THE PROGRAMS OF ENTRANCE EXAMS
AND THE RULES OF EXAMS PROCEDURE
1. GENERAL NOTES
1. The entrance exams to AMSU are organized to find out about the abilities the applicants have to study the programs of higher professional education within the limits of state educational standards.
2. The entrance exams to AMSU are held in the following forms:
• Interview
• Written exams
• Testing
• Creative tasks
Written exams as well as testing are conducted on the basis of model programs of secondary (complete) general education subjects developed by Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation.
3. The exams of all forms except the interview are conducted by subject committees. The interviews are held by interview committees. All these committees are appointed by the rector of AMSU.
4. The dates and the time of entrance exams are made up according to the schedule which is agreed upon among the chairs of subject committees and then it is confirmed by the admission committee chairperson. The schedule is then placed on the information board.
5. The entrance exams of all forms and types are held at the participation and under control of AMSU admission committee.
6. The exam attendance by applicants.
The applicant has to come to the exam at the time and date pointed in the schedule.
That attendant who missed the entrance exam without a serious excuse is not allowed to pass any other exams and to take part in the enrollment on competitive grounds.
Those applicants who did not come to the exam because of a serious excuse and who have all the necessary documents proving the excuse are allowed to pass the missed exam by the decision that the admission committee makes on the basis of a written statement. The written statement should have the reason explaining why the person missed the exam and the document confirming the serious excuse.
The serious excuses of the entrance exam missing can be:
• The illness of an applicant (which is proved by the certificate about the illness given by the state medical institution attested with the stamp of the institution);
• Emergency (which is proved by the certificate of a state organization that fixed the fact of this emergency).
Those who did not arrive at entrance exams because of a serious excuse and submitted all the necessary documents are allowed to pass the exams in the parallel groups or individually. After the dates have expired there are no entrance exams and no claims are accepted.
7. The second participation in one and the same entrance exam is not allowed. Those applicants who do not agree with the given grade have the right to make an appeal if there are no other peculiarities of exam taking.
8. The interview is estimated on the basis of a two-mark system: «passed», «didn’t pass». There are no appeals against the interview.
2. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS OF ENTRANCE EXAMS PROCEDURE
9. Regardless of the type of the entrance exam the admission committee makes everyone follow the rules and regulations of the exam procedure.
10. The preparation for the entrance exam includes:
. Forming of tasks bank upon all the subjects (majors) and forms of testing;
. Making up the variants of exam tasks and their copying;
. Forming of packets with variants of exam tasks for the rooms where the exam takes place;
. Sending applicants to the exam rooms;
. The instruction of examiners before exams, their appointment to a particular exam room, getting the packets with variants of exam tasks;
. Preparation of the room for exams.
Forming of tasks bank upon the subjects (majors) is carried out by the chairs of subject committees by the order of an admission committee chairperson who defines and controls the following:
. dates, order and conditions of subject committees chairs work while forming the tasks bank;
. the number of tasks in the bank upon each subject and the level of their difficulty.
Subject committees chairs hand in the tasks banks to the admission committee executive secretary.
The admission committee chairperson controls:
. the number of tasks variants and their difficulty;
. the place where they are kept;
. the dates, those who are responsible for tasks making up, the order and conditions of variants copying.
Forming of packets with variants of exam tasks for the exam rooms according to the number of seats is done not later than a day by a subject committee chairperson or an admission committee executive secretary. The formed packets are glued, stamped and kept at the place of the admission committee chairperson.
The chairperson of the subject committee is responsible for the subject committee members attending the exam. Before the exam itself the chairperson of the subject committee or the admission committee executive secretary decides which exam room each member of the committee should go to.
The examiners are instructed and given the packets with variants of exam tasks not earlier than 20 minutes before the beginning of the exam by the admission committee executive secretary. At handing out a serious attention is paid to the fact whether the packets are in good condition.
The preparation of the room for the exam is done by the technician secretary of the admission committee. The preparation is mainly about checking whether there are any strange things, books, cribs that are not allowed during the exam.
11. The admittance into the examination area and order administration.
The admittance into the examination area, exam rooms and order administration at the area during entrance exams are provided by security workers.
