ВIn Russia, Russian is the main
language of communication in kindergartens, schools, and everyday life.
For children of foreign citizens enrolling in Russian
schools, it is necessary to confirm a sufficient level of Russian proficiency to successfully follow the curriculum of primary, basic, and secondary general education.
Depending on the school and grade, the following may be required:- Testing (oral and written) to assess language skills. Children entering Grade 1 take only the oral test.
- Certificate of completion of a Russian as a Foreign Language course (level A2 or higher).
- Interview with teachers to determine readiness for study.
For admission to
kindergarten, proof of Russian language proficiency is not required.
Important: To have a child take the Russian language test for school enrollment, you must submit documents (copies confirming the parent-child relationship, the child’s legal stay in Russia, etc.). They can be submitted via the State Services portal or sent by mail. If the documents are in order, the school will refer the child for testing.
Information on Organizations Conducting Russian Language Testing for Foreign and Stateless Children (.doc, russian)
Sample test materials are available on the
official website of the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements (FIPI) (external link, russian).
If the child passes the test, they will be admitted. If they do not pass, they will be offered supplementary Russian language classes.
If the test is not passed (insufficient knowledge), then it will be possible to retake it no earlier than
3 months after the previous test.
At the same time, proof of knowledge of the Russian language is not required for admission to kindergarten, which facilitates the adaptation of the youngest. Children, immersed in the language environment, learn Russian much faster than adults, especially if they attend kindergartens, clubs or communicate with peers.