Exam in English. Unified State Exam test in English

Find out the main things about the English Unified State Exam 2016 and start preparing today. Nuances, tips, useful links - start your path to successfully passing the exam by reading our article. Don't be afraid of the Unified State Exam - pass it with 100 marks!

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What is the Unified State Exam: numbers, facts

The Unified State Examination (USE) is a general state certification of eleventh grade graduates, the results of which are counted upon admission to the Secondary Specialized Educational Institution (secondary specialized educational institution) or university (higher education institution).

Currently, the Unified State Examination is conducted in 14 subjects, of which 4 are foreign languages ​​(English, German, French and Spanish). To receive a certificate, a graduate must pass 2 mandatory exams: Russian language and mathematics. Additionally, each university independently determines which exams applicants for a particular specialty are required to take. From 2020, the Unified State Examination in English is also planned to be made mandatory.

In 2016, the trial Unified State Exam in English is planned to be held in early April: the oral part - on the 8th and the written part - on the 9th (these results are not counted). The main exam will begin on June 10.If, for a valid reason confirmed by the facts, the graduate is unable to take part in the certification, he has the opportunity to take the exam later, during the reserve period.

If you disagree with the exam results, you can file an appeal - your answers will be rechecked.

After successful completion The USE certificate is issued to the participant, valid for the current year and 4 subsequent years. It must also be presented at school to receive a certificate of secondary education.

When entering a university, the applicant submits an application indicating his Unified State Exam scores; the selection committee checks their accuracy. You can simultaneously submit documents to no more than 5 universities in 3 areas.

At the end of 2015, to pass the Unified State Exam in English, it was enough to score 22 points. However, to enter the language departments of prestigious universities in the country, it was necessary to obtain 60-70 points in this type of exam (according to the admissions committees of Moscow State University, Moscow State Linguistic University, etc.); University passing scores are updated annually.

• In Moscow Independent Diagnostics Center opened, where you can take the trial Unified State Exam and Unified State Exam at any time (not only for schoolchildren, but also for parents), and you can take it as many times as you want.

What to take with you to the Unified State Exam and how to behave during the exam

Be sure to take your passport and a black gel (capillary) pen with you.

The list of prohibited items is much more extensive: this includes any storage media (phone, tablet, etc.), any video and audio equipment, books, notes and “cheat sheets,” as well as proofreaders and pencils.

During the exam you cannot stand up or talk - naturally, with the exception of the oral part “Speaking”. If you need to leave the room temporarily, you will do so accompanied by one of the examiners. Participants are under video surveillance and any violations may be punished by removal from the exam (and the issue of retaking will be decided by the State Commission).

Structure of the Unified State Exam in English

The test consists of four compulsory written parts, for which the test taker receives a maximum of 80 points: Listening, Reading, Grammar and Vocabulary and Writing.

The fifth, optional speaking part, was introduced very recently and is called “Speaking”: it can earn you a maximum of 20 points. Taking “Speaking” is a must, even if you don’t intend to attend a language university: this is a fairly easy way to score an additional 10-15 points (which is not so little).

Listening

9 tasks, 30 minutes

Listening is the perception of speech by ear. After listening to several fragments in English, you should understand what was said in them and answer several questions in writing about each fragment. Fragments are played twice, the time to respond is fixed. The topics of monologues and dialogues that will be offered for listening are weather forecasts, announcements, television and radio programs, interviews, reports.

An error typical for this part of the exam: takers choose the answer option that contains the words most often heard in the audio fragment. But you are unlikely to be able to answer questions correctly without understanding the essence of what is happening. To better understand the meaning of the conversation, pay attention to the intonation of the speakers and the sounds that you hear in the audio clip (sea noise, car horns, music, etc.). It is very important to be able to recognize subtext and sarcasm in the speaker’s speech, which can radically change the meaning of the statement.

Preparation

Only regular listening to English speech and learning unfamiliar words will help.

At the first stage, reading and listening to books voiced by native English speakers will be very useful. At the same time, be sure to choose books adapted to your actual level: pre-intermediate, intermediate, etc.

