The Unified State Exam (, Yedinyy gosudarstvennyy ekzamen, YeGE) is a series of mandatory, centralized examinations conducted across the Russian Federation in secondary educational institutions, such as schools, lyceums, and gymnasiums. It serves as a form of State Final Certification (GIA) for educational programs of secondary general education. The USE simultaneously acts as both a school graduation examination and an entrance examination for higher education institutions, ensuring that students meet standardized educational requirements. The USE in Russian language and mathematics is obligatory; that means that every student must achieve the necessary results in these subjects to enter any Russian university or obtain a high school diploma.
Prior to 2013 it also served as an entrance examination for secondary vocational education institutions (sredniye spetsial’nyye uchebnyye zavedeniya, or SSUZy). However, a new education law annulled this provision. The exam employs standardized tasks and unified evaluation methods across Russia. Since 2009, the USE has been the only form of high school graduation exam and the primary form of university entrance exam. Students are allowed to retake the USE in subsequent years if necessary, providing them with additional opportunities to improve their scores and qualifications.
History The USE was introduced in Russia in 2001 first as an educational experiment, initially held in a few regions of Russia: Chuvashia, Mari El, Yakutia, as well as in Samara, and Rostov Oblasts, covering eight subjects. The first experimental examination was only held by the eight general classes. In 2002 this experiment expanded to 16 regions of Russia, and further to 47 regions in 2003. By 2006, approximately 950,000 school graduates from 79 regions participated in the USE, and in 2008, over one million students took the exam. Initially, the list of subjects varied by region.
The list of schools and classes to take part in the USE in 2001–2008 was determined by local public education authorities in the regions of Russia. Presently, the USE is administered by the Ministry of Education and Science together with the regional and local public education authorities.
The USE's development was led by Vladimir Filippov, while its implementation was overseen by Vladimir Khlebnikov. The Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science organizes the exam in collaboration with regional education authorities.
Subjects offered The USE is conducted in the following subjects:
Russian language Mathematics (basic) Mathematics (advanced) Foreign languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese) Physics Chemistry Biology Geography Literature History Social studies Computer science.
Russian language and mathematics are mandatory for all students. A student must select basic or advanced mathematics and a minimum of 2 other subjects (1 if taking advanced mathematics).
Structure and Content The USE's tasks are known as Control and Measuring Materials (Kontrol’no-Izmerytel’nyye Materialy, KIMs), developed by the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements. These tasks have evolved over time:
Previous Format
Part A: Multiple-choice questions (choose one answer from four options). Part B: Short-answer questions requiring brief responses, such as words or numbers. Part C: Open-ended questions, such as problem-solving, essay writing, or argumentation, evaluated by regional examiners.
Current Format Since the 2015/2016 academic year, multiple-choice questions (Part A) have been removed from all subjects. Tasks now focus on short answers (Part I) and detailed responses (Part II).
Part I contains tasks in which the student must give a short written answer, usually consisting of several letters or numbers.
Part II contains one or more tasks requiring the student to use creativity. Depending on the subject, tasks can include mathematical exercises, essays or questions requiring argumentative responses. Unlike part I, which is computer corrected, part II is evaluated by subject matter experts from the regional examination committee.
While the initial grading may differ between subjects, a standardized 100-point scale is used for both graduation and university application purposes. The structure and content of KIMs are governed by three documents approved annually by Rosobrnadzor: the content codifier, exam specifications, and a demonstration version of the exam.
The table provides the duration of exams, the number of tasks, and the maximum primary score for the 2024 USE.Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements (ФИПИ). (2024). "Изменения в КИМ ЕГЭ 2024 года." Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. It also includes the minimum number of points (the lower boundary of a satisfactory grade), which is determined in test points. +SubjectDuration (minutes)Part 1 TasksPart 2 TasksMaximum Primary ScoreMinimum Test Score for Diploma/University admissionMinimum Test Score for Admission to Ministry of Education Supervised UniversitiesRussian language2102615024/3640Mathematics (Basic)180210217 (primary points)Not considered for university admissionMathematics (Advanced)235127322740Physics235206453639Chemistry210286563639Computer science235260294046Biology235217573640History210129423236Geography180218383740English language190+17366822230German language190+17366822230French language190+17366822230Spanish language190+17366822230Social studies210169584245Literature23565483240
Mathematics levels Since 2015, the mathematics exam has been divided into two levels:
Basic Level: Required for students not pursuing higher education or applying to universities where mathematics is not a subject of admission. Advanced Level: Required for students applying to universities where mathematics is a key subject in the entrance exams.