At the time of entrance exams the admittance into the examination area by a special pass is allowed only:
. to the chairperson and the deputy chief of the admission committee;
. to members of the admission committee;
. to executive secretary and deputy executive secretary of the admission committee;
. to the chairs and members of subject committees;
. to the technician secretary of the admission committee.
During entrance exams people without a special pass are forbidden to enter the area of exams conducting.
At the time of entrance exams the admittance into exams rooms besides applicants is allowed:
. to the chairperson and the deputy chief of the admission committee;
. to executive secretary and deputy executive secretary of the admission committee;
. to the chairperson of a corresponding subject committee;
. to members of the subject committee appointed to conduct the exam in this room.
12. The admittance of applicants into examination area.
The admittance of applicants into examination area is possible when they show their passports and examination lists.
If the applicant is late for the exam for less than an hour, he / she can take the exam, but the time for the task is not prolonged and he / she is warned about it beforehand.
At the title-page of the examination list of the person being late for the exam the examiner makes a mark about the time he / she starts taking the exam: , after this the applicant writes
| Requirements to applicants’ works |
Reduced number of points in case the work does not meet the requirement |
| Composition |
10 |
| Character and proportions of the object |
10 |
| Constructional and anatomical forms features detection |
20 |
| Plastic features |
5 |
| Light and air perspective and space |
5 |
| Arrangement on the surface and a model’s moving |
15 |
| Volume and form of the model |
15 |
| Use of colour tones |
10 |
| Aesthetic impression |
10 |
3. THE PECULIARITIES OF ENTRANCE EXAMS PROCEDURE
MATHEMATICS
240 minutes can be spent to complete the task.
Every examination card includes 6 tasks.
All the tasks that have been done correctly are given 100 grades.
The task is considered to be done correctly if its solution is presented in a detailed manner with all the necessary calculations, conclusions and with the right letter and numeral answer.
To do the task the applicants may use calculators and drawing tools.
PHYSICS
240 minutes can be spent to complete the task.
The applicants may use calculators and drawing tools. Reference books are not allowed. The applicants may use all the necessary numeral data of table values for calculations.
Every examination card includes 5 tasks. The maximum number of grades is 100.
The task is considered to be done correctly if it has a short note of the task specification, the analysis, schemes and calculations, and also the answer. The explanation must be short but full. There must be a drawing a) in tasks in which vector values and their projections are used; b) at the use of trigonometric relations, angles and so on; c) in the tasks upon electrical circuits and geometric optics. The drawing can also be given if it helps to understand the reasoning of the applicant. If there is no drawing, the grade gets lower.
All the notes especially formulas must be clear and legible. The task is not checked if the formulas can not be read one way only.
The grade gets lower if there are some not significant mistakes. If there are some significant mistakes, the task is considered to be done incorrectly and does not get any grades.
HISTORY
The entrance exam in history is conducted in the form of a written test.
90 minutes can be spent to complete the task.
The test includes 25 questions. Each question has at least 4 answers. The test has questions of two types:
• the question with the answers from which an applicant has to choose only one correct answer;
• the question with the answers from which an applicant has to choose several correct answers and it is necessary to choose all the correct answers. The questions of this type have the note «choose all the correct answers».
The applicant marks the correct answer by circling the number of the correct answer. No corrections are possible in the test. If the answer is still corrected, it is considered to be wrong any way.
SOCIAL SCIENCES
The entrance exam in social sciences is conducted in the form of a written test.
90 minutes can be spent to complete the task.
The test includes 20 questions. Each question has 3 answers.
The applicant marks the correct answer by circling its number. No corrections are possible in the test. If the answer is still corrected, it is considered to be wrong any way.
Each correct answer gets 5 grades.
BIOLOGY
The entrance exam in biology is conducted in the form of a written test.
90 minutes can be spent to complete the task.
The test includes 25 questions, placed at A and B parts. Part A has 20 questions upon the basics of biology; part B has 5 questions which include schemes, figures, and graphics reflecting the peculiarities of some organs or organ systems building as well the processes typical for living beings of a different level of organization. Each question of part A has 3 answers from which an applicant has to choose only one correct answer. While doing part B the applicant should follow the instruction given to the task.
