A schoolgirl from Yekaterinburg has raised concerns about the difficulty of specialized mathematics problems on the Unified State Exam (EGE), claiming regional disparities in exam complexity. The student’s complaint echoes similar sentiments expressed by students in Moscow.
The exam, administered on May 27, has sparked controversy after task variants from different regions of Russia were shared online. The Yekaterinburg student alleges that the second part of the exam, which includes seven high-value tasks requiring detailed solutions, was significantly more challenging in the Urals compared to Moscow and the Far East.
According to the schoolgirl, this perceived difference puts students from the provinces at a disadvantage when applying to universities in major cities. She expressed disappointment despite extensive preparation, stating that she typically scored 90 points on practice tests but now anticipates a score of around 70.
The student highlighted specific tasks, including those involving trigonometry, exponential equations, economic problems, parameter evaluation, and number theory, as particularly challenging.
Natalia Pevneva, a mathematics tutor and head of the Epsilon tutoring center in Yekaterinburg, confirmed that some of the exam tasks have been circulating online. While she acknowledged that the first part of the exam was standard and relatively straightforward, she noted some nuances in the more complex problems. Pevneva pointed out that while the economic problem was easier compared to previous years, the format of the correct solution was not clear.
Pevneva also stated that Task 18, involving parameter evaluation, varied slightly across regions, but the underlying solution principles remained the same. She noted a formatting error in the version presented in the article.
Pevneva added that number theory problems are inherently diverse, lacking a rigid formula or single solution method. She also suggested that adequate preparation should have equipped students to handle the challenges.
Experts have refuted claims of significant differences in task complexity across regions.