Open Doors Scholarship Stage 2: Proctored Exam, Sample Tasks and Results

Open Doors Scholarship Stage 2 is the online academic test for applicants who qualify after the first-stage portfolio evaluation. Stage 1 checks the portfolio, entrance test, education proof and motivation letter. Stage 2 checks subject knowledge through a proctored exam connected to the subject area selected earlier.

This is the stage many students underestimate. It is not only a quiz and it is not a relaxed interview. The official rules describe a controlled online test environment, identity verification and continuous recording of screen, webcam and audio. Applicants should prepare for it like a serious exam.

Your Stage 2 tasks are connected to the subject area you selected in Stage 1. If your subject area choice was weak or unrelated to your background, the second-stage test may feel much harder. This is why Stage 1 subject selection and Stage 2 preparation are part of one process.

Only applicants who pass the first-stage portfolio competition move to Stage 2. Passing Stage 1 means your portfolio score and entrance-test work were strong enough to continue. It does not mean you have already won the scholarship.

After Stage 1 results, qualifying applicants should check the participant account for second-stage registration instructions. The official process can require additional registration information, passport details and a photograph. Do not assume that being shortlisted automatically registers you for the exam.

If the portal gives a second-stage registration deadline, treat it seriously. Missing registration can remove your chance to sit the test even if you passed the portfolio stage.

The official rules describe additional registration for Stage 2. Applicants may need to provide passport information or another accepted identification document, upload or provide a photograph and confirm the test timing through the account.

Use the same identity details that match your passport and Stage 1 profile. If your name is written differently across documents, the identity check may become harder. Before test day, check that your account details, passport spelling and uploaded photo are clear and consistent.

The test schedule matters because the exam is taken during a specific window. Convert the time zone carefully. If the platform shows local or Moscow-related timing, confirm what that means for your country. Do not wait until the last minute to open the test page.

• Check the participant account after Stage 1 results
• Register for Stage 2 before the deadline
• Enter passport/identity details carefully
• Upload a clear photograph if requested
• Confirm test date and time early
• Convert the exam time to your local time zone

The Stage 2 exam is monitored. The official rules describe continuous screen recording, webcam recording and audio recording during the examination. This means the system or monitor may see your screen, hear your environment and check your behavior while you complete the tasks.

Applicants should expect identity verification before or during the exam. You may need to show your passport or ID. You may also be asked to show your room or desk area. In real testing conditions, students should be ready for a 360-degree room clearance request from the monitor.

The safest room setup is simple: quiet room, clear desk, no extra papers unless allowed, no second device, no people entering, good lighting, working webcam, working microphone and reliable internet. Treat the exam like a monitored university test, not an ordinary home assignment.

• Screen recording may be active
• Webcam recording may be active
• Audio recording may be active
• Identity verification may be required
• Room or desk check may be requested
• Suspicious behavior can create disqualification risk

The official rules describe 175 minutes for written tasks. These tasks are subject-specific, so preparation must be based on your selected subject area. A business applicant, engineering applicant, medical applicant and politics applicant should not expect the same test.

Use the official subject program and sample tasks. Sample tasks are more useful than random internet guesses because they show the style, scope and academic level expected by the competition. Do not rely on fake past papers unless the official subject page provides them.

During the written section, manage time carefully. Start with the instructions, estimate how many tasks you need to complete and avoid spending too long on one problem. If the exam interface allows navigation between questions, use it strategically. If it does not, read each prompt carefully before answering.

The official rules also describe a 5-minute oral response. Applicants should not treat this as casual speaking time. It is still part of the subject-area evaluation and can test whether you can explain your reasoning clearly under time pressure.

Prepare by practising short explanations of subject concepts. For technical fields, practise explaining how you reached an answer. For social science or policy fields, practise structured responses with claim, evidence and conclusion. For science fields, practise explaining method, result and interpretation.

You do not need to sound like a television presenter. You need to be clear, calm and relevant. The worst approach is to memorize generic sentences that do not answer the actual prompt.

Most Stage 2 stress is preventable. Test your laptop, charger, webcam, microphone, browser and internet connection before exam day. If possible, use a stable laptop or desktop rather than a phone. Restart your device before the exam and close unnecessary apps.

Use a reliable internet connection and have a backup plan if possible. A weak connection can cause disconnection, video problems or upload issues. If your electricity is unstable, plan around it. Charge your device fully and keep the charger connected.

Do not open messaging apps, screen recorders, browser extensions or tools that may look suspicious. Even innocent apps can create problems if the proctoring system flags them. Keep the testing environment clean.

• Laptop or desktop preferred
• Webcam tested
• Microphone tested
• Charger connected
• Stable internet checked
• Unnecessary apps closed
• Browser updated
• Quiet room arranged

Applicants should be ready for room clearance. In practice, a monitor may ask you to show the room using your webcam, including desk, surroundings and possibly a 360-degree view. This is meant to confirm that no prohibited materials, devices or helpers are present.

Prepare the room before logging in. Remove extra notebooks, phones, tablets, books, headphones or papers unless the official rules allow them. Tell family or roommates not to enter. Put your phone away unless the exam instructions require it for a specific reason.

