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Record 747,000 students to take Russia's 2026 Unified State Exam amid rising competition

Elite universities raise the stakes as record numbers sit the 2026 exams. Can students crack the top scores without tutors—or will last-minute cramming cost them?

The image shows an open book with handwriting on it, which is the first page of an instruction...
The image shows an open book with handwriting on it, which is the first page of an instruction manual for the school inspection of the education hub.

Record 747,000 students to take Russia's 2026 Unified State Exam amid rising competition

More than 747,000 students have registered for the Unified State Exam (USE) in 2026, with advanced mathematics, computer science, and biology topping the list of chosen subjects. The exam period runs from June 1 to July 9, with retakes scheduled for September. Experts now suggest that early planning and targeted preparation could be key to securing high scores—even without private tutors. The 2026 USE schedule includes a main session from June 1 to July 9 and a retake window from September 4 to 25. Over three-quarters of a million students will sit the exams, many aiming for elite institutions like Moscow State University (MSU) and the Higher School of Economics.

Ivan Yashchenko, academic supervisor at the Center for Pedagogical Excellence, argues that top results are possible without tutors if preparation begins early. He recommends reviewing past admission thresholds to identify which subjects may need extra support. Viktor Bolotov, former head of Rosobrnadzor, adds that students should pick a target university at least a year before exams to focus their efforts. Specialised schools linked to universities often help pupils score 90 or above. However, experts agree that motivation plays a critical role in success. They also advise prioritising rest over cramming the night before an exam. For those targeting leading universities, tutoring may still be necessary. A standard school curriculum alone is often insufficient for the highest marks required by top-tier institutions.

The 2026 USE will see hundreds of thousands of students compete for places at Russia’s best universities. Early preparation, subject selection, and rest strategies could make the difference in achieving high scores. Without these steps, even strong candidates may struggle to meet the demands of elite admissions.

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