This document compares key aspects of the Russian and British secondary school systems such as the types of schools, typical school day length, subjects studied, and exams taken. In Russia, the main types of secondary schools are state, private, and boarding schools. Students typically start at age 11 and have school days lasting about 7 hours. Hot meals are provided in the canteen. Subjects include math, physics, chemistry, biology, and languages. Exams taken include the GCSE, A-level, and AS-level.

2. TRUE or FALSE?
 Lunch is usually over by 1.30 p.m.

3. TRUE or FALSE?
 The GCSE course starts in Year 10.

4. TRUE or FALSE?
 Teachers tell the students which
GCSE exams they can study for.

5. TRUE or FALSE?
 You need A-levels to go to university.

6. TRUE or FALSE?
 Children at public schools only go home in
the holidays.

7. TRUE or FALSE?
 All children eat hot meals at school.

8. TRUE or FALSE?
 More children study Spanish than French
and German.

9. TRUE or FALSE?
 More children go to private schools than
state schools.

10. What’s a canteen?

11. What does ‘compulsory’
mean?

12. What’s the English for ‘a
grade’?

13. What are ‘boarders’?

14. What does ‘a term’ mean?

15. What’s the English for ‘extra-
curricular’?

16. Russian vs. British schools
Russia
Kinds of secondary
schools
Age of students when
they start studying
How long is a typical
school day?
What and where do
students usually eat at
lunchtime?
Subjects
Exams

17. Russian vs. British schools
Russia
Kinds of secondary
schools
•State
•Private
•Public
•State
•Private
•Boarding
(Lyceum, Gymnasium)
Age of students when
they start studying
11 11-12
How long is a typical
school day?
About 7 hours About 5 hours
What and where do
students usually eat at
lunchtime?
Hot meals in the
canteen, their own
lunch
Hot meals in the
canteen, in the
cafeteria.
Subjects Maths, Physics,
Chemistry, Biology,
English language,
Literature, R.E., P.E.
Maths, Geometry,
Russian language,
Native language,
Literature, Foreign
language, etc.
Exams GCSE, A-level, AS-level ГИА, ЕГЭ