Russian teachers believe that Unified State Exam results correspond to real knowledge - VCIOM

UFA, 20 January 2016. /Bashinform News Agency, Galiya Nabieva/. In Russia, most of the teachers believe that the Unified State Exam (USE) results correspond to the real knowledge of students. The Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presented data on how graduates and their parents, students and teachers evaluate objectivity of the exam and availability of additional entrance examinations in higher education institutions.

The objectivity of the exam is no doubt among the majority of students, their parents and teachers. For example, 80% of teachers of the 11th form believe that the tests and tasks reflect the real knowledge of the students. The most 11th graders (62%) and current freshmen who earned the highest scores in 2015 name the exam’s results as corresponding to the real knowledge (60%). And only those who last year received the average or low scores consider the results rather understated (52%).

The USE Portal of Open Bank of Tasks is demanded by graduates: it was used by more than 55% of the last year graduates, and among future applicants 2016 there are more than 70% of those who have resorted to its help, or plan to do so, according to the survey.

However, only one third of teachers (33%), parents (32%) and recent graduates (32%), and the freshmen, who did not have the highest score (33%) speak about adequacy of independent preparation for the exam. While the majority believes that additional coaching is necessary to receive high scores.

The poll was conducted in October and November 2015 in 20 subjects of Russia. 2,200 people were interviewed in different target groups (600 freshmen of universities, 400 teachers of the first year at universities, 400 graduates of the 11th form, 400 parents of graduates, 400 teachers of the 11th form).