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TRKI. TEST OF RUSSIAN AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

TRKI (Test po russkomu iazyku kak inostrannomu - Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) is the Russian state qualification of Russian as a foreign language. Through an agreement with Moscow State University, the Russian Language Centre will be offering these exams at 6 different levels in the last two weeks of June 2011.

In addition to our own students, RLC welcomes applications for the exams from external candidates. RLC is currently the only testing centre in the UK that offers the TRKI exams to external candidates.


TRKI Beginners' Courses

Beginners who wish to prepare for the first level exam, called Elementarnyi (Elementary), should join one of our fast-track beginners' courses in October 2011. These groups are also open to beginners who do not wish to sit the exam.

The full TRKI beginners' course will last 125 hours, and the timetable is as follows:

  •  
    		• Term 1 (w/c 4 October to w/c 5 December): 10 weeks, 2 X 2½ hours per week, 50 hours
  •  
    		• Term 2 (w/c 17 January to w/c 21 March): 10 weeks, 2 X 2½ hours per week, 50 hours
  •  
    		• Term 3 (w/c 11 April to w/c 20 June): 10 weeks, 1 X 2½ hours per week, 25 hours

    Term 1 costs £625; Term 2 costs £575; Term 3 costs £275. As with all RLC courses, students can sign up and pay for one term at a time. However, students who pay for the course in full at the beginning of the year do not pay the exam fee.

    Please note that beginners who want to study twice a week but do not wish to sit the TRKI exam are welcome to join our fast-track beginners' course.


    TRKI Preparation Courses at other levels
    Students preparing for higher levels of the exam should join our normal groups for the October and January terms. These groups will cover material appropriate to the various levels of the exam, but will not be exam-oriented.

    In the April 2011 term leading up to the TRKI exam we will run separate groups specifically preparing for the various levels. These groups will concentrate on exam preparation, rather than learning new material.

    RLC will also offer individual tuition to prepare students for the exam. Please note, however, that candidates are not required to have lessons at RLC in order to sit the exam.


    Description of the exam

    The TRKI exams are a serious test of Russian. Exams are normally held over 2 days, and there are five parts.

    Part 1. Grammar and Vocabulary
    A series of multiple-choice questions where you need to select the right word, ending, etc.

    Part 2. Reading
    Multiple-choice questions based on texts (depending on the level, these range from short texts such as adverts to newspaper articles).

    Part 3. Writing
    This involves a creative piece of writing: at lower levels, a letter or similar where you are given instructions about what information to include; at higher levels this may be a piece of criticism based on another text.

    Part 4. Listening
    Multiple-choice questions based on recorded extracts.

    Part 5. Speaking
    A number of oral tasks, including: providing responses to fixed dialogues; initiating dialogues in prescribed situations; summarising a text; talking on a prepared topic.


    Levels

    There are 6 levels of the TRKI: Elementary, Basic, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Certificate. All levels will be offered at RLC in June 2010 and June 2011. For basic information about levels, see our level guide. The TRKI levels have been designed to correspond to the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR). Follow this link and click on CEFR illustrative descriptors to see a detailed description of the CEFR levels.

    Do not worry if you are not sure what level you are, or what level exam you should be aiming for. This will be discussed at your individual assessment (see below).


    How to enrol

    All candidates for TRKI at the Russian Language Centre must first attend an individual assessment. This does not apply to complete beginners who are joining our TRKI Beginners’ Course, or to existing RLC students, who will be assessed as part of their course.

    The assessment will define which level you should prepare for. We will also advise which course(s) would be most suitable for you to join, although you are not obliged to join any RLC courses. The assessment will last between 30 and 45 minutes, and the cost of the assessment is £30, which will be deducted from your exam fee when you sit the exam.

    At the assessment you will be asked to fill in an enrolment form. To arrange an assessment, please contact us by email.


    Exam Fees

    We are currently waiting for the Russian Ministry of Education to finalise fees for 2011. Please contact us for more information.


    Discounted fees

    Students who attend a preparatory group course in April 2011 at RLC or who book 10 hours or more of individual tuition to prepare for the exam will be eligible for a discounted fee. Please contact us for more information.

    If an assessment has been carried out and paid for, the cost of the assessment (£30) will be deducted from the above exam fees.