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English is the most popular of the languages. Today, without knowledge of a foreign language, it is difficult to achieve career heights in almost any profession, so a significant number of liberal arts universities require theirs to provide an appropriate certificate. The English exam is chosen by students who plan to devote their lives to linguistics, teaching, technical and literary translation, diplomacy and international relations.
AT last years examinations in foreign languages are becoming more and more difficult for graduates - now they are required not only to know the basic rules and language norms, but also essential speaking skills, because the oral part was added to the exam. It will take months of hard work and planning to pass the exam successfully. independent work, and maybe even the help of a tutor. Another important point is awareness of possible innovations. Let's see how this exam will take place in 2018!
Demo version of the USE-2018
USE dates in English
The approved schedule of the all-Russian examination will be published in January 2018. But you can already find out the approximate periods today conducting the exam, designated by Rosobrnadzor:
- from the second half of March to mid-April 2018 years will pass early examination. The starting date is March 22. Please note that not all students can take the exam early. These graduates include those who graduated from school earlier than the 2017/2018 academic year, underachieving students of previous years without a certificate, as well as students of evening schools. Those who decided not to enter a university, but to go to, applicants from foreign universities, children leaving to live abroad, or those who came to study in Russia from abroad, can also take the test ahead of schedule. An exception is also made for children leaving for sports, cultural or scientific competitions and competitions, as well as for schoolchildren who are scheduled for medical or rehabilitation procedures during the main test;
- With last days May and until the beginning of June 2018, the main period of the exam is scheduled. Most likely, the first exams will begin on May 28, 2018;
- the start of the additional USE period is announced for September 4, 2018. Additional examinations will take place during the first half of September.
How did the graduates of previous years pass English?
The popularity of the English language among future students of Russian universities is also confirmed by official statistics - about 9% of all graduates (which is about 64.5 thousand schoolchildren in 2017) choose the USE for themselves in this foreign language. In 2017, the proportion of graduates who failed to score even the required minimum of 22 points significantly decreased.
The percentage of such underachieving eleventh-graders in recent years has fluctuated between 1.8-3.3%, which looks very optimistic in comparison with other exams. The average score that Russian schoolchildren demonstrate when passing English is 64.8-65.1 points, which is approximately equal to the “four” mark. This is significantly higher than the results of other exams show.
According to statistics, English is one of the easiest exams Innovations in the Unified State Examination in English
Specialists from FIPI did not make any significant changes to the 2018 materials. The only innovation is that in KIMs in English, criteria-based approaches to assessing tasks under numbers 39-40 were clarified.
Contents of the ticket in English
The main purpose of the all-Russian examination in English is to check the level of mastery of a foreign language. The primary goal of the commission is to determine how fluent the student feels in various types of language activities, which include listening, reading, writing and speaking. High school students will have to show their skills in mastering lexical units, morphological forms and syntactic constructions. The exam ticket itself is divided into two parts:
- written - within 180 minutes, students have to solve 40 tasks. In this part of the exam, you need to pass the listening (estimated at 20 primary points, which is 20% of all points for the exam), demonstrate reading skills (another 20 primary points), convince the commission of knowledge of grammar and vocabulary (20 primary points), and also show your level of proficiency in writing (20 primary points);
- oral - within 15 minutes, students have to solve 4 more tasks. They will have to answer questions and describe pictures. This part gives another 20 primary points (or 20% of all points for the exam).
In total, graduates will have to cope with 44 tasks of basic, advanced and high difficulty levels, which in total give 100 points.
Written part of KIMs
Structurally, KIMs in English are represented by several main sections:
- Listening, aimed at identifying how well the student understands the text being listened to. This task is given 30 minutes of examination time, during which the student must cope with the following tasks:
- 1 - identifying the correspondence between statements and statements made in the recording. Students are invited to evaluate 6 statements, comparing them with 7 proposed statements-answers, one of which is incorrect. The student is given 20 seconds to read the statements-answers, then the audio recording will be scrolled 2 times. After that, the student must mark the correct answers on the examination form;
- 2 - assessment of the correctness of judgments, which must be made after listening to the audio recording in a dialogue form. The student is required to put down only the words "true", "false" or "not stated";
- from 3 to 9 - an audio task in the form of a short interview, after listening to which the student will need to choose the correct answer from the options presented on the form. Most often, the task is presented in the form of a question that needs to be answered, or an unfinished sentence that needs to be completed with the right words.
