Probably, today it is impossible to find a person who has not heard anything about the Unified State Exam, or the Unified State Examination. The pros and cons of such testing have been discussed for many years - on television, in schools, and also in everyday life. Let's talk about them, but first, let's look at the history of its occurrence.
When the USE was introduced
Few people know, but the first exam was held back in 2001. True, the experiment did not cover the entire country, but only a few republics: Yakutia, Chuvashia and Mari El. It was also used in two regions: Rostov and Samara. The very next year, the scope increased - now the USE was held in sixteen regions of Russia. Every year the number of regions increased: 47 in 2003, 65 in 2004. As a result, by 2006 schoolchildren from 79 regions of the country took the exam, and two years later their number exceeded one million - a single exam was introduced throughout the Russian Federation.
If from 2001 to 2008 representatives of the Ministry of Education in each region established a list of subjects,covered by the USE independently, then later it was approved by the minister himself.
What is the Unified Exam
In fact, the exam is a regular test. Pupils receive a list of questions and must choose the correct answers, indicating them in a specially issued form.
The responses received not only affect the grades in the passed subjects at the end of school and the issuance of a certificate of secondary education, but are also considered as the main indicator for admission to universities. True, in some institutions, given the pros and cons of the Unified State Examination, you have to write an essay (for example, when entering the Faculty of Journalism) and additionally pass some exams.
It is mandatory for a graduate to pass the Unified State Examination in the Russian language, as well as mathematics (there are basic and profile options). He can also optionally write a test in such subjects as chemistry, history, physics, computer science, biology, social studies, literature, geography and foreign languages. Specific subjects are selected depending on which institution of higher education the student plans to enter, based on the results of the USE.
Rules
The exam is held in specially equipped rooms. The content of the collections of questions until the last remains unknown even to the persons conducting the testing - the seals are removed in the presence of authorized persons immediately before distribution to the graduates.
Together with the collection, the examinees receive a form - they need to enter their data in block letters, as well asmark the answers that the student considers correct.
The event is monitored very strictly: a variety of equipment is used, observers drawn from other regions are used. Any attempt to cheat, use cheat sheets, call friends or look for answers on the Internet immediately leads to the fact that the exam for a particular person is terminated, he is withdrawn from the audience.
Rating
Speaking about the USE, the pros and cons inherent in it, it is worth noting a rather complicated grading system: it is needed first of all in order to fill out a certificate of secondary education.
Primary and test scores are used for grading. The maximum test score is always one hundred. The primary one is converted into a test one using a certain coefficient. And for different subjects, it can vary significantly. For example, in 2011, for the Russian language exam, 30 primary scores were equal to 49 test scores, while in mathematics, in order to score 49 test scores, it was enough to get 10 primary ones.
Of course, this not only significantly complicates the counting procedure, increasing the possibility of error, but also seriously confuses schoolchildren, who are already so confused and frightened by the upcoming procedure.
Now we can talk about the pros and cons of the exam.
Potential benefits
The main advantage is the opportunity for graduates to take only one exam - ittaken into account both at the end of school and at admission to universities. Quite convenient, because before the introduction of the Unified State Examination, they had to not only take exams at school, but also go to the reception of the chosen institute in order to re-take the procedure there.
In theory, the introduction of the Unified State Examination was supposed to exclude the possibility of entering "by pull" - the points speak for themselves, and only a more talented student who scored more correct answers can count on a place at the university. Alas, in practice it turned out quite differently - some students receive the correct answers in a timely manner or even they are allowed to use cell phones and cheat sheets during the exam.
When passing the exam, the assessment is based on a 100-point scale, and not on the classic 4-point scale. This makes it easier to draw the line between straight A's, near A's, and overachievers.
Thanks to a single standard, it becomes easier to compare performance in different cities and regions.
This is where the main advantages of the decision come to an end. But, in order to objectively assess the pros and cons of the Unified State Examination and the OGE (the Main State Exam, taken after the completion of the 9th grade), it will be useful to talk about important disadvantages.
Obvious flaws
The corruption that thrives in this environment has already been mentioned. In addition, university teachers now do not have the opportunity to choose really worthy students from among applicants - having a certificate with high scores in their hands,even a person who obviously does not have high mental abilities easily enters an elite university. True, in some cases they are allowed to sort out additional exams, essays and essays - this does not affect the pros and cons of the USE, but it allows you to expand the area of influence of the examiners.
But, according to many experts, what is much worse is that the new testing format is killing the existing education system. For example, if the advantages of passing an exam in the exact sciences (mathematics, chemistry, physics) can still be argued, then the pros and cons of the exam in English, history and literature tend to favor the latter. The student does not need to know the entire volume of the school curriculum - it is enough to remember only some point facts, which destroys a holistic knowledge of the subject.
Also, in some subjects, such as social studies, there are quite controversial questions that do not have a clear answer - during an oral exam, a talented applicant would easily justify his point of view, and when testing, he should simply shade one of the answers, hoping for luck.
Scandals related to the exam
Of course, talking about the pros and cons of the USE, one cannot but mention a series of scandals associated with it.
For example, in 2010, in different regions of the country (Rostov and Perm regions, the Republic of Dagestan), hundreds of teachers were detained trying to pass an exam for students, having received a reward for this.
In 2013, graduates from the Far East posted on the Internet forms with answers that they couldtake advantage of schoolchildren from other regions - due to the significant difference in time zones.
Very often, university professors complain that among applicants from the Caucasian republics, many have high scores in Russian, but they do not know how to write correctly, and sometimes they simply do not speak spoken language.
