The State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children has addressed the issue of which literary works are included in the Unified State Exam (USE) literature preparatory program. The committee requested comments from the Minister of Education, Sergei Kravtsov, to help clarify the process behind creating the reference list for USE preparation.
The document indicates that the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements (FIPI) decided to remove certain domestic classics from the USE literature preparatory program. This development has prompted questions about which authors are being prioritized for high school students preparing for the exam and how the selection aligns with national educational standards.
The current Ministry of Education framework outlines a progression in the study of literature for different grades. In the lower grade levels, works by foundational Russian authors such as Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov and Nikolai Gogol are commonly addressed, along with other classic writers like Fonvizin and Griboyedov. In the upper grades, the curriculum typically covers literature from the second half of the 19th century through the early 21st century, including authors such as Ostrovsky, Turgenev and Tolstoy, as well as works from Soviet times and contemporary authors. This structure reflects a broad historical sweep rather than a narrow focus on any single period.
Recent reporting has noted that the 2024 history exam included tasks related to current events and newly integrated regional developments, illustrating a shift toward broader context within assessments. In parallel, FIPI has published demo versions of USE-2024, offering a preview of the exam format and the types of tasks candidates may encounter. These updates occur within a changing landscape of Russian education policy, where exam content is periodically revised to reflect evolving curricular priorities and governmental guidance.
Overall, the dialogue between lawmakers, the education ministry, and the examination authorities underscores a push to ensure transparency and consensus around which texts form the backbone of USE preparation. Stakeholders are seeking clarity on selection criteria, the balance between national literary heritage and modern writing, and how the chosen references support the goal of fair assessment for students across grades and regions.