- Reading aimed at checking the understanding of structural and semantic relationships in the proposed text. The student will receive 30 minutes for which he must complete the following tasks:
- 10 - familiarization with seven short texts and identifying the correspondence of the information provided with 8 headings, among which one option will be incorrect;
- 11 - work with text in which there are missing parts. There will be 6 such gaps in total. They must be filled in by choosing words from the seven proposed options;
- from 12 to 18 - acquaintance with a literary or journalistic fragment, to which interrogative sentences and statements with missing words are attached. They will need to choose the correct answer or complete the phrase.
- Grammar and vocabulary are part of the exam check how well the student operates with these language skills. This part of the ticket is considered the most difficult, because it is here that students lose the most points. To work with this part of the ticket, 40 minutes will be allotted, during which you will have to solve the following tasks:
- from 19 to 25 - familiarization with several fragments of the text in which words or phrases will be omitted. Gaps will need to be filled in based on responses that must first be converted;
- from 26 to 31 - exercises that test the skill of word formation. The student is asked to read the text with the missing pieces in order to determine which parts of speech are missing in it. To write down the correct answer, the missing word will need to be transformed (for example, to make an adjective from a noun);
- from 32 to 38 - vocabulary exercises that involve working with text fragments in which words are missing. The correct answers are offered in the KIM form, so you only have to make the right choice.
- Letter - this part of the ticket will test your ability to create different types written texts. You have 80 minutes to complete the tasks, during which you need to complete the following exercises:
- 39 - the student will need to write a letter of a personal nature, keeping within 100-140 words (it is proposed to complete the task in 20 minutes);
- 40 - writing an essay (200-250 words). Focus on the plan and topic proposed in the KIMs. In this task, you will need to write a short introduction on the problem, state your opinion on this issue, support it with arguments and draw a conclusion. You should take approximately 60 minutes to complete this task.
This exam will require not only knowledge of the rules, but also language skills Oral part of the exam
In this part of the exam, the commission will evaluate the student's speech skills. A separate day will be allocated for this test. Each student will have 15 minutes to complete the following types of tasks:
- Reading a short text aloud. Within 1.5 minutes, the student has the opportunity to read the text to himself, and then voice it out loud;
- Formulation of five questions on a piece of text. Most often this is an advertisement. The student will have 1.5 minutes to read the text and then another 20 seconds to answer each question;
- Description of the photo. Students are given a choice of five photos, among which they need to take one and describe it according to the plan proposed in KIMs. 1.5 minutes will be allotted for preparation, and then within 2 minutes you will need to state in your own words what you see in the picture;
- Comparison of two photos. The student will have to identify the similarities and differences between the two pictures in 1.5 minutes, and then tell them to the commission in 2 minutes.
Examination procedure
The examination is regulated by strict rules. Firstly, during the exam it will not be possible to use smartphones, video and audio equipment, smart watches and reference materials. Secondly, you should not peep into someone else's answer sheet, talk to other exam participants or leave the audience without an observer - this will be the reason for the cancellation of your work. Remember that in 2018 all 100% of the classrooms dedicated to exams will be equipped with online monitoring systems.
Each class dedicated to the written part of the examination will be equipped with technical means to play audio recordings during audition. Classes for the oral part of the exam will be equipped with computers with a headset, microphones and appropriate software for fixing answers.
How are exam scores translated into graduation marks?
Points for work affect the certificate and are easily translated into the usual school system:
- 0-21 points corresponds to the level of "two";
- 22-58 points show satisfactory preparation and are equal to the "troika";
- 59-83 points allow you to get a "four";
- 84 points and above tell us that the student knows the subject perfectly.