The applicant marks the correct answer by circling its number. No corrections are possible in the test. If the answer is still corrected, it is considered to be wrong any way.
Each correct answer gets 4 grades.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
The entrance exam in foreign language is conducted in the form of a written test.
120 minutes can be spent to complete the task. The test consists of two parts:
1. Reading. This part includes 3 tasks:
- the first task consists of 6 short texts. It is necessary to choose the correct title for the text;
- the second task has 6 statements and one, or two or three texts. The applicant has to match the statement with the text;
- the third part has quite a big text. It is necessary to answer 7 questions upon the contents of the text, choosing the correct answer out of the four.
2. Grammar and vocabulary. This part includes 4 tasks:
- the first task has the text with 8 gaps. The word given in bold corresponds to the gap. The applicant has to fill in the gaps with the correct form of the word;
- the second task has a text and 7 gaps. The applicant has to fill in the gaps with the correct word derived from the words in bold;
- the third task has a text with 8 gaps. It is necessary to fill in the gaps and choose the correct answer out of the four;
- the fourth task contains lexical and grammatical test. The applicant has to choose the correct answer out of 3 or 4 variants.
The total number of grades is 100.
RUSSIAN LANGUAGE (for citizens having secondary (complete) general education completed before January, 1st, 2009 – enrolling in correspondence (evening) tuition; having secondary vocational training – enrolling in undergraduate courses (bachelor’s degree) and specialists programs (licentiate) of a corresponding specialization; having secondary (complete) general education got at educational institutions of foreign states)
The entrance exam in the Russian language is done in the form of a test.
While writing the test the applicant has to demonstrate good knowledge of orthographic and punctuation rules as well as of the norms of the Russian language.
120 minutes can be spent to complete the test.
The work consists of a title-page and individual list that includes one of the variants of the exam work.
Each variant has 25 tasks which are given 4 grades for each correct task. The total number of grades for the test is 100.
In the task only one answer can be correct.
The correct answer is circled. No corrections are possible in the test. If the answer is still corrected, it is considered to be wrong any way.
RUSSIAN LANGUAGE (for disabled people)
The entrance exam is carried out in the form of dictation.
While writing dictation the applicant has to demonstrate good knowledge of orthographic and punctuation rules of the Russian language.
60 minutes can be spent to write the dictation.
The work consists of a title-page and individual paper where the applicant writes the dictation read to him by the examiner.
The dictation text is read thrice. The first time the whole text is read very slowly, the second time the examiner reads it sentence by sentence, the third time it is read quite fast.
The dictation consists of about 350 words.
If the dictation is written without any orthographic or punctuation marks it is given 100 grades. Every orthographic or punctuation mistake is estimated 5 grades from the total 100.
The corrections are possible by crossing out the wrong variant and writing the correct answer above. Three corrections are considered to be one mistake and lower the total number by 5 grades.
LITERATURE
The entrance exam in literature is done in written form.
180 minutes can be spent to do the task.
The tasks of the exam correspond to the programs of secondary (complete general education).
There are 20 tasks which are divided into three parts: A, B, and C. A part includes questions upon history and theory of literature, B and C parts consist of the tasks upon poetic or prosaic fragment analysis.
In A part which has 10 tasks the applicant chooses the correct answer by circling. In B and C parts that have 5 tasks the answer should be written in the special place in the exam form. The answer must be short and include a word or a combination of several words. No corrections are possible in the task. If the answer is still corrected, it is considered to be wrong any way.
The total grade upon the whole task is 100. The applicant gets 5 grades for each correct answer.
4. INTERVIEW PROCEDURE
1. The interview has its aim to check erudition and professional orientation of applicants. The interview programs are confirmed by the chairperson of the admission committee, the chairperson of the subject committee and by the dean of the faculty.
2. The executive secretary responsible for the documents submission at the faculty gives the interview committee a personal file of the applicant.
