TORFL

Our School was a first one in Kiev, which is able to prepare and provide exams of the Test of Russian as a Foreign Language due to standards of Russian Federation.


The description of the levels of TORFL

Elementary level

 

At this level candidate is able to satisfy his/her elementary communicative needs in a limited number of everyday communicative situations. The test consists of five parts (subtests).

Reading

Candidates are expected to be able to read short description of situation and answer the question, to show understanding of the main points as well as specific details of short adopted texts. The test consists of 2 sections. The total number of items is 30. Task type: multiple choice.

Writing

Candidates are expected to be able to reproduce in written form the gist of biographical text, to write the answers to the questions; to write a short letter (5 phrases) about himself/herself, about friend, family, working day, free time. The test consists of 2 sections.

Listening

Candidates are expected to be able to correspond the phrase to the synonymic one, to extract factual information (topic, essence, intention) from short dialogues and monologues. The total number of items is 20. Task type: multiple choice.

Speaking

Candidates are expected to be able to participate in simple dialogues in a limited number of everyday situations, to carry on a conversation about himself/herself, about friend, family, working day, free time. The test consists of 4 sections, each of which includes 3 multiple choice tasks. Candidates are tested by two examiners (an Interlocutor and an Assessor).

Structural competence

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their knowledge of grammar and lexical systems and to express their communicative intentions in the limited range of situations. They should be able to operate the required minimum vocabulary (760 words). The test consists of 5 sections, the total number of multiple choice items is 100.

 

Basic level

 

At this level candidates acquire a basic ability to communicate in a limited number of the most familiar and everyday situations in a Russian-speaking environment. The BASIC LEVEL also provides a linguistic minimum for professional purposes. The Test consists of five parts (subtests).

Reading

Candidates are expected to be able to read and extract the gist of main points of short simple authentic texts such as titles of newspapers and magazines, public notices, guides and signs, ads etc. Candidates are expected to read cultural and informative as well as general matter texts. The test consists of 3 sections. The total number of items is 30. Task type: multiple choice.

Writing

Candidates are expected to be able to reproduce in written form the gist of a cultural or general interest text guided by questions or to write a short letter, notice, greeting card, etc. The test consists of 2 sections, each of which includes 2 tasks.

Listening

Candidates are expected to be able to follow short oral dialogues (10-14 lines) and monologues on everyday topics and to extract specific information (topic, place, time, reason) without necessarily understanding every word. There are three tasks in the test. The total number of items is 30. Task type: multiple choice.

Speaking

Candidates are expected to be able to participate in simple conversations, to respond appropriately to questions of conversational nature based on a limited number of everyday situations, to start a conversation and express themselves in simple (standard) situations. Candidates are also expected to carry on a conversation about themselves and express their own opinion of the read text. The test consists of 4 sections, each of which includes 3 multiple choice tasks. Candidates are tested by two examiners (an Interlocutor and an Assessor).

Structural competence

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their knowledge of grammar and lexical systems and to express their communicative intentions in the limited range of situations. They should be able to operate the required minimum vocabulary. The test consists of 4 sections, the total number of multiple choice items being 110. Task types: multiple choice and matching.

Weighing of components

All components are of equal value - 20% each.
Results There are three pass grades: A, B and C and certificates are awarded to all successful candidates. Candidates who achieve grade D are judged not to have achieved the required standard for the Basic Level.

 

TORFL-1 (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language. Level one)

At this level users must show skills needed to survive in social and working Russian-speaking environments.

A Level one certificate is a prerequisite for entering Russian institutions of higher learning with obligatory further studies of the Russian language. In that case candidates take additional test in accordance with their individual professional purposes. Test includes five components (subtests).

Reading

Candidates are expected to be able to read small authentic texts (newspapers, magazines, books, etc.) both informative (factual) and descriptive with the elements of discussion and to show understanding of the main points as well as specific details. There are three tasks in the test. The total number of items is 20. Task type: multiple choice.

Writing

Candidates are expected to reproduce the gist of the heard or read text (reproduction) and write their own guided composition, such as a letter, a card, etc. (a productive type task). The written text should contain no less than 20 sentences (110 words).