The minimum score that you need to score in order to obtain a certificate is 22. However, it is worth remembering that for admission to a university " middle class» you need to score at least 45 points, and speech in this case It's not about budget places. Educational institutions of the capital usually accept schoolchildren who managed to score in English from 86 points and above.
Preparation for the exam in English
To pass the English language, you will have to spend a lot of time preparing. Try to correctly distribute the time left before the exam in order to repeat the school course and work out demo versions of KIMs. Their solution will help you understand the structure of the exam - you must admit, if you see a ticket for the exam for the first time, you will probably get nervous. And this, in turn, will lead to a lot of small annoying mistakes. Official KIMS can be downloaded on our website by simply using the link at the beginning of the article.
When preparing for the exam, not only textbooks, but also audiobooks will help you! Do not forget about preparing for listening, because not every teacher at school takes enough time in the classroom to teach students to perceive foreign speech by ear. Audiobooks, songs of your favorite artists, films or TV series in English dubbing will come to your aid. Watch at least a couple of episodes of a series or movie that interests you a day, and listen to a book on the way to school. After a few months of such preparation, you will be able to distinguish words and learn to understand the meaning of the text by ear.
A frequent problem is also the inability to speak - if in vocabulary, grammar and writing, most of the guys who have chosen a foreign language for themselves as the Unified State Examination demonstrate nice results, then the oral part causes certain difficulties. You can practice this skill in a fairly simple way - constantly playing small dialogues in your head with everyday situations, or describing objects, people and buildings that you see while going to school or shopping at the supermarket.
Essay writing also requires separate preparation. Sharpen your mini-essay writing skills by using tickets from previous years. Each new essay will help you better formulate thoughts and present arguments in favor of your point of view. When writing an essay, it is worth remembering these tips:
- do not choose the first topic that comes across - better think about which one will be closer to you and will not require significant effort for argumentation. Part of the points in this task is given precisely for understanding the subject of discussion. If a member of the commission notices that you do not understand what you are writing about, zero will be given for the task;
Increasingly, parents of schoolchildren are turning to our school with a request to prepare future graduates for the Unified State Examination 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 consider its structure and give practical advice to successfully pass each part of the exam, as well as present the best textbooks and online resources to prepare for this difficult test.
What is the USE in English 2018
The USE in English 2018 is a final exam at school, which counts as an entrance exam to a university, which is why it is so important to pass it with a high score. So far, this exam is not mandatory, but if a graduate is going to enter a specialized university, he needs to pass this test.
In terms of structure and level of complexity, the USE is similar to the international FCE exam. This means that in order to successfully pass the student must have a level (above average). it high step, therefore, we recommend starting to prepare for the exam in English from the 10th grade, then in 2 years the student will be able to master all the necessary amount of material at a normal pace.
In principle, it is possible to prepare for the exam in 1 year, but only if at the time the preparation begins, the student already speaks English at the level (intermediate). Don't know what level a graduate has? Then invite him to pass.
How is the exam in English in 2018? The exam consists of written and oral parts, which are held on different days. On the same day, students 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. The student can receive a maximum of 20 points for each of the sections. Thus, for this day you can score 80 points.
The second part - oral - takes place on another day and available on request. It lasts only 15 minutes and consists of 4 tasks. On this day, the 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, and in case of successful - earn extra points.
Thus, a graduate in the exam can score a maximum of 100 points. The minimum score to pass the exam is 22 points.
Below we present a table for translating USE scores in English into a five-point system.
The results of the exam are usually published 14 days after the second part of the exam, but in some cases they are already known after 12 days. You can find out your results on the official website of the exam by filling in all the required fields. Paper USE certificates were canceled in 2014, so only electronic certificates are now available.
The structure of the exam in English 2018 and the principles for the successful delivery of 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 give advice from our teachers who prepare students for the 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 more than a year and have developed their own strategy for successful preparation, they know what pitfalls await in the exam, what typical mistakes students make and how to get rid of these mistakes.
As an example, we will present you with a demo version of the exam in English, provided by the official website of the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements fipi.ru.
listening
The audition 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 to the 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, however, there are pauses between the 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 has to do in the audition.
