Provision of the Annual International Educational Campaign "Geographical Dictation"

1. General Provisions

1.1. The present Provision defines the procedure and conditions of holding the annual international educational campaign "Geographical Dictation" (hereinafter referred to as the Dictation).
1.2. The Organizer of the Dictation is the All-Russian Public Organization "Russian Geographical Society" (hereinafter referred to as RGS, or the Society).
1.3. The general management of preparation, conducting and summarizing the results of the Dictation is performed by the Organizing Committee; operational management is performed by the Working Group. The structures of the Organizing Committee and the Working Group are formed of the list of representatives of the RGS, partnering organizations and executing organizations.
1.4. Questions for the Dictation are to be composed by a group of authors, which is formed by the Working Group. The latter consists of representatives of specialized educational and scientific institutions and those of specialized organizations having the relevant experience of intellectual games development.
1.5. Dictation tasks may include questions received as part of the international "Write your question for Geographic Dictation" campaign (hereinafter referred to as the campaign), which took place on the official website of the RGS on the Internet from April 21 to June 30, 2025.
1.6. Russian companies, whose activities are related to various areas of Earth science, also participate in generating the Dictation questions. Questions from organizations are included in Dictation variants with the obligatory indication of the author.
1.7. All Dictation questions, including questions received as part of the Action, are subject to mandatory examination. The composition of the expert commission, including professional geographers is determined by the Working Group. Tasks are to be corrected basing on the results of the examination, if necessary.
1.8. The Dictation shall be carried out at the venues in all constituent units of the Russian Federation and in foreign countries.
1.9. Informational support is provided by the international, federal and regional media.
1.10. Detailed information on the Dictation is provided on the website http://dictant.rgo.ru (hereinafter referred to as the Dictation Website).

2. Aim, Objectives and Principles of the Dictation

2.1. The Dictation is carried out aiming at promotion of geographical knowledge and increasing the interest to the geography of Russia.
2.2. Objectives of the Dictation are as follows:
– motivating various population strata to study the geography of the native land, the knowledge of which is the integral component of the educated people;
– increasing the interest to Russia and spreading the trustworthy information about Russia abroad;
– providing the opportunity to Russian residents and citizens of foreign countries to participate in the intellectual competition in geography and to get to know their result;
– engaging the mass media in promoting geography.
2.3. The Dictation is based on the following principles:
– principle of voluntariness of participation in the Dictation, its preparation and conducting;
– principle of openness: everybody can take part in the Dictation, irrespective of age, education, social settings, religious beliefs and nationality;
– principle of availability: participation in the Dictation is carried out free of charge; each participant of the Dictation is provided with the writing form of the Dictation and with the question sheet; participants are guaranteed to have the check-up of their Dictation results and to obtain the results in case of having the Individual Identification Number and the QR-code which are provided during the participation in the Dictation;
– principle of anonymity: participants of the Dictation do not enter their names;
– principle of competence: tasks are developed by qualified geography specialists, ensuring the accuracy and relevancy of the materials;
– principle of unity of time, the order of writing and check-up criteria: the Dictation is carried out at one day at the same (local) time in all constituent units of the Russian Federation and in the foreign countries; participants of the Dictation are given equal time for performance of the tasks; all tasks are checked-up and measured according to uniform criteria;
– principle of the barrier-free environment: participation on the Dictation is available for physically challenged people, sight-disabled persons.

3. Participants of the Dictation

3.1. Residents of Russia and foreign countries speaking Russian and/or languages into which one of the versions of this year's Dictation will be translated, in accordance with paragraph 5.4, regardless of age, education, social background, religion and citizenship, can participate in the Dictation.
3.2. One can become a participant in the Dictation by applying to any venue of the Dictation, regardless of residence (registration). The address
of the nearest venue can be found on the Dictation Website.
3.3. Participation in the Dictation is possible by joining the action online at the Dictation Website. Paragraph 5.10 of the present Provisions describes in full the procedure for online participation.

