In Russia, for many decades there has been a tradition of awarding students with gold medals for excellent studies. Getting the coveted award is not easy, but every student has such an opportunity.
History of the school gold medal
In Russia, the medal began to be awarded in 1828 in accordance with the "Charter of gymnasiums and schools." Over the entire history of its existence, the tradition has gone through more than one reform: the award has been canceled and returned more than once, its alloy and design have changed.
But in 2014, the Ministry of Education made the final decision to abandon the school tradition. The awarding of a gold medal is regulated by the Federal Law No. 135 of May 27, 2014 “On Amendments to Articles 28 and 34 of the Federal Law “On Education in the Russian Federation”. The law prescribes special encouragement of schoolchildren with medals "For special achievements in learning."
How to get a gold medal at school?
According to the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science, graduates of the 11th grade who have successfully passed and over the past two years in all subjects have received semi-annual (trimester), annual and final grades "5" can apply for a gold medal.
Of course, if a grade of “4” appeared in the attestation, no one will give a gold medal. But the law provided for the "good guys" another reward - silver medal, for which its own conditions. In grades 10 and 11 for a half year (trimester) and for a year in all subjects there should be “5” and no more than two “4”.
It should be remembered that the commission will look not only at the estimates. It also takes into account the behavior of the student, his active participation in school life and achievements in the Olympiads.
The decision to issue a medal is made by the pedagogical council of the school and approved by the state governing body of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation. After all this, in a solemn atmosphere, the graduate is awarded a certificate with gold embossing and a gold medal with the inscription "For special achievements in teaching." In case of damage or loss of the medal, a duplicate is not issued.
In 2017, Rosobrnadzor proposed to take into account. On April 5, 2018, the head of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Olga Vasilyeva, stated that appropriate changes in the procedure for issuing the award are currently being developed. Therefore, it is possible that soon, in order to receive a gold medal, not only the previous conditions will be required, but also the result of the Unified State Examination in compulsory subjects of at least 70 points (Russian language and mathematics). The Ministry of Education and Science considers such measures to be a good incentive for preparing and successfully passing the exam.
How will a gold medal help?
Now the gold medal is the highest award for a student for his success. Of course, the introduction has changed with the help of a medal, which gives almost no benefits. Now, when two students enter with the same scores or fight for a competitive (budgetary) place, the presence of a school award. Despite everything, many excellent students still appreciate it as a reward for their efforts.
Design and composition of the medal
The image and alloy composition of the medal changed until 2012. Beginning in 1945, the medals were covered with gold of the highest standard. Moreover, each of the Union republics minted its own version of the medal. They were united by the inscription "For excellent success in learning, work and for exemplary behavior."
Over the years, less and less gold was used in the manufacture of the medal, its standard became lower, and the design changed. The modern medal is made of copper-zinc or copper-nickel alloy. Now on one side of the medal there is an emblem of the Russian flag and a double-headed eagle, and on the back there is a laurel wreath and the inscription "For special achievements in teaching."
At the end of the eleventh grade, a student can receive a gold medal. I'll tell you what it is, how to get it and why.
What kind of medal and how to get?
Golden medal. There are two types: all-Russian and Moscow.
All-Russian is called "For special achievements in teaching" and is awarded simultaneously with the issuance of a certificate of secondary general education with honors. It is difficult to get an all-Russian medal - you need to study for all fives in the 10th and 11th grades. The scores for each semester are taken into account.
The Moscow medal is easier to get. You need to be a prize-winner or winner of an all-Russian competition, score 220 points in three subjects at the Unified State Examination, pass the Unified State Examination by 100 points, get all fives for the eleventh grade. A medal is given for any of these four points. The Moscow medal is awarded later by the all-Russian medal - after the announcement of the results of the exam.
Sometimes there is a combo - two medals, because the graduate received all fives in the tenth, eleventh and passed the exam with 100 points. Kudos to whoever did it.
What gives?
The gold medal gives benefits for admission. Each university has different benefits, usually from one to five points in addition to the results of the Unified State Examination and DWI. At HSE St. Petersburg, a medal gives three points, at Baumanka - four, at Moscow State University - six, at MADI, MAMI and MEPhI - ten points.