Exercise 1: 7 statements are given. The student listens to 6 statements and correlates them with statements, one of which is superfluous.
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: There are 7 questions, each of which has 3 possible answers. The student listens to the audio recording and selects the correct answer for each question.
Maximum points: 7 points.
Example:
Listening task 3
Our advice:
- When preparing for an exam, you must as many listening assignments as possible in the exam format. So the graduate will get used to quickly read assignments and catch in speech keywords to help you find the right answer.
- When choosing an answer, one should 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 can somehow mention all the answers to the task, but if you delve into what has been said, you can understand that there is only one correct answer.
Reading
Reading lasts 30 minutes and consists of 3 parts (9 tasks). For each part, we advise you to spend no more than 10 minutes to meet the allotted half an hour.
Exercise 1: Given 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 superfluous.
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 to it are given. Each question has 4 possible answers, from which you need to choose 1 correct one.
Maximum points: 7 points.
Example:
Reading task 3
Our advice:
- When completing the first task, you need to look for keywords that will indicate the meaning of the text and help you find the right heading. In addition, often the main point of a paragraph is reflected in the first sentence, and some small details are given in the rest. Therefore, in some cases, you just need to carefully read the first sentence in order to correctly complete the task.
- To successfully complete the second task, you need to have a good understanding of how complex sentences are built in English. The fact is that the missing part in most cases is part of a complex or complex sentence. For example, if a student understands that subordinate clause who is used for people, which for things, and where for places, he will be able to complete most tasks successfully. It also needs to be repeated, for example, that the infinitive is used to express purpose.
- 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 USE in English 2018 tests the knowledge of grammatical structures and vocabulary of the graduate. The student is given 40 minutes to complete it. Let's see what the student has to do.
Exercise 1: Given a text with 7 words missing. To the right of the text are the words that need to be grammatically transformed (for example, put the verb at the right time) and inserted in the gap.
Maximum points: 7 points.
Example:
Grammar and vocabulary, task 1
Task 2: Given a text with 6 gaps. On the right are the 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 for each of them 1 correct answer out of the four proposed.
Maximum points: 7 points.
Example:
Grammar and vocabulary, task 3
Our advice:
- The transformation of the 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, or put it in the correct voice form (active or passive), or form a participle from it. If an adjective is given, put it in comparative or superlatives. If you need to change a numeral, most likely, you need to make it ordinal.
- In the second part, knowledge of suffixes and prefixes, including negative ones, is mainly checked, the ability to form different parts of speech from a single-root word.
- In the third part, knowledge of word compatibility, the so-called collocations, is most often checked. 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 the context.
Letter
The graduate is given 80 minutes to write and check 2 written papers.
Exercise 1: The text of a short letter from a friend asking questions is given. The student needs to read it and write a response letter: answer the friend's questions and ask questions to him.
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:
- 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 regarded as disclosure of confidential information, even if the address is fictitious.
After the address, skip 1 line and write the date of writing the letter in the same upper right corner.
Further, as usual, on the left we write an informal appeal: Dear Tom / Jim (name will be given in the task). Hello is not allowed here. After the appeal, put a comma and continue to write the text of the letter from a new line.
- 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 did not write earlier (Sorry I haven’t been in touch for so long). You can also mention some fact from the received letter.
In the fourth paragraph, you need to sum up - say 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!).
- End of letter
At the end, you need to write a final cliche phrase, after which a comma is always placed: All the best, Best wishes, etc.
On the next line, below this phrase, you enter 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 the opposite opinion and explains why he does not agree 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:
- Introduction: we formulate the topic-problem and immediately indicate that there are two opposing points of view.
- Your opinion: we express our point of view (one) on this issue and give 2-3 arguments that confirm it.
- Contrasting opinions: we write 1-2 opposite points of view and give arguments in favor of their existence.
- We express disagreement: we explain why we do not agree with the above points of view, and we give arguments in defense of our own opinion. However, they should not repeat the arguments from paragraph 2.