3. The applicants going through the interview have to show some ID document.
4. At the interview the applicant can be asked only the questions confirmed in the interview program.
5. During the interview the minutes are kept. There the examiners put down the questions and general characteristic of the applicants answers.
The minutes are shown to the applicant which he / she signs and puts the date.
After this the interview committee writes the conclusion which is written down in the examination list and minutes.
6. If the applicant has passed the interview, the committee makes a decision to enroll the applicant.
7. Appeals against the interview are not considered.
The list, forms, programs, and procedure of special entrance examinations in creative and/or occupational orientation to the State Educational Institution of Undergraduate and Graduate Occupational Training "the Amur State University" in 2010
1. Entrance Examinations in Drawing, Painting, and Composition
Preliminary review of home-made works (portfolio)
For preliminary review the applicant should provide not less than 5 drawings and 5 paintings from life.
The Selection Committee on preliminary review works according to the business hours of the Admission Department before main examinations.
Preliminary review can be assessed as “passed” or “failed”.
To pass the preliminary review test in drawing the submitted works should meet the following criteria:
- composition;
- type (character) and proportions of the represented object;
- plastic features;
- arrangement on the surface and a model’s moving;
- light and air perspective and space;
- volume and form;
- skillful and correct use of colour tones;
- aesthetic impression;
- detection of constructional and anatomical forms features.
To pass the preliminary review test in painting the submitted works should meet the following criteria:
- composition;
- type (character) and proportions of the represented object;
- large local colour relations;
- ornamentality and work of colour spots;
- volume and form;
- colouring;
- manifestation of the selected material technical features;
- aesthetic impression.
In case the preliminary review test either in drawing or painting is failed, then the preliminary review in general is assessed as “failed”.
Entrance Examinations in Drawing, Painting, and Composition
Applicants should bring to the examinations: paints, brushes, pencils, drafting instruments, a water jar, and a rag.
An applicant fills in the title page for the written paper, and then receives a list of 40cm x 60 cm size stamped by the Admission Department.
The spoilt list can be changed on the applicant’s demand. In this case it is withdrawn and annihilated. An applicant receives a new stamped list but his/her time for the task is not lengthened. There should be a note about the date and time of a list change signed by the applicant and members of the Selection Committee.
An applicant is not allowed to sign up or somehow mark his/her work. The works that contain signatures, irrelevant signs, marks, or notes are not considered by the Selection Committee and are assessed as “unsatisfactory”, “poor” or “failed”.
In the end of the examination the works are enciphered by a special group of people. The applicant’s code number is written both on the front page of the list and the title page.
Performed works are displayed in the studio and assessed by the Selection Committee in compliance with the 100-points system and according to the established criteria.
The grades and points are written out in words on the front pages of works.
The Selection Committee fills in the Assessment Report and indicates the work code number and the criteria the work does not satisfy. All members of the Selection Committee that assess the work sign up the Assessment Report.
Then works are decoded, grades are entered into an examination grade report and examination list. After that applicants are announced about their examination results.
Examination works are not returned.
Entrance Examination in Drawing
For the Entrance Examination in Drawing one object is offered for a group of 7 – 10 applicants.
Materials: paper and a pencil.
Entrance Examination in Drawing includes the task in realistic style: the task is to draw a man’s head and shoulder girdle from life (a model or plaster cast). The time limit to fulfill the task is 360 min.
Drawings are assessed in compliance with the 100-points system. Unsatisfactory mark is given if an applicant gains 40 points and less. In such cases an applicant is not allowed to take further examinations and drops out of the selection.
| Requirements to applicants’ works | Reduced number of points in case the work does not meet the requirement
| Composition | 10
| Character and proportions of the object | 10
| Constructional and anatomical forms features detection | 20
| Plastic features | 5
| Light and air perspective and space | 5
| Arrangement on the surface and a model’s moving | 15
| Volume and form of the model | 15
| Use of colour tones | 10
| Aesthetic impression | 10
Entrance Examination in Painting
Entrance Examination in Painting supposes painting a human body (a sketch from life).
For the Entrance Examination in Painting one arrangement is offered for a group of 7 – 10 applicants.
The arrangement should meet the following criteria:
- ornamentality;
- one or two single-colour draperies;
- one or two decorative draperies.