Listening

Candidates are expected to be able to understand short oral dialogues and extract factual information (topic, time, relations, characteristics, purposes, causes, etc.) from them. They are also expected to make sense of longer dialogues and to show appreciation of the attitudes of speakers. Listening texts (announcements, news items, etc.) are also included in the test. There are two tasks in the test (three monologues and three dialogues). There is a total of 30 multiple choice items.

Speaking

Candidates are tested by two Examiners (an Interlocutor and an Assessor). Candidates are expected to be able to participate in a dialogue, respond appropriately to questions of a conversational nature, start and finish a conversation. Candidates are also expected to be able to converse on various topics (to speak about themselves, their work, profession, interests, about their country, their city, etc.). There are 4 parts in the test, The total number of items is 14.

Structural competence

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their knowledge of grammar and lexical systems, making simple statements in standard situations. They should be able to operate with a vocabulary of 2300 words. There are four parts in this test. The total number items is 165. Task types: multiple choice and matching.

Weighing of components

All components are equally evaluated - 20% each.

Results

There are three pass grades: A, B and C and certificates are awarded to all successful candidates. Candidates who achieve grade D are judged not to have achieved the required standard for TORFL-1.

TORFL-2 (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language. Level two)

This level suggests intermediate linguistic ability and competence in all the language skills. Successful completion of this level enables the student to carry out professional activities in science, engineering and humanities (except philology, translation and interpreting, editing, journalism, diplomatic service and management, for which this level is an intermediate stage) and is obligatory for receiving Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. degrees in these fields of knowledge. Test includes five components (subtests).

Reading

Candidates are expected to be able to read various intermediate level texts of informative, general interest and of descriptive, narrative and discursive nature as well as texts of mixed type with explicitly expressed the author's attitude (fiction features corresponding to intermediate level). Candidates must show an understanding of the main points as well as of specific details, understand the author's viewpoint and retell the given text logically. The test consists of 3 sections, each of which consist of two tasks (text and reading test respectively). The total number of multiple choice (3-4 variants) items is 25.

Writing

Candidates are expected to write their own versions of texts they have read or read, to show the ability to summarize the text (plans, notes) and to write their own informative texts in the form of personal or business letter, inquiry, application, etc. Texts are written for a specified purpose and a target reader. Candidates must complete three tasks: 1) to reproduce the heard text in written form; 2) to compile their own version of the read text; 3) to write a formal or informal text characterizing a person or an object.

Listening

Candidates are expected to be able to understand everyday life conversations (announcements, news, TV features, etc. which explicitly express speakers' attitudes). Candidates must extract factual information, speakers' intentions, their aims and motives, opinions and relations from the text. There are five parts in the test, each of which contains audio and video items and tasks. The total number of items is 25. Task type: multiple choice (3 choices).

Speaking

There are three parts to the test: 1) in this task the use of tape a recorder is essential. Candidates' guided replies corresponding to the communicative task are recorded; 2) role-play with an Examiner. Prompt materials (written and visual) are used by Examiners to guide and stimulate the interaction. 3) interaction with an Examiner. Candidates are expected to be able to participate in a guided conversation, initiate a dialogue asking questions on the topic of the conversation, describe something they have seen, express their opinion, achieve their communicative intentions in a conversation. Candidates are tested by two Examiners ( an Interlocutor and an Assessor).

Structural competence

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to use appropriate lexical and grammatical means of the Russian language. The test contains the following task types: multiple choice (3-4 choices), matching and text reconstruction. The total number of items is 150.

Weighing of components

All components are of equal value - 20% each.
Results There are three pass grades: A, B and C and certificates are awarded to all successful candidates. Candidates who achieve grade D are judged not to have achieved the required standard for TORFL-2.

TORFL-3 (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language. Level three)

 

This level provides high-level final qualification in the language. This level is referred to as an advanced stage of proficiency, allowing professional activity in philology, translation and interpreting, editing, journalism, diplomatic service and management in a Russian speaking environment and is recognized as obligatory for receiving Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. degrees in these fields of knowledge (except specialists' and Masters' of Art Degree in Philology, for whom this examination is an intermediate stage). The Test includes five components (subtests).

Reading

Candidates are expected to be able to understand and interpret appropriately various texts of cultural and business language nature, to read authentic texts and make elementary text analysis. Candidates should show various reading skills including scanning and detailed reading and be able to apply and combine these methods. There are four parts in the test, giving a total of about 2500 words. There are 25 items. Task type: multiple choice.

