NUR-SULTAN – Senior students in Kazakhstan’s high schools are undertaking Unified National Testing (UNT) June 20-30.
Photo credit: inform.kz.
This year, more than 117,000 people applied to take the exam, of which 96,000 or 72 percent are senior high school students.
“Today, Kazakhstan launched UNT,” wrote Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a June 20 Tweet. “I commissioned the appropriate state agencies to conduct it in accordance with legislation and to take measures to ensure the safety of UNT participants. I wish success to all graduating students!”
Introduced to Kazakhstan’s educational system in 2004, UNT serves as senior students’ final assessment in high school. It is undertaken by students intending to attend university upon high school graduation.
“As many as 1.8 million people have undertaken UNT over 16 years,” said Kazakh Minister of Education and Science Askhat Aimagambetov at a June 18 government meeting.
“I chose physics and mathematics as my exam subjects, began preparing in September and took additional classes to improve on physics, mathematics and Russian,” said senior student and Altyn Belgi (Golden Pendant) recipient Ikram Saydalimov, who hopes to enter university with a state grant and become an information technology specialist. “UNT is stressful because it is decisive for (university) admission.”
The exam takes place four times a year and covers five subjects, including the Kazakh and Russian languages, mathematics, history of Kazakhstan and an optional subject. The exam duration is 3.5 hours, and results may be appealed. This year’s exam format remained largely the same, save for some innovations.
“At the national level, appeal commissions have been formed,” said Aimagambetov. “Very experienced and qualified colleagues are in the commission. We recently met with them to focus on an objective approach for appealing and decision-making regarding results.”
At the June 18 government meeting, Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin also tasked the governors of regions with overseeing the organisation of the exam and the Kazakh Ministry of Education and Science with overseeing testing venues.