Arrangements suggested to different groups of applicants should be of equal complexity.
Time limit for the task – 360 min.
Materials: paper, watercolours, gouache paints or tempera – at the applicant’s option.
Paintings are assessed in compliance with the 100-points system. Unsatisfactory mark is given if an applicant gains 40 points and less.
| Requirements to applicants’ works | Reduced number of points in case the work does not meet the requirement
| Composition | 15
| Character and proportions of the object | 10
| Arrangement on the surface | 5
| Large local colour relations | 20
| Ornamentality and work of colour spots | 15
| Volume and form | 5
| Colouring | 10
| Manifestation of the selected material technical features | 10
| Aesthetic impression | 10
Entrance Examination in Composition
Entrance Examination in Composition includes one task on the suggested topic. The task is aimed at creating an image-bearing composition in the suggested topic using geometric and real objects. The composition should be colourful and contain 3-4 balanced matches of colours.
The task is performed on the list of 40cm x 60 cm size.
Time limit for the task – 360 min.
Materials: paper, watercolours, gouache paints, tempera, a pencil, or markers – at the applicant’s option.
Topics for compositions are suggested by the Admission Department as variants of written examinations. Applicants of each major receive different topics for composition.
Compositions are assessed in compliance with the 100-points system. Unsatisfactory mark is given if an applicant gains 40 points and less.
| Requirements to applicants’ works | Reduced number of points in case the work does not meet the requirement
| Topic solution | 20
| Imagery | 10
| Composition design | 20
| Quality of work | 20
| General composition integrity | 10
| Colour solution | 20
2. Creative Entrance Examination in the major “Journalism” - 030601
The aim of Creative Entrance Examination is to check an applicant’s creative abilities and his/her psychological susceptibility to being a journalist. This examination helps to reveal the applicant’s grounding and individual motivation in the chosen field. The aspects that are assessed in the examination are: creative thinking, logical analysis ability, originality and responsiveness in creative work, associative perception of the reality, speech habits and the ability to express ideas through language.
The Selection Committee includes experts in journalism, reporters employed in newspapers, radio and TV channels, and lecturers who teach students majoring “Journalism” in the Amur State University.
Creative Entrance Examination Selection Committee accepts an applicant’s newspaper, video and audio materials, references from the editorial boards, certificates, diplomas, and other documents. It is advisable that an applicant submits his/her publications, as they help to make the initial impression about creative potential of an individual. However, an applicant can not be excluded from the selection dew to lack of publications. Though, they may significantly influence the applicant’s grade as competent and well-qualified materials may credit up to 20 points.
The total grade for Creative Entrance Examination includes: 1) points for the first and second stages (maximum 50 and 30 points correspondingly); 2) points for submitted publications (maximum 20 points). The results of Creative Entrance Examination are assessed in compliance with the 100-points system.
The First Stage – Creative Essay
Creative writing has traditionally been a part of Creative Entrance Examination. An applicant is suggested choosing 3 – 4 topics commonly offered for school free essays. Each topic contains a problematic issue of modern reality form school life and mass media to social, political, economical and other questions. An applicant should submit both the final work and its first draft. Ready-made notes are not allowed to the examination.
In the Creative Essay an applicant should demonstrate the following skills and abilities:
• refer to facts and evidence: life experience, observations, discussions with people and etc.;
• present ideas in the appropriate style an manner required by the chosen genre: extended information, interview, reportage, analytical article, sketch, reflection and others;
• arouse potential readers’ interest in the work;
• express ideas stylistically correct and coherently;
• demonstrate the knowledge of grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Rating scale: an applicant can get maximum 50 points for the task.
Topics for Essays
(These topics for essays were offered to applicants in 2008)
1. Report, article, essay
We Make Fashion – Fashion Makes Us.
2. Character Sketch
The Secret of Success.
3. Reportage (running commentary)
Along the Streets of a Foreign City.
4. Review (on culture topic)
Spend Your Time Reading (a book review).
