Retake Period for University Entrance Exam (EGE) Begins in Russia

As of 8 July, the retake period for the Unified State Exam (EGE) has officially begun in Russia. This exam represents a central and critical evaluation stage that Russian secondary education graduates must pass in order to be placed in universities. The retake option applied this year will continue for two consecutive days and is scheduled to start at 10:00 AM. Graduating students have the opportunity to retake a single exam of their choice. Within this scope, it is possible to improve the result of any exam taken in 2026 or during the 10th grade.

The Federal Service for Supervision of Education and Science (Rosobrnadzor) has made important statements regarding the matter through its press service. The institution clarified that students can only choose to retake one exam and that this right is based on their personal initiative. The retake process stands out as an implementation aimed at increasing students' chances of university admission. In previous years, students did not have the chance to improve their exam results within the same year and had to wait a year to obtain a higher score. The new regulation eliminates this mandatory waiting period, granting students an immediate second chance.

This significant change has been implemented since 2024 on the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the old system, when students were not satisfied with their exam results, they had to wait until the next calendar year and re-register for the exams. The new system has significantly increased flexibility in the education system by granting the right to retake exams within the same year. This flexibility left in the system for students to aim for higher scores is seen as part of the transformation in education policies. In this context, the educational reforms initiated under the leadership of the president aim to reduce exam stress and offer fair opportunities to students.

The criteria for retaking the exam have been determined very clearly. When students retake the exam, regardless of the score they obtained in the first exam, only the new result is considered valid. This situation brings a certain risk factor for students. Because if a student scores lower when retaking the exam, the opportunity to use the high score earned in the previous exam disappears. For this reason, students need to evaluate their situation very well before using their retake right. This rule maintains the seriousness of the system while encouraging students to make more careful and strategic decisions.

This year, the city of Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) has achieved a significant success in terms of exam results. The number of students who received a perfect score (100 points) in the city reached 914, marking the highest level recorded in the city's history. Smolny officials have described the 2026 graduates as the most successful class in the city's EGE history. Additionally, in terms of the number of students who received the highest score, Saint Petersburg ranks first among all regions of Russia. This extraordinary success reveals both the intense effort of the students and the quality of educational institutions in the city.