Russia Expands Exam Experiment for College Admissions

On Wednesday, December 24, the Federation Council gave its approval to a new law concerning the admission process for vocational training. The legislation expands an ongoing experiment designed to reduce the number of exams students must take to enter colleges.

The core of this initiative is the modification of the State Final Exam (OGE) requirements. Currently, students face a broader range of testing, but this new measure aims to streamline the process specifically for those entering secondary vocational education (SSE). The law is set to take effect for the graduating class of 2026, impacting students at the end of their ninth grade year.

The Federation Council formally endorsed the initiative during a session on December 24. This decision represents the final legislative hurdle for the expansion of the pilot program. The law specifically targets the admission criteria for students transitioning from basic general education to professional training.

The experiment is not nationwide in its initial phase. It is geographically limited to a specific set of regions to evaluate the effectiveness of the reduced testing model. The legislative body emphasized that this is a controlled expansion of an existing pilot project, intended to gather data on student performance and admission efficiency.

The most significant change introduced by the law is the reduction of required OGE subjects. Under the standard curriculum, students typically take exams in several subjects to receive their certificate. However, for the purpose of entering colleges under this experiment, the requirements are drastically simplified.

Starting in the summer of 2026, students in the participating regions will only need to pass exams in two core subjects to qualify for college admission:

• Russian Language
• Mathematics

This reduction is intended to facilitate entry into secondary vocational educational institutions (SSE), allowing students to focus on foundational skills relevant to their future professional training.

The experiment will officially launch in the summer of 2026. This timeline provides educational institutions and students in the selected areas with advance notice to prepare for the new admission protocols.

The law specifies that the program will be active in 12 regions. While the specific names of these regions are not detailed in the immediate legislative announcement, the selection of a dozen distinct areas suggests a diverse testing ground for this educational reform. The success of this pilot could influence future national policy regarding vocational education admissions.

This legislative move signals a potential shift in how Russia approaches vocational training recruitment. By lowering the barrier to entry regarding exam counts, the state may be aiming to boost enrollment in technical and professional colleges. The focus on Russian and Mathematics ensures that students possess the necessary literacy and numeracy skills required for professional development, while removing the pressure of additional academic subjects.

The Federation Council's decision highlights a growing trend of flexibility within the educational system, adapting assessment methods to better suit different career pathways. As the 2026 deadline approaches, the 12 participating regions will serve as the primary indicators of whether this simplified admission process benefits student outcomes and vocational sector growth.