Overview
The EGE (Unified State Exam, Единый государственный экзамен) is Russia's standardised school-leaving examination for grade 11, the final year of general secondary education. It is run under the supervision of Rosobrnadzor, the federal body for oversight of education, with exam content and specifications set by FIPI, the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements. The EGE serves two purposes at once: passing the compulsory subjects earns the secondary-school leaving certificate, and the scored subjects are used directly as the entrance score for most Russian university programmes.
Note
Rosobrnadzor's and FIPI's own sites could not be fetched directly while researching this page, so the facts below are drawn from their published notices as reported by Rossiyskaya Gazeta and other established Russian education outlets. Confirm current-year dates and minimum scores on the official Rosobrnadzor site before relying on them.
Who can apply
Current grade 11 students completing a general secondary education programme sit the EGE as part of their final year; their school registers them and submits the application on their behalf. Graduates from earlier years, students who finished secondary school abroad, and other external candidates can also register to sit the EGE, through their regional education authority rather than through a current school. Grade 9 students take a separate, earlier exam, the OGE (Basic State Exam), which is not covered on this page.
Exam pattern
Every candidate sits two compulsory subjects, plus any elective subjects their target university programmes require.
| Part | Subjects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | Russian language; Mathematics | Mathematics is offered at a basic level (pass/fail, certificate only) or a profile level (scored 0-100, used for university admission). Candidates choose the level; a passing profile-level result is not required to get the certificate, only the basic level is. |
| Elective | Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Social studies, Literature, Geography, Computer science, Foreign languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese and others) | Candidates choose electives based on the admission requirements published by the university programmes they plan to apply to; most take one or two. |
Each subject (other than basic-level Mathematics) is scored on a 100-point scale. FIPI publishes the detailed specification, demonstration version and codifier for every subject each academic year, setting out exactly what is tested and in what format.
Marking and results
For 2026, Rosobrnadzor set the following minimum scores. A score below the certificate minimum in a compulsory subject means the certificate is not issued; a score below the university minimum in a subject means that result cannot be used for admission to a programme that requires it.
| Subject | Minimum for certificate | Minimum for university admission |
|---|---|---|
| Russian language | 24 | 40 |
| Mathematics (profile) | 27 | 40 |
| Mathematics (basic) | pass grade ("3") | not used for admission ranking |
| History, Literature | 32 | 40 |
| Physics, Chemistry, Biology | 36 | 40 |
| Social studies | 42 | 45 |
| Geography | 37 | 40 |
| Computer science | 40 | 46 |
| Foreign languages | 22 | 40 |
A candidate who fails one of the two compulsory subjects (Russian language or Mathematics) can resit that subject on a later reserve day within the same exam period; failing both compulsory subjects, or being removed for a rules violation, forfeits the right to resit that year. Under Russia's federal education law, EGE results stay valid for university admission for four years after the year they were achieved, so a result from an earlier sitting can still be used.
Important dates
For 2026, Rosobrnadzor's confirmed calendar sets an early exam period from 20 March to 20 April 2026, for candidates with an approved reason to sit ahead of schedule, and the main exam period from 1 June to 9 July 2026, which includes reserve days for candidates resitting one subject. Schools collect each student's application, naming the subjects and preferred dates, by 1 February 2026; missing this deadline removes the right to sit in the main period that year.
How to apply
Current grade 11 students submit their subject choices through their school, using the application form provided by their homeroom teacher or the school's exam coordinator, before the 1 February deadline. External candidates (earlier-year graduates, students from other school systems) register through their regional education department instead. The application fixes which subjects and which exam dates the candidate is assigned to, so subject choices should match the admission requirements of the university programmes being targeted.
After the exam
Passing the two compulsory subjects at or above the certificate minimum earns the secondary-school leaving certificate. For university admission, candidates apply directly to each university's admission office (or its online application service) with their EGE scores; at most programmes this score stands in for a separate entrance exam, and applicants are ranked by their combined subject scores against the places available. A small number of programmes, mainly in creative arts, sport, and a handful of leading universities, add their own supplementary internal entrance test on top of the EGE score.
Preparation tips
Decide early which elective subjects to take, based on the admission requirements published by the university programmes of interest, since electives cannot easily be changed after the application deadline.
Work through FIPI's official specification, codifier and demonstration version for each chosen subject: they set out exactly what is tested and in what format, and are updated every academic year.
Choose between basic and profile Mathematics based on whether any target programme requires a profile-level score; basic level is enough for the certificate but cannot be used for admission.
Track the application deadline and the published exam calendar closely, since a late application or a missed exam date cannot be corrected within the same exam period.
FAQs
Which subjects are compulsory in the EGE?
Russian language and Mathematics are compulsory for every grade 11 student. Mathematics can be taken at a basic level, which only counts toward the school certificate, or a profile level, which is also used for university admission.
Can I retake an EGE subject if I fail it?
A candidate who fails one of the two compulsory subjects can resit that subject on a reserve day within the same exam period. Failing both compulsory subjects, or being disqualified for a rules violation, removes the right to resit that year.
Do I need to sit a separate entrance exam to get into a Russian university?
At most university programmes, no: your EGE scores are used directly for admission ranking. Some programmes, mainly in creative arts, sport, or at a handful of leading universities, require an additional internal entrance test alongside the EGE score.
How long are EGE results valid for?
Under Russia's federal education law, EGE results can be used for university admission for four years after the year the exam was taken, so a result does not have to be used the same year it was earned.