Сравнительный анализ Единого государственного экзамена по английскому языку и Государственного национального экзамена в Нидерландах по английскому языку
статья по английскому языку

Сравнительный анализ Единого государственного экзамена по английскому языку и Государственного национального экзамена в Нидерландах по английскому языку. (a comparison of

NSE and the Dutch State exam of the English language)

At the end of this essay an attempt is made to compare the USE with a similar exam in an EC country (the Netherlands). This is of course a very general comparison, for the Russian and Dutch education systems have a different history and development. However it seems to be possible to make some comparisons on the subject of the English exam. There are roughly four levels in the Dutch secondary school system: low, middle, high (HAVO) and preparation for scientific education (VWO).

Only the last (VWO) is interesting for this small study, because with a VWO diploma one can enter university to obtain a bachelor and a master degree. About 20 % of the Dutch school children attend VWO. ^[1] In the table we can see that the USE levels are A2, B1 and B2, while the VWO levels are B2 and C1. It is important to say that Dutch pupils study 12 years before they attend the final exam (6 years primary and 6 years secondary school).

Furthermore, ‘Listening’, ‘Reading’ and ‘Writing’ are parts of the exam in both countries. ‘Speaking’ is a part of the demo version, but has not yet been integrated in the actual USE. There is no ‘Grammar & Lexis’ part in the Dutch exam; instead ‘Literature’ and ‘Orientation on study and profession’ are separately tested in the Netherlands.^[2] Taking all these facts into consideration the USE exam is almost equal to the VWO exam in the Netherlands. In other words the big difference in knowledge of English that used to exist is rapidly disappearing

Comparison National Unified Exam, Russia and State exam VWO, The Netherlands

Conclusion

• The six level division of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is adapted by the Russian education system. The National Unified Exam English knows three levels of difficulty: A2, B1 and B2. Translated into Cambridge exams the USE must be considered as partly KET, PET and FCE. Therefore we can say that the National Unified Exam is related to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

• Listening Reading, Speaking and Writing are tested in National Unified Exam. The same test aspects are part of Cambridge exams of corresponding levels (KET, PET and FCE). So, USE doesn’t only meet the CEFR standards, but it also tests the same aspects of speech.

• Due to the introduction of CEFR in the USE English it becomes possible to compare the levels in different countries. Generally seen the knowledge of the English language of Russian and other European schoolchildren is comparable.