Good lighting matters because identity and room checks become harder in a dark room. Sit where your face and desk are visible. If you wear glasses, check that screen glare does not hide your eyes completely.

Study the official subject program first. The Open Doors subject areas are broad, but the second-stage exam tests academic ability inside the chosen area. Sample tasks and subject programs are the best preparation sources.

For quantitative and technical subjects, practise problem-solving under time limits. For policy, politics, education, psychology or business subjects, practise analytical answers and structured reasoning. For science and medicine-related areas, revise core concepts, methods and interpretation skills.

Do not prepare only by reading general scholarship articles. Stage 2 is an academic test. You need subject knowledge, exam stamina and the ability to work inside the platform under proctoring.

Preparation should follow the selected subject area. A Computer and Data Science applicant should revise algorithms, programming logic, mathematics, databases, data interpretation and problem-solving. An Engineering applicant should focus on core engineering principles, mathematics and applied reasoning. A Politics and International Studies applicant should practise analytical writing, argument structure, institutions, international relations concepts and current global issues.

For Clinical Medicine and Public Health, prepare foundations rather than random trivia: epidemiology, health systems, biology, clinical reasoning and public-health interpretation. For Economics and Econometrics, revise microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistics, data interpretation and model reasoning. For Education and Psychology, review learning theory, research methods, development, assessment and applied cases.

The point is not to predict every question. The point is to become comfortable with the academic language and reasoning style of your subject. Stage 2 rewards applicants who can work under pressure, understand instructions quickly and produce clear answers without searching the internet.

On exam day, log in early. Give yourself enough time for identity checks, browser permissions, camera/microphone access and any room-clearance request. If you log in at the exact start time and the platform asks for extra verification, your stress level rises before the exam even begins.

During the 175-minute written section, do not spend too long on one difficult task. If the interface allows movement between tasks, answer what you know first and return to harder questions later. If the interface is linear, read carefully and avoid careless mistakes caused by rushing.

Before the 5-minute oral response, take a few seconds to structure the answer if the platform allows. A simple structure works: answer the question directly, explain the reason, give a relevant example or method and finish clearly. Five minutes is short, so wandering wastes marks.

The exam is monitored to protect fairness. Even if you are not cheating, behavior that looks suspicious can create problems. Keep your setup simple and follow instructions calmly.

• Do not use another person to help you
• Do not keep a second phone or laptop nearby unless allowed
• Do not open unrelated tabs or apps
• Do not leave the camera view without permission
• Do not ignore monitor instructions
• Do not speak with another person in the room
• Do not try to record or copy exam content
• Do not wait until the final minute to submit

Technical problems can happen: internet drops, camera issues, microphone failure, browser crash or platform errors. The official rules include procedures for malfunction notices within the allowed timeframe. Applicants should follow the official instructions if a genuine technical problem prevents proper completion.

Take screenshots only if allowed and safe to do so. Write down the time, problem, what happened and any error messages. Contact the official support route described by Open Doors. Do not invent technical problems after a weak exam performance; false claims can damage trust.

The best protection is preparation. Test the system before the exam if a demo or check is available, use stable internet and log in early. Many technical emergencies are avoidable with basic preparation.

After the exam, results are processed according to the official schedule. Applicants should monitor the participant account and subject-area pages for result information. Result timing can differ by stage and track.

Appeals are not the same for every issue. The official rules distinguish between types of scoring or technical concerns and define how and when appeals or malfunction notices may be submitted. Read the active rules before assuming that every result can be challenged.

If you pass Stage 2, the process is still not finished. You may move toward winner, runner-up or next-stage instructions. PhD applicants may have supervisor interviews, while postdoctoral applicants have project-related stages. Bachelor’s and Master’s winners move toward university/program priority and document-processing steps.

After Stage 2, selected applicants may receive follow-up instructions inside the participant or second-stage portal. As discussed in the after-winning guide, applicants may be redirected to another application system, download an official application form, sign it, scan it as PDF and upload it with approved and translated documents.

For Bachelor’s and Master’s winners, later university choices are connected to the subject area and specialization. You do not simply choose any university in Russia. You rank available institutions or programs connected to the academic path already selected.

This is why Stage 2 should be seen as the bridge between competition and admission. Passing the exam opens the next door, but documents, university processing, offer/invitation and visa work remain.

• Main Open Doors hub: /open-doors-scholarship-2027
• Stage 1 portfolio guide: /open-doors-scholarship-stage-1-portfolio
• After-winning guide: /open-doors-scholarship-after-winning
• Bachelor’s track: /scholarships/open-doors-russian-scholarship-bachelors
• Master’s track: /scholarships/open-doors-russian-scholarship-masters
• PhD track: /scholarships/open-doors-russian-scholarship-phd

• Stage 1 result checked
• Stage 2 registration completed
• Passport details entered correctly
• Photo uploaded if requested
• Exam time confirmed and converted to local time
• Official subject program reviewed
• Sample tasks practised
• Laptop, webcam and microphone tested
• Internet and power backup considered
• Room cleaned for proctoring
• Passport/ID ready
• Unnecessary apps and devices removed
• Official support route saved for technical problems
• Participant account checked after exam for results

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