OGE: what is it, what subjects are taken in 9th grade, scores and preparation

The exam is conducted by Rosobrnadzor and the Ministry of Education of Russia, and the tasks are developed by the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements (FIPI). The OGE is a prerequisite for obtaining a certificate of basic general education, as well as entry into the specialized tenth grade and college.

A little history for those who are interested in when the OGE was introduced and in what year the OGE appeared. The exam grew out of an experiment in the 2000s with a new form of assessment for ninth-graders. The very name “main state exam” was established in 2014, when the state final certification after the ninth grade became standard throughout the country.

GIA, OGE, GVE and Unified State Exam — what is the difference

Parents are often confused by a set of similar abbreviations. We have collected the questions of how the GIA differs from the OGE, GVE and OGE, what is the difference and what is the difference between the Unified State Exam and the OGE in one table.

Elective subjects

Next, the student chooses two subjects from the list: physics, chemistry, biology, literature, geography, history, social studies, computer science, foreign language (English, German, French or Spanish). The question of whether it is possible to take the OGE in physical education or whether it is possible to take life safety at the OGE arises regularly — the answer is negative, physical education, the basics of safety, technology and fine arts are not on the list.

OGE subject codes

OGE subject codes are needed to mark forms and results in your personal account. When you look at the exam results, there will be a number, not a title.

This is what the OGE mathematics subject code looks like, grade 9, the OGE geography subject code, and the OGE biology subject code in the federal list. Numbering in the regional information system may differ — check the documents of your region.

How many subjects do you need to take and is it possible to take fewer

Basic rule: four exams. Therefore, to the questions of how many subjects are taken for the OGE, is it possible to take 3 subjects for the OGE, and is it possible to take 5 subjects for the OGE, there is only one answer — standardly exactly four, no more and no less.

But there is an important exception. Since 2025, there has been an experiment to expand the availability of secondary vocational education. In the participating regions, a ninth-grader who plans to go to college only needs to pass two compulsory subjects—Russian language and mathematics. The experiment was extended until 2029, and the number of regions increased from three to twelve: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Lipetsk, Moscow, Murmansk, Rostov, Smolensk, Tver and Tyumen regions, the Republic of Tatarstan, Kamchatka Territory, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug — Ugra.

The region itself determines the conditions within the experiment: a list of specialties, admission rules, minimum scores for the tenth grade. The list of participants and rules are changing, so be sure to check the situation with your school and on the regional portal of the state final certification.

How to select electives

There are only four pillars: the requirements of a college or specialized class, the child’s real grades in the subject, the amount of preparation and his interest. Choosing blindly is risky — it is much more useful to first see how the child copes with real exam tasks. Such diagnostics can be completed in preparation courses for the OGE, and only then can you make a decision.

Admission to the OGE: final interview and annual grades

There are three admission conditions: a pass for the final interview in Russian language, absence of academic debts and annual grades not lower than satisfactory in all subjects of the curriculum.

The final interview is oral work: reading the text, retelling, monologue and dialogue with the examiner. Held at your school on the second Wednesday in February, there are additional dates in March and April for those who are ill or did not pass the test the first time. Parents often ask whether the oral interview is included in the certificate and whether the oral interview affects the certificate — no, it is assessed only as “pass” or “fail” and is not included in the certificate. But you won’t be allowed to take the exams without passing the test.

When is the OGE, how long does the exam last and what can you take with you

There are three periods: early (usually April — May), main (June — beginning July) and additional, September. The exact dates are approved by a joint order of the Ministry of Education and Rosobrnadzor; usually the draft is published in the fall, and the final document is closer to December. At the time of publication, the schedule for the next academic year has not yet been approved, so be guided by last year’s framework and check the order on the Rosobrnadzor website.

Now about the duration of the OGE. The question is how long the OGE in mathematics lasts — 3 hours 55 minutes, the same for Russian language and literature.

The data is given according to the current schedule order. It is better to check the list of permitted materials in the appendix to the order for the current year — it is sometimes specified.

The rules for conducting the OGE at the point are strict: telephones, cheat sheets and any recordings are prohibited, video surveillance is conducted, for violation you are removed from the exam without the right to retake it this year. Exams begin at 10:00 local time. Regarding the question of whether it is possible to take the OGE early: yes, there is an early period, but they participate in it for valid reasons, agreed upon with the state examination commission.

OGE points: how work is assessed and translated into grades

The minimum score on the OGE is the threshold at which the exam is considered passed. But for college and specialized classes, a reserve is needed: FIPI separately recommends increased thresholds for selection into specialized classes, for example, 28 points in Russian and from 18 to 19 in mathematics, depending on the profile.

How the result of the OGE affects the certificate

The question of whether the OGE affects the certificate in the 9th grade worries almost everyone. Yes, it does: the final grade for each subject passed is the arithmetic average of the annual and examination grades, rounded in favor of the student. That is, with an annual “4” and an exam “5”, an “A” will be included in the certificate.

Moreover, what subjects are included in the certificate after 9 — all subjects of the ninth grade curriculum, and not just four exam ones. So the document is formed not just in June, but throughout the entire academic year. What does the OGE influence in the end: through a certificate — on competition for admission to college and on enrollment in a specialized class.