4. Venues of the Dictation

4.1. Any organizations in Russia and foreign countries, including general and professional educational organizations, institutions of higher education, scientific, public organizations, regional branches of the Russian Geographical Society, RGS Centers abroad, Russian Centers of Science and Culture abroad, and others may serve as the venues of the Dictation.
4.2. The venue of the Dictation is subject to compulsory registration on the Dictation Website in accordance with the registration deadlines. Registration after the registration deadline is not allowed. For the purposes of venue registration, an Application Form should be filled out in the Personal Account after registration on the Dictation Website. After the registration process, the Application Form is to be checked by the Organizer and published on the Dictation Website in case of no additional demands.
4.3. Whenever appropriate, the venue of the Dictation organizes a barrier-free entrance for disabled people: availability of special lifts/pedestals, elevators,
wide doors; information in a form accessible to the disabled people, admission of sign language interpreter, admission of a guide dog and other conditions of accessibility of the venue. Information about such features of the venue of the Dictation is indicated when filling out the Application Form to establish a Dictation venue.
4.4. Specialized venues or premises at the standard venues of the Dictation can be arranged for the visually impaired persons. In this case, the responsible managers of the venues will be provided with a special variant of the Dictation for the visually impaired people for compulsory use. Information about the accessibility of the venue for the visually impaired persons will be displayed on the Dictation Website in the "Geography of the Dictation" section.
4.5. The Head of the organization responsible for the Dictation serves as the Head of the venue. The Responsible Manager of the venue is the person authorized by the Head of the venue to organize and carry out the Dictation.
4.6. During the preparation for the Dictation, the venues receive comprehensive information, advisory and methodological assistance, as well as access to all necessary documents in Russian and English in the Personal Account: answer sheets, instruction for conducting the Dictation and filling out the forms; official banners and the design style of the Dictation; the task forms of the Dictation, the presentation materials to display on the screen and the scenario plan of the Dictation.
4.7. The venue undertakes to organize and carry out the Dictation, including:
– providing participants with equipped rooms with seats, multimedia projector and other equipment for demonstration of tasks of the Dictation;
– printing out the answer sheets according to the amount of persons who wish to participate in the Dictation and according to the seat capacity of the venue;
– printing out the Certificate of participation in the Dictation according to the seats amount and providing participants with these Certificates right after participating in the event;
– printing out the task forms of the Dictation according to the amount of persons who wish to participate in the Dictation and according to the seat capacity of the venue;
– providing participants with pens or pencils (whenever possible);
– involving specialists in geography, teaching staff and celebrities among travelers, writers, public persons, actors, journalists, TV presenters, politicians (whenever possible) to reading out the Dictation tasks;
– conducting photo and/or video shooting of the Dictation (whenever possible);
– organizing the educational and (or) entertainment program promoting the spread of geographical knowledge and cultivation of the interest to geography, educational tourism, environmental protection and other areas on the day of the Dictation;
– scanning and uploading of the copies of the filled out Dictation forms on the Dictation Website;
– providing photos and short information report on conducting the Dictation.
4.8. Participation of scientific, educational, public and other organizations in the Dictation as a venue is voluntary and free of charge. Volunteers may be involved for assistance if necessary. Expenses on printing out forms, stationery acquisition, using office equipment and premises are covered by the organization which organizes the venue.
4.9. Head of the venue is responsible for observation of the principles and the order of the Dictation. In case of discovering violation of the principles and the procedure of the Dictation, the Organizer of the Dictation reserves the right:
– to remove the underperforming venue from the list of venues of current year (with cancellation of the results of the Dictation in this venue)
and to prohibit the participation of this venue in the Dictation of the next year;
– to publish the information about the unconscionable performance of conditions of conducting the Dictation by the Head of the venue.

