English (UK)

TORFL

The Test of Russian as a Foreign Language is based on a unified certification system for evaluating and certifying Russian language proficiency for non-native speakers. It takes into account the purpose of the use of language and competences required to achieve communicative intentions using the main language skills.

Information about the TORFL exam is available here.

The TORFL has six language proficiency levels, from A1 (beginner level), up to C2 (proficiency level) for those who have mastered the language:

A1 (Elementary Level Test)

Candidates who passed the A1 level test successfully (achieved a passing score) receive a certificate confirming the general knowledge of Russian as a foreign language and the candidate’s ability to deal with most basic communicative needs in a limited number of familiar sociocultural and educational situations. The beginner-level certificate holder has developed language competences necessary for further language learning to attain the A2 level of Russian language proficiency.

Sample test (.pdf )

 

Demo test 1, developed at St Petersburg University. A1 (Elementary level) (.pdf)

 

Demo test 2, developed at St Petersburg University. A1 (Elementary level) (.pdf)

 

 

A2 (Basic Level Test)

Candidates who successfully passed the basic level test receive a certificate confirming the general knowledge of Russian as a foreign language and the candidate’s ability to deal with basic communicative needs in familiar sociocultural and educational situations. The basic level certificate holder has developed language competences necessary for further language learning to attain the B1 level of Russian language proficiency.

Sample test (.pdf)

 

Demo test 1, developed at St Petersburg University. A2 (Basic level) (.pdf)

 

Demo test 2, developed at St Petersburg University. A2 (Basic level) (.pdf)

 

B1 (TORFL-I)

Candidates who passed the B1 level test (TORFL-I) successfully receive a certificate confirming the general knowledge of Russian as a foreign language at the intermediate level and the candidate’s ability to deal with communicative needs in social and cultural situations, regularly encountered at work, school, leisure. The B1 level certificate is required for admission to undergraduate programmes at Russian universities.

Sample test (.pdf)

 

Demo test 1, developed at St Petersburg University. B1 level (TORFL-I) (.pdf)

 

Demo test 2, developed at St Petersburg University. B1 level (TORFL-I) (.pdf)

 

B2 (TORFL-II)

Candidates who successfully passed the B2 level test (TORFL-II) receive a certificate confirming the general knowledge of Russian as a foreign language at the upper-intermediate level and the candidate’s ability to deal effectively with communicative needs in different situations, including professional interaction in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, and engineering. The B2 level certificate is required for obtaining a bachelor’s and / or master’s degree at Russian universities.

Sample test (.pdf)

 

Demo test 1, developed at St Petersburg University. B2 level (TORFL-II) (.pdf)

 

Demo test 2, developed at St Petersburg University. B2 level (TORFL-II) (.pdf)

 

C1 (TORFL-III)

Candidates who successfully passed the C1 level test (TORFL-III) receive a certificate confirming the general knowledge of Russian as a foreign language at the advanced level and the candidate’s ability to deal effectively with communicative needs in all situations, including professional interaction in the Russian-speaking professional environment. The holders of a C1 level certificate can work professionally as linguists, interpreters, translators, editors, journalists, or diplomats. The C1 level certificate is required for obtaining a bachelor’s, specialist’s, master’s degree, or a PhD in the aforementioned professional fields.

Sample test (.pdf)

 

Demo test 1, developed at St Petersburg University. C1 level (TORFL-III) (.pdf)

 

Demo test 2, developed at St Petersburg University. C1 level (TORFL-III) (.pdf)

 

C2 (TORFL-IV)

Candidates who successfully passed the C2 level test (TORFL-IV) receive a certificate confirming the general knowledge of Russian as a foreign language at the near-native level of language competence. The C2 certificate is required for obtaining a specialist’s, master’s degree, and a PhD in Russian language and literature and Russian as a foreign language for teaching, research and academic work in the aforementioned fields of study.

Sample test (.pdf)

 

Demo test, developed at St Petersburg University. C2 level (TORFL-IV) (.pdf)

TORFL online

Currently you can take TORFL exams online. For your convenience, we have prepared a brief guide on how to take the Test of Russian as a Foreign Language online. Please read it before you register and follow the instructions when you start the test. This will allow us to organise your test session in the most efficient way!