- Conclusion: we draw a conclusion on this topic, indicate that there are different points point of view, and finally confirm our point of view.
Our advice:
- 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 the 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 will evaluate it, moreover, they will deduct points for work in progress, assignment design, topic disclosure, etc.
- Avoid paragraphs consisting of one sentence, you need to supplement and argue your every thought. To do this, you can use the constructions In my opinion, I believe, etc.
- Follow the style of written work: colloquial expressions like Guess what? or Wish me luck!, and in an essay it is better to stick to a more formal style. It is important not to overdo it with "informality": all sorts of well, cause and slang expressions are unacceptable.
- Use linking words, they make the text logical, allow you to complement or contrast sentences.
Oral speech
The oral part of the exam is the shortest, taking only 15 minutes. The graduate needs to have time to complete as many as 4 tasks, for which you can get a maximum of 20 points. The student submits assignments in front of the computer, his answers are recorded using a headset, and the countdown is shown on the screen. At the same time, there is an organizer in the audience who monitors the course of the exam.
Exercise 1: The text of a popular science character is displayed on the screen. In 1.5 minutes you need to prepare and in the next 1.5 minutes expressively read it aloud.
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 pictures. 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: Given 2 pictures. It is necessary to compare them, describe similarities and differences, 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 advice:
- Take advantage online simulator of the oral part of the exam on the website injaz.ege.edu.ru. It completely simulates the exam, so you get familiar with the format and understand what exactly you need to do, what time to meet, etc.
- To complete the first part of the exam, you need take texts on different subjects and learn to read them with the correct expression: there should be pauses in speech, logical stresses, natural intonation. In addition, the graduate must fit in one and a half minutes, because the score is reduced if the text is not read to the end. However, it is also impossible to rush, because it is not the speed of reading that is checked, but the ability to expressively read the text.
- To successfully complete the second task, you need learn to ask questions to different texts. In principle, the task itself is elementary, most of the errors are due to the loss of the auxiliary verb or its incorrect agreement with the noun. This problem is easily solved by doing multiple question-writing exercises.
- In the third task, the examinee needs to choose 1 photo from 3 offered and describe it. Here is our main advice - read the task carefully. The fact is that it changes a little every year, so learn to respond accordingly to the wording of 2018. In 2018, graduates will have to describe a photo to a friend, that is, the monologue should contain an appeal to him. In addition, it is necessary answer all the 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, it is necessary to indicate which photo will be discussed (I’ve chosen photo number...). Don't forget about the opening (Would you like to have a look at my picture? / I'd like to show you a picture from my photo album.) and closing (That's all for now. / I hope you liked my picture.) phrases that make speech logical.
- In the fourth task, you need to do the main emphasis in speech on comparing pictures and not their description. At the same time, it is necessary use speech clichés: The first picture depicts... whereas/while the second picture depicts..., The main difference is that..., In comparison to the first picture, this one... etc. learn with the help of our article " Phrases for comparison and contrast".
Textbooks and sites for preparing for the exam in English 2018
Now you are familiar with the structure of the exam and understand that graduates will face a difficult test. However, the exam in English in 2018 can be passed 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 want to introduce you to some of the textbooks and websites that our teachers use when preparing their students for the exam. Take note of at least a few of them.
- A series of textbooks Macmillan Exam Skills for Russia includes books on preparation for each part of the exam. With authentic texts and assignments, this series is one of the best for exam preparation. These books are quite difficult, so we recommend studying them for students with a level not lower than Intermediate.
- "Model exam USE options edited by Verbitskaya "- exist in various variations, include standard USE assignments with answers. With the help of the book, you can check how well the graduate is ready for the exam.
- fipi.ru - the official website of the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements, which presents a large bank of standard tasks for the exam. On the indicated page, click on the inscription "English" and in the tab that opens on the left, select the skill you want to train. Please note: there are no answers to assignments on the site, therefore, so that the efforts of the graduate are not in vain, we advise you to study with the teacher and send the completed assignments to him for verification. , talkenglish.com , podcastsinenglish.com - sites with educational podcasts on English language. They, of course, do not have standard tasks for the exam, but you can train the skill of listening to speech interesting way and a little distraction from the same type of tasks for the exam.