Examination Periods and Dates The Unified State Exam (USE) follows a structured schedule each year, consisting of multiple periods to accommodate different student needs. A proof of valid reasons, such as illness or other circumstances, is required for eligibility in special testing periods. However, the absolute majority of students take their exams during the main period. The key examination periods include:
Early Period (March – April) – Reserved for Olympiad participants, athletes, and other students who are unable to attend the main session. Main Period (Late May – June) – The primary examination window for all high school graduates. Additional Testing Days – Available for students who miss their exams due to illness, valid personal circumstances, or overlapping elective exam dates. Retake Period (July) – Provides students with an opportunity to improve their scores or meet the minimum requirements for university admission. Supplementary Period (September) – Intended for students who did not pass the mandatory exams required for a high school diploma.
Below is the specific schedule for the 2026 examination period. +USE Periods (2026)PeriodDates (2026)Eligible ParticipantsEarly PeriodMarch 20 – April 20, 2026Olympiad winners, athletes, and students unable to attend the main period for valid reasons.Main PeriodJune 1 – July 9, 2026All high school graduates.Additional Testing DaysJune 22 – 25, 2026Students who missed exams due to illness, other valid circumstances, or scheduling conflicts.Retake PeriodJuly 8 – 9, 2026Students retaking exams to improve scores or fulfill diploma/university admission requirements.Supplementary PeriodSeptember 4 – 25, 2026Students retaking mandatory exams (Russian or Mathematics) for high school diploma requirements. +USE Exam Schedule by Subject (2025)SubjectMain PeriodEarly PeriodRetake PeriodSupplementary PeriodRussian LanguageMay 30March 25, April 14July 3September 4, September 23Mathematics (Basic)May 27March 28, April 17July 4September 8, September 23Mathematics (Advanced)May 27March 28, April 17July 4September 8, September 23GeographyJune 5March 21, April 21July 4 –LiteratureMay 23March 21, April 18July 4 –HistoryJune 2April 11, April 21July 4 –Social StudiesJune 2April 8, April 18July 3 –BiologyJune 5April 1, April 18July 4 –PhysicsJune 2April 1, April 18July 3 –ChemistryMay 23April 11, April 21July 3 –Computer ScienceJune 10April 8, April 21July 3 –Foreign LanguagesJune 5 (written), June 10–11 (oral)April 1 (written), April 4 (oral), April 18July 3 (written), July 4 (oral) –
Paper forms The Unified State Exam (USE) uses standardized forms to record students' responses. These forms must be completed according to strict guidelines to ensure accurate processing and evaluation. All answer sheets must be filled out using a black gel or felt-tip pen.
The forms include:
Registration Form: Used to register participants. Answer Sheet No. 1: Records responses for Part 1 tasks. Answer Sheet No. 2: Used for detailed responses in Part 2 tasks. Additional sheets are provided if needed.
Structure and Filling Instructions To ensure clarity and consistency, all forms must adhere to the following instructions:
Strict Formatting: When completing the forms, students must follow the specified character format as shown at the top of each sheet. Each letter, digit, or symbol (including punctuation marks like commas, periods, hyphens, etc.) should be written in a separate box. Writing multiple symbols in one box is not allowed.
Registration Form The Registration Form is used to register participants for the exam. The following information must be filled out:
Region Code, Educational Institution Code, Class (including number and letter), Exam Center Code, and Room Number. Subject Code, Subject Name, and Exam Date (in DD-MM-YY format). The participant must sign within the designated rectangular box.
Students must write their Last Name, First Name, and Patronymic in uppercase block letters, placing one letter per square box. The series and number of the identification document (such as a passport or birth certificate) are recorded in designated boxes at the top of the sheet.
Answer Sheet No. 1 This sheet is used to record responses for Part 1 tasks. At the top of Answer Sheet No. 1, students are required to fill out the following information:
Region Code Subject Code Subject Name The participant must sign within the designated rectangular box.
Filling in Responses Task numbers are pre-printed on the sheet. To record the response, students must:
Write each letter, number, or symbol (including punctuation) in a separate square box. If there are multiple symbols, each must be written in a separate box.
If a student makes a mistake in the "Results of Tasks with Short Answers" section, the original answer should not be crossed out. Instead, the student should:
Write the correct answer in the "Correction of Mistaken Answers for Tasks with Short Answers" section. Task numbers are not pre-printed in this section. The student should write the task number, followed by a hyphen, and the corrected answer.
Answer Sheet No. 1 is scanned and graded by a computer. Failure to follow the specified format may lead to errors in recognition, which may affect the correctness of the answer.
Answer Sheet No. 2 Answer Sheet No. 2, used for extended responses, has a slightly different structure. At the top, students must enter the Region Code, Subject Code, and Subject Name, similar to Answer Sheet No. 1. Additional fields such as "Reserve - 5," "Answer Sheet No. 2 (Sheet 2)," and "Sheet Number" are filled out in the same format, using uppercase characters and individual boxes. Below these fields, there is a large blank grid intended for extended answers or detailed solutions.
Students must continue using a black gel or felt-tip pen for all entries. There is no need to maintain the strict character format used in Answer Sheet No. 1 within this section. Instead, students should write their responses clearly and legibly, following the grid layout.