Level two (TORFL-2)

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.