Ninth-graders will begin taking an oral history exam

The new exam will become mandatory admission to the Unified State Examination from 2028

From 2028, Russian ninth-graders will begin taking a mandatory oral history exam in addition to the existing exams in Russian language and mathematics. The head of Rosobrnadzor Anzor Muzaev announced this on May 13 at a meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

“We will have a third mandatory exam. This is an important subject,” Muzaev said.

The exam will become an admission to the state final certification - similar to the final interview in the Russian language, which ninth-graders now undergo in February before the Unified State Exam.

The introduction of a new exam was first announced by the Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov back in March 2026 at a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on Historical Education. Oral history interviews will begin in the 2027/2028 academic year.

In order not to miss new texts from “Layout”, subscribe to our telegram channel

What is known about the exam format

The exact format of the exam has not yet been officially approved. Rosobrnadzor said that the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements (FIPI) will only begin to develop tasks and questions.

It is only known that the exam will take the form of an interview and will be based on a “single line of textbooks” on history edited by Vladimir Medinsky , recalls the Mel publication.

The Ministry of Education explained that schoolchildren will have to answer “problematic questions” about the meaning of historical processes, argue their position and formulate attitudes towards historical events and personalities.

It is assumed that the exam will be held in February - immediately after the final interview in the Russian language. However, students will likely be given additional dates to retake.

More than one and a half million Russian teenagers will take the new exam every year.

The authorities talk about “traditional values” and the replacement of social studies

The authorities explain the introduction of the exam by the need to strengthen historical education.

Muzaev previously said that oral testing would make history lessons “more meaningful.” Sergei Kravtsov said that the exam corresponds to the “traditions of historical education.”

At the same time, the authorities are gradually reducing the role of social studies. Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky previously stated that history could “absorb” social studies over time.

The innovation is also associated with Vladimir Putin’s order to replace social studies with history when entering some universities, Mel notes.

In order not to miss new texts from “Layout”, subscribe to our telegram channel

The exam has already begun to be criticized

Critics and teachers note that history, unlike the Russian language, is not one of the compulsory subjects of the OGE, therefore there are fewer hours for studying it in schools than in the Russian language. Because of this, preparation can turn into coaching for an oral interview.

In addition, teachers fear an increase in the workload on history teachers. So far, the authorities have not announced any additional payments or new rates for training schoolchildren.

Another subject of controversy is the possible subjectivity of the assessment. Irina Abankina, chief researcher at the Center for Financial and Economic Solutions in Education at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, expressed concerns to Vedomosti that problems could arise if they check not only knowledge of dates and facts, but also the interpretation of historical events .

Previously, “Layout” wrote that the new social studies textbook included an advertisement for a contract service and quotes from “Domostroy.” Vladimir Putin is mentioned in the text 27 times - much more often than Peter I, Alexander Pushkin and God.

Photo: History textbook for 9th grade. Website of the publishing house "Prosveshchenie"

You can support “Layout” from any country in the world - it is still safe and very important. We really need your support now