Our teacher Natalya has already prepared more than a dozen excellent students for the exam in English, in her article “Exam, be good to me, or How to successfully pass the exam in English”, she shares personal experience and tips for alumni.
So, now you imagine the amount of work and know the secrets of successfully passing the exam in English. We wish all graduates easy exams and high scores! And if you have not found a suitable teacher yet, sign up with us at.
Knowledge of a foreign language is one of the key functional competencies that a graduate should possess today. Regardless of whether a person plans to continue his studies abroad and find a job in a large international company, or wishes to stay in his hometown, knowledge of a foreign language will be a significant plus and will open a variety of doors for the graduate.
It is possible that in 2018 a foreign language will become mandatory USE subject. But until the decision on the third compulsory subject is approved and the right of choice remains with the graduate.
In 2017-2018, a high score in English will allow you to enter the quoted universities of the Russian Federation in a variety of areas:
- philology;
- linguistics;
- journalism;
- pedagogy;
- management;
- international relationships;
- world economy;
- sociology;
- hotel business;
- regional studies;
- anthropology…
In fact, the range of areas is much wider, because even many universities provide their applicants who wish to enter technical specialties with the choice between passing physics or a foreign language.
Schedule of the Unified State Examination 2018 in a foreign language
early period |
|
Reserve day (oral part) | |
Main Period |
|
Main exam (oral part) | |
Main exam (written part) | |
Reserve day (written part) | |
Reserve day (oral part) | |
Reserve day (all subjects) | |
Changes in the Unified State Examination in English in 2018
Due to the fact that in the 2016-2017 season significant changes were made to the KIM of various subjects, many graduates and teachers are closely following the news.
We are in a hurry to educate - in 2018 the structure of exams in foreign languages will not be changed. Only minor amendments and clarifications will be made to the content of the KIM.
Like last year, the structure of the USE 2018 in English will consist of two blocks:
- written part;
- oral part.
Oral and written exams will be held on different days!
Structure of the written part
The written part of the exam consists of 40 tasks, divided into 4 sections:
- listening (questions 1-9);
- reading (questions 10-18);
- letter (questions 19-38);
- vocabulary and grammar (questions 39-40).
You have 180 minutes to complete the task.
It is worth considering that there are no tests in the new tickets. The simplest now are questions with a short answer (indicating a number, letter or word).
Tickets are built on a multi-level basis and include tasks that correspond to the three main levels of English proficiency for countries in which it is not native:
The high level (B2) includes tasks that require a complete understanding of the read text, as well as paragraph No. 40 from the Letter block - a short essay with reasoning on a given topic.
The structure of the oral part
The oral part of the exam (speaking) takes place in specially equipped language laboratories or computer classrooms, where each seat is equipped with a special headset. The test takes only 15 minutes. During this time, the student must demonstrate understanding of oral speech and the ability to conduct a dialogue.
USE scoring in English
For the successful completion of the written part, a graduate can score a maximum of 80 primary points. For passing the oral part - another 22 points. When calculating the total score, the results are summarized.
In 2018, when grading for the USE in English, the primary scores will be converted into a five-point system according to the table:
It should be borne in mind that the minimum threshold for passing (22 points) does not make it possible to enter a university, but is only a necessary condition for obtaining a certificate. For information on the minimum passing scores in the subjects required to enter a particular faculty of the university of your choice, look for the official website of the educational institution.
Dates of the exam in English
A draft schedule for the final tests for graduates of the 11th grade has already been drawn up. If no changes are made to the established calendar before the start of the USE 2018, then the exams will be held on the following dates:
oral part | Written part |
|
early period | (Monday) | (Wednesday) |
(Monday) | ||
Main Period | (Wednesday Thursday) | (Monday) |
(Tuesday) |
||
(Friday) |
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Additional period | September 2018 |
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Graduates of 2017-2018 can focus on the main period of the USE.