Watching English-language films “in three touches” is very effective: without subtitles, with English subtitles (with new words written out) and with double subtitles (in Russian and English). It is advisable to limit viewing sessions to 5-15 minutes (then the level of perception decreases). To prevent your vocabulary from developing one-sidedly, try to watch diverse films: on everyday topics, from the lives of lawyers, doctors, scientists. And preferably, these should be TV series: by watching several seasons, one episode a day, you will be able to hone the relevant vocabulary to perfection, after which you can move on to a TV series on a different topic.

A little later, it makes sense to move on to listening to radio news: without visuals and subtitles, information is more difficult to perceive, especially considering the fast pace of reporters’ speech. We recommend listening to BBC radio programs, because the videos for listening to the Unified State Examination will be read in British pronunciation.

Reading

9 tasks, 30 minutes

This task tests your ability to read and understand unfamiliar text without a dictionary: you should be familiar with about 97% of the words. Again, read the assignment carefully; a typical mistake in this part is misunderstanding the question asked.

Preparation

Use all available means to expand your vocabulary, tirelessly repeat learned words and try to use them in context - this way they are better remembered. According to the 2016 codifier, popular science publications and excerpts from works of fiction will be offered for reading. Read modern online newspapers and magazines: The Guardian, The New York Times, BBC, Listverse, etc. It will be very useful to study the Unified State Exam workbook in English reading, analyzing the mistakes you make.

Grammar and vocabulary

20 tasks, 40 minutes

In fact, this is almost the easiest section of the exam in terms of format. The first half of the section consists of reading small fragments of text and substituting missing words. To substitute, the proposed word must be grammatically changed (or left in its original form, if the rules require it) or a suitable single-root word must be selected, for example, absolute - absolutely, win - won, Russia - Russian.

The second half involves filling in the gaps in the text with the suggested words - there is no need to modify the word, you just need to choose one of four options. As with all multiple choice tests, if you don't know the answer, choose one at random - there is a chance it will be correct.

Preparation

If you know English well, this section will not be difficult for you. No special preparation is required for the format of this task - just review English grammar (and keep working on your vocabulary).

Letter

2 tasks, 80 minutes

Since the answers from the exam forms are scanned by computer, write your answer neatly, clearly and legibly, with paragraphing and structuring.

Task No. 1: “Letter to a friend”

Volume: 100-140 words

Imagine that you receive a letter from an English-speaking friend and are writing a response. You must understand the questions asked in the text and answer them in your “letter”.

Typical mistakes:

• Ignorance of the rules for formatting personal letters (be sure to repeat them!)
• misunderstanding of the essence of the questions asked
• lack of answer to one of their questions
• inability to correctly formulate one’s own questions according to the specified plan
• not using linking words

Assignment #2: Essay

Volume: 200-250 words

You are asked to express your opinion in writing about a certain statement according to a certain plan. And again, you need to read the task very carefully and under no circumstances deviate from the proposed plan.

The essay should be in a neutral style (avoid colloquial expressions), coherent, divided into paragraphs in accordance with the logic of the narrative.

If 30% or more of your answer coincides with the source (that is, in your answer you use words from the “problem conditions”), the task is not counted.

How to count the number of words in an essay

If the above letter contains less than 90 words, and the essay contains less than 180, they will not be counted (you will receive 0 points). If they are too long, the examiner will count only 154 words in the first case and 275 in the second; everything else will not be checked: you may lose a parting phrase or signature (in a letter) or conclusion (in an essay).

What are the rules for counting words? All words of the essay are taken into account; in the case of a letter, everything from the address to the signature. Counted as one word:

• all numerals in digital form (12, 2015, 10,000)
• All short forms and abbreviations (I’m, don’t, can’t, USA)
• complex words (well-known, good-looking, sixty-four)

In numerals expressed in several words, all words are counted (two thousand and fifteen - 4 words).

Preparation

The advice is simple - write an essay. Many, on different topics. Count the words, control the coherence of the text, do not forget to highlight paragraphs (one thought - one paragraph). Well, your work should be checked by an English teacher who is familiar with the requirements for the assignment.

Speaking

4 tasks, 15 minutes

During this part of the exam, an audio recording of your answer is made, which is sent for processing (checking) at the end of the exam. In other words, the role of the examiner is performed by the computer (but one of the exam organizers is always present in the audience). You see all tasks on the monitor - a time counter is also displayed there.

