely will not appear on the exam, but there will be tasks similar to the demo ones on the same topics.

General Unified State Examination figures

Year Minimum Unified State Examination score Average score Number of participants Failed, % Qty
100 points
Duration -
Exam length, min.
2009 20
2010 20 55,87 73 853 5 2 160
2011 20 61,19 60 615 3,1 11 160
2012 20 60,8 74 408 3,3 28 160
2013 20 72,4 74 668 1,8 581 180
2014 20 62,8 180
2015 22 64,8 180
2016 22 180
2017 22 180
2018