5. Organization and Carrying Out of the Dictation

5.1 The Dictation is carried out in in-person format in all constituent units of the Russian Federation and in foreign countries as well as in online format on the official Dictation Website. The date and time of the Dictation in in-person and online formats as well as other important dates are specified in Stipulation 6 of the present Provision.
5.2 The Dictation in in-person format shall be conducted on the same day at 12:00 local time.
5.3 Access to the Dictation in online format will be available starting on the first day of the campaign and lasting two weeks. Throughout this time, participants will be able to take the Dictation at their leisure.
5.4 The Dictation is designed in several variants:
1) the main variant in the Russian language;
2) the modified variant – a shortened edition with 20 questions for non-Russian speakers (variants with a regional component are also feasible). This variant is conducted in Russian and English, in the languages of the BRICS member countries, and in other languages upon the condition that the text of the Dictation is translated on a voluntary basis;
3) variant for visually impaired people in Russian and English;
4) one variant for demonstration in Russian and English;
5) one variant for online Dictation in Russian and English (Extra-variant).
5.5 The Dictation questions consist of closed-type questions, including the tasks for setting a right order, choosing of extra option out of the group, match making and other tasks, designed on the basis of the content of educational programs in geography of basic general and secondary general education in the Russian Federation.
5.6 Except for the modified variant for non-Russian speakers, all variants of the Dictation consist of 40 questions, divided into two parts, differing in complexity. The first part (10 questions) of basic level ("geographical training") is prepared on the basis of the well-known geographical facts. The second part (30 questions) demands to apply imaginative thinking, system logic and erudition.
5.7 The dichotomous grading system (0/1) shall be applied to calculate the results of each variant of the Dictation. For each correct answer, a participant gets one (1) point, for a wrong answer – 0 points. There can be only one correct answer to each question.
5.8 Except for the modified variant for non-Russian speakers, each participant of all variants of the Dictation receives two results. For the first part – as the number of points and the short review estimating level of competence within the given limits (0-5, 6-10 correct answers). For the second part – in the form of score (the number of points). The maximum score for the second part is 30 points.
5.9 Procedure for conducting the dictation at a venue:
- before the start of the Dictation, each participant receives a printed answer sheet, the printed question sheet and oral instruction for filling out the form. Performing time of completion of the tasks is no longer than 45 minutes. The total duration of conducting the Dictation, including instructions of the participants is 60 minutes;
- each participant gets the answer sheet with the Individual Identification Number and QR-code. The number and the QR-code are also duplicated in the additional sheet which the participant keeps after the Dictation. Using the Identification Number and the QR-code the participant shall check the results on the Dictation Website. The procedure for assigning Individual Identification Numbers and QR-codes is specified in the instructions for conducting the Dictation;
- participants of the Dictation are recommended to perform tasks individually, without assistance and use of external sources of information. For visually impaired persons technical assistance of volunteers is possible;
- the venues scan the completed and handed over answer sheets; scanned forms are uploaded in the Personal Account on the Dictation Website in the time limits mentioned in Stipulation 6 of the present Provision;
- the venues are responsible for transfer of the forms completed by participants to the Organizer of the Dictation;
- Handed over answer sheets may not be reviewed and returned to participants of the Dictation. The appeal is not available;
- the participant bears responsibility for correct filling of the form. In case of incorrect filling of the form the results of the Dictation shall be canceled;
- results of the Dictation by individual participants (according to Individual Identification Numbers and QR-codes) as well as the correct answers to the Dictation questions are published on the Dictation Website within the deadlines specified in Stipulation 6 of the present Provision;
- each venue participating in the Dictation receives the Letter of Appreciation addressed to the Head of the venue and the Responsible Manager of the venue. The Letter of Appreciation is to be found in the Personal Account only after the Organizers of the Dictation have checked the correctness and approved the forms filled out by participants;
- each participant who has written the Dictation at a venue in person or remotely is provided with the Certificate of Participation right after finishing of the Dictation. Organizers of the Dictation provide layouts of the Certificates to each venue in the Personal Account;
- if a participant is unable to acquire the Certificate of Participation at the venue, they can obtain it on the Dictation Website by submitting a personal data processing consent form and entering the Individual Identification Number;
- a participant can acquire the Certificate of Participation only by providing the Individual Identification Number. The absence or incorrectness of the requested number is grounds for refusal to issue the Certificate;
- each venue that conducts the Dictation is provided with layouts of Appreciation Letters for organizational and volunteer assistance. The Letters may be issued by the Head and / or the Responsible Manager of the venue at their discretion.
5.10 Procedure for conducting the dictation online:
- the Dictation in online format is accessible to all individuals within the timeframes specified in Stipulation 6 of the present Provision and is conducted without any requirement for prior registration.
Following Dictation variants are available on the Dictation Website:
- the main variant in the Russian language (40 questions);
- the modified variant for non-Russian speakers in Russian and English, in the languages of the BRICS member countries, and in other languages upon the condition that the text of the Dictation is translated on a voluntary basis (20 questions);
- a participant selects the interface language (Russian or foreign) in order to complete the specified variants of the Dictation.
- following the language selection, the participant proceeds to the Dictation page, where they become familiarized with the guidelines and complete the participant's questionnaire (which is condensed in the modified variant for non-Russian speakers);
- this questionnaire must be completed in order to access the Dictation tasks;
- each participant is assigned the Individual Identification Number (13 digits) upon the conclusion of the questionnaire. This number must be saved in order to access the results and receive the Certificate of Participation.
- after completing all of the Dictation tasks, participants will have the opportunity to acquire the Certificate of Participation. In order to do this, each participant must fill out a form with consent for the processing of personal data and provide the Individual Identification Number;
- the results will be available on the Dictation Website within the timeframes indicated in Stipulation 6 of the present Provision;
- the additional extra-variant in Russian and English (40 questions):
- the extra-variant is conducted concurrently with the main and modified variants in Russian and English;
- the results are available immediately following the completion of the Dictation;
- the extra-variant can be completed an unlimited number of times;
- the Certificate of Participation for the extra-variant is not issued.
5.11 The storage period for the completed answer sheets is 1 year.
5.12 A Statistical Report shall be generated on the results of the Dictation.

6. Important dates – 2025

1. Registration of venues of the Dictation on the Dictation Website: from September 1 to November 20, 2025.
2. Providing the venues with access to instructions for conducting the Dictation on the Dictation Website: September 8, 2025.
3. Providing Venues with access to the answer sheet, layouts of the Certificate of Participation, and video files on the Dictation Website: starting from September 22, 2025.
4. Providing the venues with the scenario plan of the Dictation: by November 15, 2025.
5. Providing the venues with the access to the task forms of the Dictation, PowerPoint presentations, and video presentations with the Dictation tasks on the Dictation Website: starting from November 21, 2025.
6. Carrying out the Dictation at the venues: 12:00 noon (local time), November 30, 2025.
7. Carrying out of the online format: from 12:00 noon (local time), November 30 till 12:00 noon (local time), December 14, 2025.
8. Loading by the venues of the scanned forms of the participants to the Dictation Website: from November 30 till December 15, 2025.
10. Publication of the correct answers on the Dictation Website: December 15, 2025.
11. Publication of the individual results of the Dictation on the Dictation Website: starting from December 21, 2025.

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