
The Test of Russian as a Foreign Language is a subject that comes up frequently in conversations between Russian learners. But why do people take the TORFL exam? In this post, we’ll examine the five most common reasons people enter.
If you do decide to take the TORFL, you’ll be much better off doing so if you get the support of an expert tutor who can guide you through the requirements of the exam, assess your needs, and give you feedback on your progress. That way, you’ll go into the exam with more peace of mind and confidence that you’ll pass the test and gain access to the benefits described below.
Russian Universities
Russia has a number of highly prestigious universities. A graduate degree from one of these as a native English speaker would place you in a select group of individuals and is a very desirable asset in the job market. The top five Russian universities in the QS rankings are Lomonosov Moscow State University, Novosibirsk State University, St. Petersburg State University, Tomsk State University, and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology State University. An important reason people take the TORFL exam is to gain access to these prestigious institutions, all of which are ranked among the top 400 universities in the world.
Jobs in Russia
Russia has various employment options for English speakers. There are opportunities in manufacturing and construction, and particularly in the energy sector, where Russia is a world leader. Experience in the Russian energy sector is highly valued by energy sector employers worldwide. Both Moscow and St. Petersburg also have strong service sectors and tourist industries in which there is high demand for native English speakers. In all of these areas, it will be essential to demonstrate a high standard of Russian to prospective employers, and a TORFL certificate will strengthen any job application.
Jobs Outside Russia
Due to Russia’s global influence, the ability to speak Russian is in high demand in a wide variety of careers across the world. In the United States, job opportunities for Russian speakers appear most frequently in the healthcare, software engineering, and website design fields, but individual vacancies for Russian speakers can appear in a wide variety of sectors. Here, the TORFL exam is an invaluable asset, because having passed it, particularly at the higher levels, will immediately give you an advantage over other applicants.
Living in Russia
A basic (A2) level TORFL certificate is a prerequisite for Russian citizenship. This is one of the main reasons why people take the TORFL exam: if you see your future in Russia, you’ll have to take it at some point. If you’ve reached the point where you’re actively considering citizenship, you’re almost certainly already a Russian speaker to at least basic TORFL level. However, some parts of the TORFL exam test skills that you may not have used in daily life, so preparing with a specialized tutor is highly recommended.
A Target for Russian Learning
If you want to raise your level of Russian for any reason, one of the best ways to do it is to enter yourself for the TORFL at your desired level. By setting a deadline-driven target with the objective of gaining a prestigious qualification, you motivate your learning. Of course, you need to make sure your target is realistic and appropriate—your tutor can help you with that by assessing your skills against the TORFL marking criteria.
TORFL Exam Support
RussianTutoring.com has a specialized TORFL exam preparation program that will prepare you for whatever level of the TORFL exam you wish to enter, from elementary to native. This is by far the most effective way of preparing for the exam: if you work with a tutor, you’ll go into the exam with greater confidence and test-specific skills.