Process

Process
Round 1: Pre-Test
Students who meet age and grade requirements are invited to take a English test, which is designed to screen applicants for their English language abilities. Every year more than 50,000 students throughout Eurasia take the pre-test, approximately one-third of which move onto the Round 2.

Round 2: Pre-SLEP and Essay Test
Eligible students deciding to continue with the application process are invited to take the Secondary Level English Proficiency (SLEP) test. Students are also asked to write three in-class essays (in English) in response to questions which are designed to display the student's maturity and suitability for international exchange. Essay questions focus on actual situations that students may confront, rather than abstract situations that may be more difficult to address. Both tests are proctored by program staff and alumni.

After all tests and essays are completed, they are sent to the Moscow data hub to be assessed and graded. Field screening committees at the data hub are specially trained to assess essays on the basis of ten factors considered critical for exchange experience success. Processing information and conducting the preliminary evaluation in a centralized location is important for the integrity of the competition and relieves the pressure often placed on the program staff by parents, local ministries, or others to include candidates who might not be qualified.

Round 3: Applications and Interviews
Students with the highest-scored assessments pass to the next level of the competition, where they are asked to submit complete applications and are interviewed. Approximately 15% of the original applicant pool is invited to this level. One American and one Eurasian employee conduct 20-minute interviews in both English and the student’s native language.

In addition to the one-on-one interview, all applicants participate in a group activity, which is conducted in Russian or the local language in groups of four to six and led by Eurasian staff members. This activity provides an opportunity to observe the students in a less formal setting and to assess how they interact with their peers. After students complete their application, they return it to an American Councils field office. This ensures an open and transparent selection process. The applications are later forwarded to the American Councils' headquarters office in Washington, DC for further processing and selection.