Writing

Candidates are expected to write their own versions of heard and read texts, to show an ability to analyze the information (notes, reports, formal/informal letters). Prompt materials (articles, brochures, advertisements, formal/informal letters, etc.) are offered. In addition, candidates must write a composition of a descriptive, narrative or discursive nature (an article, an essay, a letter). Texts are written for a specified purpose and target reader. Candidates must complete three tasks: 1,2) to reproduce the heard text in a written form; 3) to write a composition showing comprehension of the matter and expressing their own attitude to the problem.

Listening

Candidates are expected to understand recorded texts both in general and specific details, understand speakers' attitudes and evaluate the information heard). Texts take the form of radio and TV features, extracts from fiction films, plays, public speeches, etc. There are four parts and 25 items in the test: 1) short dialogue; 2) polylogue; 3) public speech; 4) artistic speech (TV or radio feature). Task type: multiple choice (3-4 choices).

Speaking

There are three parts of the test: 1) in this task the use of a tape recorder is essential. Candidates' guided replies corresponding to the communicative task are recorded; 2) role-play with an Examiner. Prompt materials (written and visual) are used by Examiners to guide and stimulate the interaction; 3) interaction with an Examiner. Candidates are expected to support a guided dialogue using various synonymous language means, to initiate a business conversation with the aim of solving a conflict situation, to give and defend their opinions, to make a monologue on moral and ethical topics, to achieve communicative aims and give arguments in interaction. Candidates are tested by two Examiners (an Interlocutor and an Assessor).

Structural competence

Candidates are expected to be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the language system, to apply appropriately language units and structures by completing the tasks based partly on authentic texts taking into consideration the texts' stylistic coloring. The test contains the following task types: multiple choice (3-4 choices), matching and text reconstruction/completion/extension. The total number of items is 100.

Weighing of components

All components are of equal value - 20% each.
Results There are three pass grades: A, B and C and certificates are awarded to all successful candidates. Candidates who achieve grade D are judged not to have achieved the required standard for TORFL-3.

 

TORFL-4 (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language. Level four)

This level is referred to as an advanced stage of proficiency close to the native-speaker level. It provides high-level final qualification in the language. This level is obligatory for receiving a Master of Arts degree and is recognized for academic purposes in the field of the Russian language. Test includes five components (subtests).

Reading

Candidates are expected to understand the gist, detailed content, tone and register of various kinds of texts: of abstract, professional or general interest nature as well as fiction. There are four texts in the test, giving a total of about 4000 words. There are 25 items. Task types: multiple choice (3-4 choices), text reconstruction, open cloze.

Writing

Candidates are expected to write their own versions of heard and read texts, to show the ability to analyze the information according to its pragmatic means. In addition, candidates must write a composition of a descriptive, narrative or discursive nature (an article, an essay, a letter). They must also write their own texts of a discursive or imperative nature. Candidates must complete three tasks: 1) to compile their own text on the basis of heard or read information; 2, 3 - write a composition without background texts.

Listening

Candidates are expected to extract information, interpret speakers' attitudes and recognize the implications of stress and intonation. Texts take the form of radio and TV features, extracts from fiction films, public speeches, etc. There are four parts and 25 items in the test: 1) short dialogue; 2) polylogue; 3) public speech; 4) public interview. Task type: multiple choice.

Speaking

Candidates are expected to achieve any aims in both prepared and non-prepared communication, including public speaking, showing skills necessary to build up their communicational strategy and to influence the audience There are three parts of the test: 1) in this task the use a tape recorder is essential. Candidates' guided replies corresponding to the communicative task are recorded; 2) role-play with an Examiner; 3) producing the imperative monologue moving into a dialogue-interview with an Examiner. Candidates are tested by two Examiners ( an Interlocutor and an Assessor).

Structural competence

Candidates are expected to be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the linguistic system, to use actively structural, grammatical and lexical units in separate short texts as well as in extracts from larger texts taking into account their stylistic usage and ability to use appropriate lexical and grammatical means of the Russian language. The test contains the following task types: multiple choice (3-4 choices), finding equivalents and text reconstruction, the total number of items being 100.

Weighing of components

All components are of equal value - 20% each.

Results

There are three pass grades: A, B and C and certificates are awarded to all successful candidates. Candidates who achieve grade D are judged not to have achieved the required standard for TORFL - 4.