Graduates of previous years and those who have a valid reason for postponing the test date can apply for an early examination.
The September stage is the last retake, to which persons are allowed whose result was not accepted for technical reasons (not their fault) and those who could not take part in the main USE session for a good reason.
Preparation for the exam in English
Most teachers encourage high school students to decide on their future specialty and choose the desired university as early as the 10th grade. This approach makes it possible to find out in advance which subjects need to be emphasized for the successful passing of the exam.But, even if the decision to pass the English language was made not so long ago, you have every chance to prepare well for the final test, because there is still more than half of the academic year ahead.
Where to begin?
- Familiarize yourself with the ticket structure and typical tasks.
- Find your weaknesses and educate yourself.
- Practice and practice again.
You can find many manuals on the net that will help you repeat the basic rules and prepare well for the written part. Trial versions of this year and last year's assignments will be indispensable in preparation, because in 2018 the structure of USE tickets in English will not change.
Practice is required to pass the oral exam. You can get it by enrolling in group courses to prepare for the exam or just talking a lot with native speakers. But keep in mind that the exam will offer a classic version of the language, and friends on the Internet may be carriers of various regional dialects.
Grammar (tasks 19-25):
How to write an essay in English:
Oral part:
English has been and remains the most popular of the foreign languages studied at school. Exams in this subject have become more difficult since oral assignments were introduced a few years ago. Will there be any changes in the content of tickets and the procedure for conducting the exam in English in 2018? What can I do to effectively prepare for the tests? How will this help in future studies and work?
About the importance of the subject
Few people need to explain today how important knowledge of English is in modern world. This is the language of computer terms, the language of many business documents, just a convenient tool for international communication.
By 2020-2022, it is planned to be included in the list of disciplines for which an exam is mandatory. While it remains among the items of choice, one of the most popular in this category.
Those, those who pass this subject with high results in 2018 can apply for admission to universities in very prestigious, popular specialties. And this is not only specialized foreign languages, diplomacy or computer technology. Good knowledge of English is quoted in educational institutions training in areas such as:
- regional studies;
- management;
- journalism;
- hotel business;
- philology;
- international relationships;
- world economy;
- sociology and a number of others.
Even at technical universities, sometimes an applicant is given a choice: to count points in physics or English.
In addition to proper knowledge of the subject, graduates will also need to possess technical means with which audio recordings will be played on the oral part of the exam. Of course, members of the commission will help if there are difficulties, but this will take time and add unnecessary nervousness. At the exams in the classrooms there will be computers equipped with a headset, the necessary software, microphones.
USE dates in English in 2018
This exam is available ahead of schedule to graduates of previous years and to some categories of current 11th graders who, for objective reasons, will not be able to come on the dates of the main tests.
Most high school students will come to the main exam. It will take place June 11 (in writing), and two days were allotted for the oral format: June 14 and 16. In reserve for the written exam June 26, according to oral - 27 . There's still a day June 29: common reserve for all items.
Finally, in September there will still be an opportunity to take the exam for those graduates who planned to do it together with everyone else, but some good reasons prevented them (illness, etc.).
What will be in the USE tickets in English in 2018?
Since 2016, tasks have appeared in KIMs not only for the written answer, but also for the oral part of the exam. The written and oral parts are rented separately, on different days.
Examiners need to test the level of knowledge of phonetics and grammar, the ability to speak English fluently, and not just read and translate. Even you need to be able to listen: listening to a foreign language is not as easy as it seems.
On the written exam, which lasts 180 minutes, there are 40 tasks to overcome. Such as:
- listening, that is, listening to a prepared text (a maximum of 20 primary points is given for it);
- reading (plus 20 points);
- for knowledge of vocabulary and grammar of the language, examiners have the right to add up to 20 points;
- finally, for fluency in writing, there is a chance to get the remaining 20 points.
Only 15 minutes are allotted for the oral exam, during which 4 tasks are completed. This is a description of the pictures and answers to questions. The maximum for this "semi-exam" is 20 points.
Together with the written test, there are 44 tasks of different difficulty levels and 100 maximum possible points.