At the end of the exam, all answers are submitted for verification: each exam entry is checked by two trained specialists according to the same assessment criteria.

Task No. 1

In the first task, you will be asked to read a popular science text in English in one and a half minutes - first “to yourself”, and then out loud. They also give you one and a half minutes to prepare. You need to read the passage correctly, with natural intonation, without unnecessary pauses.

Task No. 2

As a second task, you are asked to read the text of the advertisement and ask 5 questions to it - in accordance with the proposed plan. Preparation time is 1.5 minutes, each question should be no longer than 20 seconds (watch the timer).

Task No. 3

Third task: choose and describe one of the three proposed photographs. Time to prepare - 1.5 minutes, time to answer - 2 minutes. The story must be built on the points of the proposed plan. The narrative must be logically coherent and contain introductory and concluding phrases.

• Let us recall that coherence is given to the text by expressions such as firstly, secondly, thirdly (firstly, secondly, thirdly), consequently (hence), finally (finally). The topic of introductory words and linking words needs to be worked out thoroughly.

Task No. 4

In the fourth task you are asked to compare two images. Here it is also extremely important to carefully read the text of the task and cover the proposed plan in the story: for example, find similarities between the pictures and point out the differences. A typical mistake is describing each picture separately, when what is needed is a comparison, comparison of two images.

You have 1.5 minutes to prepare - watch the timer to make sure you start on time and don't exceed the story limit of 2 minutes. Here, introductory and concluding phrases and adherence to the coherence of the presentation are also necessary.

Typical “traps” of parts 3 and 4 of the exam are questions like “where and when” (where and when), “who/why” (who/why), etc. When answering the first question of the pair, you can completely forget about the second - and lose points.

• Advice: If you notice that you have made a mistake, do not be alarmed. Some errors are acceptable and do not affect the score, the main thing is not to get confused or become completely silent.

The total time for this part of the exam is 15 minutes.

Preparation

Speech is a skill, and the ability to speak English must be developed. Listen to English speech and repeat what you hear. Take every opportunity to communicate in English: visit speaking clubs, speak English with friends. It is extremely important that the interlocutor not only listens to you, but points out mistakes and corrects you, therefore, to prepare for this type of exam, it is very advisable to find a qualified tutor.

10 common misconceptions when preparing for the Unified State Exam in English

1. There is no point in studying the exam format: a person who is fluent in English will easily pass the exam with the highest score
2. If your knowledge is initially below the Upper-Intermediate level (“above average”), you have no chance of passing the exam
3. If you do not speak spoken English, it is impossible to pass the Unified State Exam, since “Speaking” was introduced, and without it you will not get the required points
4. You can prepare for the Unified State Exam in English in just six months (or even faster)
5. After reading tips, secrets and “life hacks” for passing the Unified State Exam, you will be ready for the exam
6. To successfully pass, it is enough to listen to lectures and video lessons from teachers.
7. The best way to prepare is to take demos of the test multiple times and check your answers.
8. If the trial exam is passed perfectly, classes can be stopped.
9. During the exam you can make a “call to a friend” or use a cheat sheet
10. Answers will be available for purchase before the exam.

And remember: it is impossible to prepare for the Unified State Exam “the night before the exam”; start at least six months before the exam (or better yet, 1-2 years before the exam).
The English Unified State Exam 2016 is scheduled for June, so you need to start preparing for it immediately. High points to you!

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Today, English is considered the most popular language when taking the Unified State Exam. A number of changes have been made to the Unified State Examination 2017. Even if you are confident in your abilities, you need to pass the Unified State Exam in English 2016. Online tests this year have four sections consisting of forty tasks. The Unified State Exam test has a maximum completion time. In 2017 it is 3 hours. To overcome the entry barrier, you must successfully pass 17 tasks. Be prepared for listening, reading, grammar, vocabulary and reading questions. Preparation for such a test must be enormous. Every year there is less and less reliance on luck. Without knowledge in a certain area, it is impossible to pass it. This test will help you assess your level for passing the exam.

Unified State Exam test in English

Question 1 of 20

She thinks she…responsible. She has never got on well with her... friends.

Rebecca was used to … because she was very shy and used to … very awkward sometimes.

Mr. Stone, who seemed … about his breakfast, … to Lima in surprise.

