English exam training options online. How to prepare for the Unified State Exam in English: instructions for applicants
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 Exam (USE) is a general state certification of eleventh grade graduates, the results of which are counted for admission to a secondary specialized educational institution (secondary educational institution) or a university (higher educational institution).
IN this moment 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 trial Unified State Exam in English are 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 successfully passing the Unified State Exam, the participant is issued a corresponding certificate 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.
Fifth, optional oral 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 include 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 for English reading by 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)
- Difficult 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
- 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
- If your knowledge is initially below the Upper-Intermediate level (“above average”), you have no chance of passing the exam
- 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
- You can prepare for the Unified State Exam in English in just six months (or even faster)
- After reading tips, secrets and “life hacks” for passing the Unified State Exam, you will be ready for the exam
- To successfully pass, it is enough to listen to lectures and video lessons from teachers.
- The best way to prepare is to take demos of the test multiple times and check your answers.
- If the trial exam is passed perfectly, classes can be stopped.
- During the exam you can make a “call to a friend” or use a cheat sheet
- 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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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.
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 demonstration version of the Unified State Exam 2019 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
Since 2003, the unified state exam was conducted as an experiment, and since 2009 it has become a unified form of state certification of applicants. Nowadays, in order to enter a university, you increasingly need to take Unified State Exam in English.
As for preparing for the Unified State Exam in English, you should know that you need to prepare for it in advance, and the sooner the better. And even if you have a good level of English, you still need good preparation, and this takes time, at least a year.
To pass the Unified State Exam well you need:
- become familiar with the exam format;
- have a good level of English;
- master reading and listening strategies. An excellent understanding of the main content is assumed.
- familiarize yourself with the assessment criteria for assignments.
If you want to prepare well for the Unified State Exam, you need to study with a professional teacher. He must know the format of this exam. Also choose a teacher who has already worked with children in this area. Do not think that you have enough lessons at school to successfully pass the Unified State Exam. Remember that the most important thing is quality, not quantity, so you need to prepare directly for the Unified State Exam, and don't study everything.
Unified State Exam 2010. Exam structure.
The Unified State Exam includes 4 sections, which consist of 46 tasks.
- Section 1 - listening. This section consists of 15 tasks. 1 task - to establish correspondence and 14 tasks in which you need to choose the correct answer options. The time given is 30 minutes.
- Section 2 - reading. It consists of 9 tasks, with 2 tasks on establishing correspondence, and 7 tasks on choosing the correct answer. Time to complete - 30 minutes.
- Section 3 - vocabulary and grammar. Includes 20 tasks. 13 - with a short answer, 7 tasks - to choose from correct option answer. Time - 40 minutes.
- Section 4 - written part. Includes two tasks. The first is to write an essay with a reasoning and the second is to write a friendly letter. You have 60 minutes to complete.
Total allowance for the exam 160 minutes.
Unified State Exam results for previous years
The most difficult section to complete is “Vocabulary and Grammar”. In general, the work has the lowest percentage of completion in lexical tasks. It is A22-A28. Practice has shown that it is difficult for graduates to use modified verb forms and tense agreement.
And in 2009 they removed it from the Unified State Examination "Burning". Probably, this situation arose as a result of the fact that many who took the Unified State Exam abandoned this section immediately after they began to answer it.
And now some advice regarding all sections of the Unified State Exam.
Listening
- listen carefully! After all, such a trick is often used when they first say one answer and then correct it differently;
- you need to read the assignment carefully;
- look at the endings of what you wrote and try to find possible minor errors;
- if you didn’t hear something, don’t panic, you will have the opportunity to listen again;
- if you don’t know how to answer a question, answer at least something, but the main thing is to answer;
- if they speak too quickly, don’t get upset, try to relax and then it will be easier for you to perceive the information.
Reading
- if you are not familiar with the topic discussed in the text, do not worry, because in order to find the answers in the text, you do not need special knowledge;
- if you are given tasks in which you need to insert words or phrases instead of gaps, read the sentence before and after the gaps, try to guess what exactly is missing;
- don’t get hung up on one question, you can always return to it, but in the meantime, move on to others;
- you always need to read the entire text to understand the meaning;
- if you don't know the answer to a question, try to guess it;
- When preparing for the Unified State Exam, read as many texts of different styles as possible.
Written assignment
- it is worth writing about the same thing only in different words;
- don't go off topic;
- do not use the same vocabulary as in the task. Choose synonyms for words;
- keep track of time;
- do not write more than necessary, because this may indicate that you have written a lot of unnecessary things;
- Remember that you need to take the time to re-read what you have written and, if necessary, correct any errors you find.
Vocabulary and grammar
- if you need to insert a word, try to determine in what number and form it should be;
- if you don’t know the correct answer, don’t leave any blanks anyway, look for the answer by contradiction;
- check your spelling.
Speaking
This section was not included in the Unified State Exam 2010, but it is still worth knowing the tips for this part.
- if you are unclear about a task, ask the examiner about what is unclear;
- use as many words as possible, show your vocabulary;
- you must understand that you are required to express your personal opinion and not discuss the topic with professionalism;
- Perhaps you will forget a word, in this case there is no need to get lost, you can replace it with another word.;
- You should be aware that this section is not intended for you to demonstrate that you can construct sentences correctly. You need to demonstrate communication skills.
- How many lessons are there in the course?
The course contains 32 lessons for 25 hours, plus 6 original workbooks and all textbooks, as well as a chat with the teacher for the whole year. - When can I watch the lessons?
You can watch lessons at any time convenient for you and from any device. - Will I be able to review lesson recordings after completing the course?
Yes, recordings of all lessons remain with you for a whole year. - Will there be homework? How often?
After each lesson you receive homework. We recommend moving on to the next lesson only after completing your homework and fully understanding the material, since the course is built on the principle of gradualism and increasing complexity. If you don’t understand something, you can always ask the teacher a question in a special chat. - Why is it a one-time payment?
For your convenience and freedom in learning, you get access to all materials immediately after payment, so it must be done at once. - What is better: classes with a teacher or a course?
It is best to combine coursework with classes with a teacher. In the course you will receive a clearly planned plan for preparing for the exam, all materials and an explanation of all concepts from Elena, an experienced VIP teacher, MBA graduate, native English speaker. This will allow you to save money on private lessons with Elena. However, practicing all the concepts covered in the video course is very important to improve your skills, especially writing and speaking. Therefore, we have specially selected the best Engforme teachers to work with students in the Unified State Exam course. By combining both methods, you will get the highest result thanks to a proven program, unique presentation of material and everything necessary materials, additional training and motivation from the teacher. - At what level can I start the course?
The course can be taken independently from the pre-intemediate level. If your level of English is lower, then you can start studying the course on your own, but connect with a teacher as soon as something is unclear. The teacher will make sure that you understand everything exactly. - How to make payment?
You can pay in several ways. On the page, by Western Union transfer or via PayPal. - How long will it take to pass with 95-97 points?
The course is designed for 3 months, taking into account the initial pre-intermediate level and daily work on the course for 1-1.5 hours. This estimate is based on our experience in training students, but is an average. Your results greatly depend on your lifestyle, intellectual abilities and regularity of exercise.