Instructions for taking the TORFL exam online

  1. REGISTRATION:

  • To book the TORFL exam online, you will need to email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. In your email message, please specify the level of TORFL and your preferred exam date.
  • The employees of the Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University will contact you about the documents you will need to submit for registration.
  • Upon receiving the registration form and invoice from the Language Testing Centre, you must sign the documents and pay the exam fees.
  • You must pay your invoice. Please refer to your invoice for the relevant bank account details when making the payment.
  • You will need to email the copies of all your documents to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please save your documents in a single good-quality PDF file. A file name should contain your full name and the test level. For example: IvanovIvan_VI.pdf.

Provided that you submitted all the required documents to the specified email address, you will receive an admission to exam notice a few days before the test session!

  1. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

You will need:

  • a desktop or a laptop computer with Internet access (you CANNOT use a tablet or a smartphone); a mouse and keyboard; a webcam; and a headset (a pair of headphones with a microphone attached);
  • a device to scan your written work (a scanner, a photo camera, or a smartphone with a camera).

  1. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ONLINE EXAMS:

  • Test takers are required to adhere to the time allotted for each subtest.
  • It is forbidden to navigate away from the exam screen until the exam has been submitted. Do not open new tab pages and windows in the web browser during the exam.
  • Do not refresh your browser or use browser buttons (back / forward / refresh / stop) during the exam.
  • It is forbidden to leave mobile devices, electronic dictionaries, other web browsers, software applications, or other computers on during the exam. You may use only the computer on which you are taking the test.
  • At levels A1-B1, test takers are allowed to use a paperback bilingual dictionary for Reading, Writing and Speaking (ONLY for tasks 3 and 4). At levels B2 and C1, test takers are allowed to use a monolingual explanatory dictionary for Reading (a literary text) and Writing.
  • Testing location must be well lit, with a neutral background, free from background noise and disruptions. Do not sit with your back to a window. Make sure that none can access the room you are sitting the exam in!

The exam is remotely invigilated by a proctor connected to the test taker by video, audio, remote screen share and instant messaging.

If case of failure to comply with the aforementioned Code of Conduct, the candidate, who violated the rules, will be disqualified from the exam, and the entire results of the candidate in the examination will be cancelled!

  1. SUBTESTS:

  • The test is usually held over a period of two days. Candidates take Writing, Vocabulary & Grammar, and Reading subtests on the first day, and Listening and Speaking subtests on the second day. During the test, candidates are required to have a photo identity document on the desk, two pens (blue or black), blank paper for writing (2-3 sheets). Water and chocolate are also allowed;
  • Writing subtest: the tasks are displayed on the screen. You will need to write the answer by hand on the blank paper. The completed test paper is then scanned and emailed to the Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University or our partners in your city. Do not forget to write on each sheet of paper: your full name, country, exam date and level. For example: Ivanov Ivan, Italy, 05.05.2020, VI. For writing assignments, you will need 3-4 sheets of A4 paper;
  • Vocabulary & Grammar, Reading, Listening subtests are conducted online. The Reading texts and audio & video files for the Listening tasks are displayed on the screen. The tasks are multiple choice questions, where you need to choose one answer. The time allotted for each subtest takes into account the added time for uploading tasks;
  • In the Speaking subtest, you will have a conversation with a certified examiner using a video conferencing platform, such as: Microsoft Teams, Google Meet or Zoom.

Make sure your photo identity document is ready at hand because you will need to show it to the examiner directly to the camera. Do not waste time looking for your ID during the test!

Exam fees

Level
Exam fees, roubles
Online test fees, roubles

A1 level (Beginner)

 4200 7000

A2 level (Elementary), including  a language test for acquiring Russian citizenship

 4900 7000

B1 level (TORFL-I)

 5300 7000

B2 level (TORFL-II)

 5500 7000

C1 level (TORFL-III)

 5800 9000

C2 level (TORFL-IV)

 6900 9000

 

The TORFL exam is usually held over a period of two days and includes the following subtests:
 

Day 1
Day 2

Writing

Vocabulary and Grammar

Reading

Listening

Speaking

 

 

Exam retake policy 

Candidates who failed the TORFL exam are eligible to retake the exam, according to the following rules:

  • if one or two subtests are failed, the candidate can retake the failed subtests for the full exam fee;
  • if more than two subtests are failed, the candidate can retake all the subtests for the full exam fee.

St Petersburg University By-laws

  English (UK)