This island is known … by …

It is a chance… , so they must make a list of things…

They … very tired if they sat up … late.

Remember... your tickets and passports before you...

She can't help... that he helps her so...

Tom says he would rather…soccer…tennis.

Jerry is not... man to give... secret.

I see that... is wrong with you. But you should pull…together.

They found … in the street full of …

She talked to him… and looked very…

Snow is very … in this place, but once … it won't stop for weeks.

No sooner… on the light, than he saw that the window…

The deepest of all… lakes in the world is Baikal.

… to the law, smoking is forbidden in public places.

…for a short period of time, the family was rather poor.

Italian cuisine… greatly from French cuisine.

This reward is…to obtain.

Continue

To continue the test, select one of the answer options.

You answered correctly
18 questions out of 20

Your result:

Oops!... Two points(((Hurry up and start learning English with the online tutorial Lim English. With it you are guaranteed to get results.

“Satisfactory.” Start learning English with the online tutorial Lim English using the unique method of Oleg Limansky. The result will not be long in coming!

“Okay” Congratulations! You have a good command of English within the chosen level. Start learning English with the online tutorial Lim-English using the unique method of Oleg Limansky. With it you are guaranteed to improve your knowledge.

Congratulations! This excellent result. You have excellent command of English within the chosen level. You have a great opportunity to raise your level with the Lim-English online tutorial. You will get daily practice.

Excellent result! You have excellent command of English within the chosen level. There is no limit to perfection, use the Lim-English online tutorial - it's a great way to always be in shape. Test your strengths in our advanced courses.

Incorrect answers:

Question No. (1)
Your answer: (2)
Correct answer: (3)

Have you ever tasted saltwater? I guess you have and if so, you will agree with me that it’s not very refreshing. In fact, drinking more than a few cups worth can kill you.

According to the United States Geological Survey, whose mission is to collect and disseminate reliable, impartial, and timely information that is needed to understand the nation’s water resources, about ninety-seven percent of the water on our planet is saltwater; the rest is stored in lakes, rivers, glaciers and aquifers underground. Moreover, only about one-third of the world’s potential fresh water can be used for human needs. As pollution increases, the amount of usable water decreases.

Water is the most precious and taken-for-granted resource we have on Earth. It is also one of the most threatened resources. Increased population and possible climate change will put more and more strain on supplies of this vital resource as time goes on. What could we do in this situation? Though it may seem like science fiction, the solution could lie in outer space.

I’m not saying we’re going to be teleporting to a spring on the other side of the galaxy or colonizing another planet just to have longer showers - it’s much more mundane than that. What we could achieve realistically in this century is the successful use of the solar system’s rare metals and water, barring the invention of the matrix.

You may be surprised to learn that the metal in your keys, coins, cell phone, computer, car and everywhere else, originally came to this planet from space. When Earth formed, the heavy metals sank to the center and formed a solid core. The lighter elements formed the mantle and the crust we live on. Asteroids and comets that struck the Earth brought water and metals to the surface.

There are thousands of asteroids orbiting near Earth. Most asteroids are made of rock, but some are composed of metal, mostly nickel and iron. Probes could be sent out to these to identify useful ones. Then larger probes could push them towards the Earth where they can be handled in orbit.

In order to fuel ships and probes, we simply need to find a source of water, such as a comet or the surface of the moon. We collect the water and pass an electric current through it from a solar panel. The water separates into oxygen and hydrogen, which in liquid form is a powerful rocket fuel.

Is this really possible? We may soon find out. Private company SpaceX has already started delivering equipment to the International Space Station (ISS).

The ISS is proof that countries once at each other’s throats, like America and Russia, can work together and pull off multi-billion dollar projects.

Recently, a company called Planetary Resources Inc. made the news for getting big names like Google and Microsoft to invest in exploring asteroids for material gain. Although it will take many decades, it is wise to put the gears in motion now.

We’ve already landed probes on the surface of asteroids and taken samples from them. We can put something as large as the ISS, which weighs just short of 500 tons, according to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in orbit.

We can make a half-million-mile round-trip to get rocks from the moon. We can do all of these things already. They just need to be applied and developed in a smart way.

This page contains demo versions of the 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.

Changes in demo versions of the Unified State Exam in English

Demo options Unified State Examination 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