What's in the oral part of the test?
The oral "portion" of tasks is otherwise called speaking, although not all of them consist of a conversation. It is important to understand spoken language, conduct dialogue and demonstrate your oratory skills in a foreign language.
Testing takes place either in special language laboratories or in computer classes, where the equipment is equipped with a special headset. In 15 minutes you need to cope with several tasks.
First, each graduate will be offered a short text. You can quickly (in one and a half minutes) run through it with your eyes, and then read it aloud.
Then, according to the fragment of the text, it will be necessary to formulate five questions. Again there will be 1.5 minutes to read the passage, and then you will have to quickly voice all 5 questions, each is given only 20 seconds.
The next item of the "program" is a description of the photo. One of the five offered is selected, the examinee studies it (in the same one and a half minutes), and then sets out what he sees in two minutes. To help students in KIMs, a presentation plan will be given.
The last thing to do is to compare the two shots. Find similarities and differences in 1.5 minutes and briefly, in 2 minutes, tell the commission about them.
Features of the written part of KIMs
In the written, as well as in the oral part of KIMs, in 2018, no new topics or tasks are foreseen. 40 tasks of this section of the exam are divided into 4 groups:
- Questions 1 to 9 are about listening.
- Students demonstrate the ability to read correctly and with correct intonation, clearly thanks to questions 10-18.
- The next ten tasks (19-38) are the letter itself.
- Knowledge in the field of vocabulary and grammar is checked by the examination committee on questions 39-40.
All together 3 hours.
Tests in the form that they used to have are no longer available. Although there are a number of questions in the tickets, the answer to which should be extremely brief: a word, a letter or a number.
Other tasks (they are placed in the final part of the KIMs) require more detailed answers. There are also questions of increased complexity, they are based on the full understanding of the text by the student. The most difficult task is task number 40 (in the “Letter” block): it involves writing an essay, short, but not descriptive, but with analysis and reflections.
Translation of USE scores in English in 2018
As already mentioned above, the highest score for both parts of the exam will be 100 points. When converted to common estimates, the result will look like this:
- With a set of up to 21 points, the exam is considered failed - this is " deuce».
- From 22 to 58 points in terms of a five-point system are equivalent to " troika».
- Those who scored from 59 to 83 points receive " four».
- The exam is considered passed on top five", if the graduate scored a total of 84 points or more.
Those who step over the threshold of poor progress, having earned 22 points, will be issued a certificate. But for higher education, this result is not enough. How much exactly you need to get to the desired specialty in the chosen institution for sure, you need to find out in advance on the websites of these universities.
The experience of previous years suggests that even 45 points give only a ghostly chance to enter the number of students of "average" universities, and then, most likely, on a paid basis. And those who want to study in the capital, and even on a budgetary basis, need to collect at least 85 points for the Unified State Examination in English in their “piggy bank”.
Preparation for the exam in English in 2018
Quite a lot of high school students are engaged in circles, schools, studios of the English language. When professionals work there, the level of training is usually quite high. Schools have extracurricular activities.
Other students choose self-study or tutoring. They have at their disposal demo versions of the USE in English in 2018, as well as options for tasks from previous years with ready-made correct answers. In order to consolidate knowledge for the successful passing of the written section of the exam, this can be a very good help. In any case, the language requires systematic studies, one-time actions will not help here.
It is very important to listen to competent oral speech: audiobooks, recordings of lessons, songs, poems in English. You can also turn to classical or children's English literature, to films. In such a living form, the language is perceived more emotionally, in addition, situational memory and associations work, which helps memorization.
But it is not enough to recognize speech by ear, for many it becomes a stumbling block correct pronunciation. Therefore, it is extremely useful to study in pairs or in a small group. We rarely notice our flaws in speech, but a look and auditory control from the outside will be very useful. If someone in the family speaks the language, you can take it as a practice for at least a month before the exam to speak with them in English about the simplest everyday things. This is an excellent training, besides, fear disappears, you become more free in communication, which is extremely important for the psychological mood.
