OGE (ОГЭ) Exam Countdown

The OGE (Основной государственный экзамен / Basic State Examination) is Russia's standardized exam for students completing the 9th grade, marking the end of basic general education. Unlike the EGE (for 11th graders), the OGE serves as both a graduation requirement and a qualification for continuing to 10th grade or entering secondary vocational education. All 9th-grade students must pass the OGE in two mandatory subjects — Russian Language and Mathematics — and two elective subjects chosen from physics, chemistry, biology, geography, history, social studies, literature, computer science, and foreign languages. The exam is administered by regional education authorities under the oversight of Rosobrnadzor. OGE results are converted to a five-point grading scale and are recorded on the student's certificate of basic education.

The OGE 2026 examination period is scheduled to begin on May 20, 2026, with the main wave running through mid-June. The examination schedule assigns different subjects to different dates, allowing students time between exams. Each OGE exam lasts between 2 hours and 3 hours 55 minutes depending on the subject. Russian Language includes listening comprehension, grammar tasks, and essay writing. Mathematics covers algebra, geometry, and statistics. Elective subjects feature a mix of multiple-choice questions, short-answer tasks, and extended-response questions. Results are converted from raw scores to grades on a scale of 2 (fail) to 5 (excellent), with specific score boundaries set annually. Students who fail mandatory subjects may retake them on reserve dates within the same period. Our countdown tracks the days until the first OGE exam.

OGE preparation should cover all four exam subjects — two mandatory and two elective. For Russian Language, practice dictation, grammar exercises, essay writing, and reading comprehension tasks. Pay special attention to the izlozhenie (summary writing) and sochinenie (essay) components, which carry significant weight. For Mathematics, systematically review algebra topics (equations, functions, inequalities) and geometry (triangles, circles, area calculations), and practice with coordinate geometry and statistics problems. For your elective subjects, start by reviewing the FIPI (Federal Institute for Pedagogical Measurements) specifications and work through the open question bank. Create a balanced study schedule that doesn't neglect any subject, and take full practice tests regularly. Since the OGE is less intense than the EGE, many students underestimate it — but thorough preparation is still important for achieving the grades needed to continue to upper secondary education or enter competitive vocational programs.