And why do graduates need a medal if it gives so few points?
Most - as a memory of the school.
Feedback on one of the alumni forums
I rent 10 and 11 externally. Will they give me a medal?
No, full-time education is required. Sadness 😭
I want a medal. What is the easiest way for me to get it?
The easiest way for Muscovites to pass each exam is at least 74 points in order to score 220 points in total or get all fives for the eleventh grade.
Children from other cities need to study for all fives in grades 10 and 11. It is difficult, but the unofficial level of such a medal is higher.
Consultants: Maria Putilina, eleventh grader, going for a medal, Inna Ivanovna, head teacher
If a student from the first grade studied at "5" and "4", then it will not be difficult for him to get a silver medal at school. After all, the child even forms a peculiar habit of work. The desire to gain new knowledge in science appears in such children involuntarily. To get a silver medal, such students just need to add more perseverance and keep the "fours" to a minimum. After all, the number of “fours” for a silver medal is limited.
Many people ask: “In order to be awarded a silver medal, how many “fours” can I get in the last years of study?” For the last two (and in some schools three) years of study, a student who wants to get a silver medal should have no more than two "fours" in half a year and a year. It happens that some regional ministries of education say that in order to get a silver medal, a student must have a maximum of two "fours" in the last year of study, and for the 10th grade - one "five". It is not true. The child has the right to a silver medal, even if he has 1-2 "fours" but no more) for the 10th grade.
It is interesting that earlier in Russia the criteria for awarding a silver medal were not so strict. In the first half of the 10th grade, it was possible to have many "fours". And only from the second half of the year until the end of school, it was necessary to reduce their number in six months to one or two.
If the student was not even good during his studies in primary and secondary school, then in high school he will have to try and stock up on perseverance if he is determined to get a silver medal. Of course, without good mental abilities and with poor academic performance for all previous years of study, a student will not be able to deserve a silver medal.
If the mental abilities of the child are quite high, and the poor grades for the previous years of study are only the results of laziness, inattention and a frivolous attitude to learning, then it is quite possible that the student will be able to complete his studies at a secondary educational institution with particular success. The question arises: how to get a silver medal at school, what do such students need for this? In this case, you need to completely change your outlook on studying and devote most of your time to it, regularly do homework in all subjects without exception. After all, a silver medal is almost as difficult as a gold medal.
Few people know that in the USSR medals were awarded not only for excellent studies. The behavior of the student during the years of study at the institution was also taken into account. At that time, when awarding medals, grades in subjects that were not related to the mental abilities of schoolchildren were not taken into account. This, for example, music, physical education, drawing.
Nowadays, obtaining a silver medal and a special certificate directly depends not only on the annual and semi-annual grades of a student for the last two years of study. The result of the Unified State Examination is of great importance. His results in the two main subjects of the contender for the medal must be satisfactory, that is, the graduate must necessarily pass the minimum threshold.
Studying has never interfered with anyone, and therefore it is worth striving to comprehend new heights in school disciplines. Getting a silver medal is always prestigious. This is an indicator of the student's knowledge and his reward for his work. Good luck in your studies!
A gold medal for graduation from school is issued upon completion of complete secondary education in school institutions in Russia and the former Soviet republics. This badge is awarded for special achievements in the educational process. But will a school medal be useful in later life, and most importantly, will it help when entering a university?
Until relatively recently, such a distinctive sign served as an automatic pass to almost any higher educational institution. In some universities, it was only required to pass a profile subject for an acceptable grade (4 or 5), in others the applicant was enrolled immediately after the submission of documents and an interview. That is why the gold medal at school became such a coveted reward - after all, it not only gave the former student the opportunity to be deservedly proud of his successes, but also from a purely practical point of view, relieved many of the troubles associated with future admission.