Assessment Criteria for Creative Essays
| № | Assessment Criteria | Points
| 1 | Original approach to the topic, and its full coverage | Maximum points - 15
| | a) The author uses an original approach to reveal the topic and succeeds in it | 11-15
| | b) The author demonstrates an original approach to the topic, though it is not completely revealed / The author does not demonstrate an original approach to the topic, though it is completely revealed | 6-10
| | c) The author demonstrates an original approach to the topic and is not able to reveal the topic | 0-5
| 2 | Expressive means and argumentation of the author’s viewpoint | Maximum points - 10
| | a) The author provides convincing arguments to persuade readers in his/her position, compares and analyses different facts and opinions | 8-10
| | b) The author’s viewpoint is not well-defined and lacks argumentation | 4-7
| | c) The author’s viewpoint is not stated and there is no supportive argumentation | 0-3
| 3 | Level of expertise and the ability to show it | Maximum points - 10
| | a) The author provides interesting facts, citations, and opinions which contribute to full development of the topic | 8-10
| | b) The author provides some facts, citations, and opinions | 4-7
| | c) The work is deficient in facts, citations, and opinions | 0-3
| 4 | Individual author’s style | Maximum points - 15
| | a) The author demonstrates authentic manner of writing and affluent vocabulary | 11-15
| | b) The author uses certain expressive means, still there are clichés and standard phrases | 6-10
| | c) The work is stereotyped and rather poor in vocabulary | 0-5
The Second Stage - Interview.
Members of the Selection Committee have had an impression of an applicant, so the interview is targeted at proving their opinions or exploding any doubts, which is possible only in face-to-face communication.
The interview is a discussion between members of the Selection Committee and an applicant on the issues connected with the reporter’s creative work. The aim of the interview is to reveal the applicant’s level of individual motivation in the future profession, his/her outlook, knowledge about professional activity, analytical skills and the ability to analyze mass-media materials, familiarity with modern journalists’ creative works, competence in contemporary mass media.
Topics for discussion:
1. Newspaper description: subject area, main columns, authors, target audience, design, and most prominent materials.
2. Publications for youth and other specific editions: language features, illustrations, columns and rubrics, authors, distribution, and etc.
3. Radio and television: youth mass media review (programs, presenters, and style).
4. Television channels: general outlook (informative, analytical, entertaining programs, and broadcasting regions).
5. My idea of a perfect TV presenter (a portrait of a real modern journalist, or generalized character sketch of a reporter).
6. Educational and social role of mass media. Cultural issues in mass media (definition of culture, modern culture, national culture, speech culture, the most memorable cultural event of the last year and its representation in the media, etc.).
7. Journalism and literature: similarities and differences (aims and purposes, genres and forms; examples of ideas, which are differently expressed in literary, artistic and journalistic forms; writers and reporters, writers, who report).
8. Professional reporters and their works (What professional reporters do you know? What creative works (articles, TV programs) of these authors did you read or watch? Why do you like them? What attracts you most of all?).
The members of the Selection Committees may ask other, even unpredictable questions, which may be connected with the applicant’s publications and creative essay.
Assessment Criteria for Interview
| № | Assessment Criteria | Points
| 1 | Applicant’s knowledge and awareness about journalism and future occupation; conscious occupational choice | 15
| 2 | Ability to dialog, communicative skills | 10
| 3 | Speech abilities (correct pronunciation, word and sentence stress, speech tempo and volume, intonation pattern) | 5
Rating scale: for the second task an applicant can get maximum 30 point.
Creative Entrance Examination Selection Committee accepts the applicant’s newspaper, video and audio materials. Published papers should be submitted in the original or in copies attested by the editorial board. Publications with the applicant’s photos may be submitted together with the original photomaster. Television and radio materials are submitted on the video and audiocassettes together with a stamped reference, containing information about the time they went on the air, signed by the editor. If a publication was printed anonymously or under a pseudonym, the reference should contain the information about the full name of its author. Printed articles from the Internet websites should be attested by the stamp and signature of a project manager or editor.
Assessment Criteria for Applicants’ Publications
| № | Assessment Criteria | Points
| 1 | Number of publications, their quality and topic variety | 15
| 2 | Distinguished individual author’s style | 5