What to do if you didn’t pass the OGE

Let us reassure you right away: this is not a disaster and not the end of the educational route. If one or two subjects are not passed, there is a retake on the reserve days of the main period, and if this fails, on the additional period in September. You can retake no more than two subjects.

If the September attempt was unsuccessful, a certificate of training is issued instead of a certificate, and you can re-pass the certification in a year. At the same time, the year does not have to be empty: current standards allow you to study under a vocational training program at this time and obtain a working profession.

Here are the answers to two common requests. Is it possible not to take the OGE? No, this is a mandatory procedure for all ninth-graders. Is it possible to get a certificate without the OGE — no, successful completion of the certification is a condition for issuing the document.

How to prepare for the OGE: plan and materials

Official materials to start with

Preparation for the OGE begins not with the purchase of collections, but with the FIPI website. Four key documents are posted there for free: an open bank of OGE tasks, a demo version of the OGE, a codifier and a specification.

Let's decipher it. KIM OGE is control measuring materials, the same set of tasks that are given in the exam. The demo version shows the structure of the work and the types of tasks, but the real version is not identical to it. The codifier is a list of topics and skills that are tested, essentially a preparation map. The specification explains how many tasks, what level of difficulty and how many points for each.

It is important to understand: the OGE options in the exam will not match the bank verbatim, but they test exactly the same skills. Therefore, the point is not in memorization, but in practicing types of problems.

Preparation plan by stages

1. Spring — autumn of the eighth grade: select subjects, pass diagnostics, close gaps for grades 5–8. It is the old holes that most often interfere later.

2. September — December ninth grade: analysis of topics strictly according to the codifier, working with an open bank of tasks.

3. January — February: final interview, first full samples for a while.

4. March — May: training versions of the OGE every two to three weeks, working on mistakes, practicing the design of forms.

Realistic rhythm — two to three lessons per week in the subject plus regular independent practice. Marathons haven’t worked in the last month: the brain doesn’t have time to transform knowledge into a stable skill, and anxiety eats up more than cramming gives.

Samplers and simulators

The OGE sampler makes sense only under two conditions: full examination time and analysis of each error after. The mistake of most people is to go through thirty options and not figure out a single one. This does not increase your score. The OGE simulator and online platforms are useful for practicing short tasks, but do not replace work with the extended part, where the criteria are solved.

What to do if self-preparation is stalled

The signs are clear: the child solves the OGE in mathematics option by option, but the result stands still; does not understand why points are deducted; postpones preparation until the last minute.

Usually, independent work breaks down due to two things: there is no one to explain an incomprehensible topic and there is no one to sort out errors according to official criteria. The format with a live teacher, regular practice exams and detailed analysis closes both.

Digital is a systematic preparation for exams with involved teachers and progress tracking. At Tsifrium, classes are held in the evenings and on weekends, so they can easily be combined with regular school or family education, and the notes remain in your personal account — you can return to the topic before the exam. There are separate programs for preparing for the OGE in mathematics, preparing for the OGE in the Russian language and preparing for the OGE in social studies. Check the prices and formats on the website — they are updated periodically.

Preparing for the OGE for free is also possible: the official materials for preparing for the OGE on the FIPI portal are completely open, and for a disciplined student this may be enough.

Briefly about the main thing

There are four exams, two of them are mandatory, the certificate consists of all subjects of the year, and the threshold scores are quite achievable through systematic work. Nothing supernatural is required from a ninth grader — regularity and a clear plan are required.

If it is not yet clear where your child should start, take a look at the situation at a free consultation: we will look at the current level, help you decide on elective subjects and select a program. You can sign up on the OGE preparation page.

Frequently asked questions about the Unified State Exam

In what grade do they take the Unified State Exam and is there a Unified State Exam in 9th grade?

Only in the ninth. The Unified State Exam is taken after the eleventh grade.

How many subjects must I take and is it possible to choose more than two additional ones?

Standard four: two mandatory and two optional. You cannot choose more than two additional ones, less — only in the regions of the experiment when entering college.

Is it possible not to take the OGE and get a certificate?

No. Successful completion of the certification is a prerequisite for issuing a certificate of basic general education.

Is it possible to take the OGE early?

Yes, there is an early period. The grounds are reviewed by the state examination commission, the application is submitted through the school.

Does the OGE affect the 9th grade certificate?

Yes. The final mark for the examination subject is the average of the annual and examination marks, rounded in favor of the student.

Is it possible to take physical education, life safety, technology or fine arts?

No, these items are not on the list. Is it possible to change the exam to choose the OGE — yes, but upon application and with a good reason, before the deadline.

Is it true that there are real OGE answers online?

No. The options are protected, the leaks being distributed are fake, and most often just a way to make money on parental anxiety. Attempting to use a hint on an exam will result in removal from the exam site without the right to retake that year. Requests for OGE answers are consistently popular, but there is no real benefit behind them.

Xrust OGE: what is it, what subjects are taken in 9th grade, scores and preparation