Today the situation has changed - it cannot be said that medalists have no benefits at all for admission: with equal scores, preference is given to applicants who have distinctive signs for academic excellence. It's just that the leadership of universities reserves the right to decide which merit to take into account when recruiting students, and which not. And this is not a whim or extortion of money, as some worried parents think - in fact, as practice has shown, a gold medal at school does not guarantee either passing entrance exams, or further successful studies, or receiving a red diploma. For example, in 2005 in the Tyumen region, only 42.6% of the total number of medalists were able to confirm their knowledge and enter state-funded places. In the general stream, the number of students with a gold medal and studying at the expense of the federal budget was only 12%.
In addition, in the last few years there has been an increase in the number of medalists. Of course, on the one hand, such a progression shows an increase in the level of education, but on the other hand, the gold medal at school began to plummet in price. Students do not want to receive useless badges, and universities have long lacked state-funded places for all excellent students.
So is a gold medal at school worth the effort spent on it? This question can be answered - yes, it is worth it. Successful graduation from high school is a good start for the rest of your life. A gold medal shows that a person has such qualities as diligence, perseverance, responsibility, perseverance and striving for excellence - even if they are not taken into account when entering a university, any employer can later evaluate them.
As for the sad statistics on the admission of medalists to higher educational institutions, it can be easily explained. Due to the difference in the educational process in universities and schools, first-year students experience difficulties in mastering the material, plus parental control ceases to operate, the previous motivation disappears, and sometimes disappointment occurs in the chosen profession. All of these factors directly affect performance. Therefore, I would like to remind applicants-medalists that entering a university is the first step towards a new goal, and to achieve it, you will have to work long and hard.
The attitude to the silver medal at school in our time is very ambiguous.
What does a silver medal give?
Previously, Russian schoolchildren who received a silver medal at the end of school had the right to enter a university, including by passing a profiling exam for an excellent mark.
With the introduction of the USE, this privilege ceased to exist. Currently, the admission of Russian schoolchildren to universities is associated only with the number of points obtained in the unified state exam. The real help from a silver medal upon admission is only in the advantage of a student over another student without a medal with the same number of USE scores.
With the current state of affairs in Russian schools, receiving a medal does not give a student anything, except for the status of a medalist. But for the prestige of the school, teachers, the number of medalists released is still important. The school administration is always striving to increase the number of silver and gold medalists.
In connection with this situation, it was even supposed to cancel the presentation of gold and silver medals to schoolchildren, but after discussion it was decided that there should still be medalists in schools.
Things are a little different in Ukrainian schools. The silver medalist is awarded 200 additional points, which are so necessary for admission, which helped to increase the prestige of excellent studies, on the one hand, and the appearance of "fake" medalists, on the other.
The silver school graduate medal, like the gold medal, has been awarded for more than 50 years. Initially, the medals did indeed consist of real silver and real gold, but since 1954 alloys began to be used in the manufacture of medals, and after 1960 the name of the medals became purely symbolic. They are made mainly from an alloy of copper and nickel, and coated with a colorless varnish that prevents the metal from darkening. The medal is awarded for "Special Achievement in Teaching".
If you have set yourself the goal of getting a silver medal at school, then it would be nice to know under what conditions it is issued.
Conditions for obtaining a silver medal
How should schoolchildren applying for a silver medal study, how many fours can they have in their certificate?
Under the new rules, a silver medal can be received by any student of a Russian school who:
- in grades 10 and 11 will have no more than two fours in each semester and at the end of each year;
- and pass the exam not below the minimum threshold.
The conditions for obtaining a silver medal and the status of a medalist for Ukrainian schoolchildren are somewhat different.
To receive a silver medal, the school requirements are:
- a student for the period of study in grades 10, 11 can have 8 points in no more than two subjects according to the results for the semester, for the year and according to the results of the state final certification;
- all other marks should be 10-12 points.
The decision on whether a particular graduate will receive a medal or not is made at a joint meeting of the school council and the teachers' council. After approval by the local education authority, the decision is approved by the principal of the school.
Getting a silver medal at school, what needs to be done for this?
If you decide to seek a silver or gold medal, then:
Even if receiving a silver medal at school does not give the student any advantage in admission, it will give him the status of a student with extraordinary abilities (which can come in handy when). The name of the student will always adorn the list of medalists in the school annals.
