"Teacher's Newspaper" June 8, 2003

Did you ask for a true story? Enjoy it!

It's quite symbolic that the results of the unified state examination were drawn at the same time with the beginning of admission tests in Russian universities and institutions (in many of them admission tests are based on the unified state examination). In June 2003 some 650,000 Russian school children took the unified state test. Those of them who studied hard over the whole period of school (and the unified state examination showed it perfectly well) are now waiting to be enrolled to faculties that they've chosen... Russian Education Minister Vladimir Filippov voiced the results of the state unified examination at an online press conference arranged by Russian information agency RosBusinessConsulting on July 2.

Before we start, let's find out how we understand the meaning of the unified examination now. That's what the Minister started his speech at the conference with. It is said that the unified state examination is necessary in order to stop corruption in higher institutions and put an end to bribery when applying for institutes, universities and academies. How can this be achieved? According to Vladimir Filippov, all this will vanish only if we… leave in the past admission tests (there may be special cases which may require an additional discussion) and admission commissions.

The Principal of the Tolyatti University which is now enrolling new students based on the results of the unified state examination, has issued a decree on the dismissal of the admission commission. He chooses new students based on certificates that they send him after taking the unified test, Filippov stressed. Of course, it's an experiment and its main aim is, naturally, to try a new technology. Nevertheless, the main purpose of the unified state examination remains unchanged. It's dual. First of all, it is set to facilitate access to higher education for students living in far-away regions of Russia (Siberia, Far East and others) as well as for talented students who may live in the European part of Russia, but in small regional centers or rural areas, and who can't afford private teachers and university tutors. The unified state examination is good help here. Children can prepare for it at home with the help of their teachers and then can simply mail the results of the test to 10 or 110 universities and institutes across the country.

The second purpose of the state examination is that it gives a more objective impression about school education. When applying to a university, school diplomas are absolutely useless. They are recognized neither in Russia, nor in the West. As far as school diploma grades are concerned, they are normally given to students by their teachers. So, by giving a student a "B" actually means how the teacher grades himself. The best scenario could be that this is the way a school grades itself. Consequently, two B's in two different school diplomas can be very different. The unified state examination creates an objective mechanism for evaluating a school, a teacher or a teachers' team.

According to the Russian Education Ministry, the unified state examination begins proving its status of "the equal opportunity exam." According to the results of taking the unified state test, about 10% of C-students passed it with B's and those who deserved D's got them. In the opinion of Ministry experts, this fact proves the objectiveness of the new system of testing a school education. So, what are the results? Vladimir Filippov was quoted as saying that the grades made in 2003, taking into consideration the greater number of participants in the experiment, were comparable with those made in 2002, i.e. nothing sensational.

Mathematics: D's accounted for 11.8% last year and 14.1% this year; A's accounted for 8.7% and 11.4% respectively.

Chemistry appeared to be among the most difficult subjects: D's accounted for 11.9% last year and 14.3% this year. The percentage of A's went up as in math too, though, from 9.4% to 11.1% respectively. In social sciences 6% of students made D's this year, against 4.5% in 2002, and 7.6% made A's, against 7.1% in 2002. Russian: D's - 3.8% last year and 8.3% this year; A's - 7% last year and 5.5% this year (the Minister guessed that this year the task had been more complicated).

Biology: D's - 10.2% last year and 8.5% this year; A's - 8.1% and 9.8% respectively. According to Vladimir Filippov, 1-1.5-percent difference shouldn't be taken into consideration, because last year the test was taken in 16 regions and republics of the Russian Federation by a total of 300,000 students, and this year - in 47 regions and republics by 650,000 students. First of all, the range of students who took the unified state examination increased, and, secondly, we received a more objective impression of the real situation in Russian schools. It's not right to compare percentages from last year and this year. The only thing they show that there were no serious changes in the quality of education and that the experiment is being carried out in accordance with a plan.

At the press conference, the Minister was asked plenty of questions that parents, teachers and students worried about. In particular, there was a question concerning the deadline for lodging appeals and whether it should be met or not. Vladimir Filippov responded that students should not wait until they receive a certificate or a school diploma. Appeals can be lodged from the very first day of announcing the grade.

- We need to give a student a chance to lodge an appeal, despite the day when he actually receives a certificate, - the Minister noted.

Questions were asked concerning the possible abolishment of the joint state examination in Literature, i.e. whether the Minister changed his opinion after the test or not. This is a very complicated issue, as there's uncertainty about both the way of taking the test in Literature and what it should look like, i.e. what literature books should be further obligatory for reading within a school program and the extent of studying this or that topic. As far as the single state test in Literature is concerned, it's just an experiment and we need to see the results of it first.

- Are we happy with the situation that we check the knowledge of Literature and Russian when all bookstores are crowded with collections of compositions, - the Minister asked. We questioned all 89 regions and republics of the Russian Federation concerning the best way to make a final test in Russian and Literature. They had to choose from a composition, a summary with a creative task and a dictation. The result of the opinion poll is the following: 40% voted for a composition, 40% - for a summary with a creative task and 20% supported a dictation. We have no single opinion even concerning the present form of the test, so what can we say about the unified state examination…

Among other questions, the issue that raised the most concerns was that later on, school education may turn into just memorizing the answers to various tests. The answer is short and emotional: the unified state examination is not just a test. Only its first part "A" will be in the form of a test. In parts "B" and "C" the students will have to solve a problem or write a detailed answer in History or Literature. So, there's no need to worry.

26,000 people were following the discussion of the problem of the unified state examination on the Internet for one hour. Dozens of them asked their questions and received the answers personally from the Education Minister.

The virtual press conference proved that the problem of education becomes more and more important not only for administrators, but for students as well. And this is natural. By the school year 2003-2004, the number of Russian regions involved in the experiment will advance to 57 and beginning in 2005, the unified state examination will become mandatory in all regions and republics of the Russian Federation. All 1.5m school graduates will have to take it, and its results will be counted when applying for any Russian universities or institutions. But for now… We are still experimenting, so you better ask questions and make proposals now.