As part of the Skoltech 2026 admissions process, applicants can now confirm their English language proficiency using the state-of-the-art Istok program. The tool was developed by the team at the MIPT Center for Applied Linguistic Research and Testing and is Russia’s first AI-powered testing system.

All Skoltech applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at level B2 or higher on the CEFR scale by providing certificates from one of the recognized tests — TOEFL iBT, TOEFL ITP, Lingvotest, or Duolingo English Test — or by providing documented evidence that their previous university’s language of instruction was English. In 2026, the Institute is conducting testing as part of the final competitive selection stage on the Istok platform, which allows the testing procedure to be tailored to Skoltech’s specific criteria and selection requirements.

Istok’s mission is to make modern language assessment and learning accessible to everyone, ensuring a less stressful process and reliable results. The test employs an adaptive algorithm: tasks are adjusted in real time to match the user’s current level, reducing testing time and creating an individualized assessment path. Results are reported on the CEFR scale, a unified European standard. Over the years, the team has administered more than 20,000 language tests at Russian universities.

The platform is built on an interdisciplinary approach. An MIPT team is responsible for test methodology, the item bank, and psychometric validation. The DeepPavlov laboratory adapts AI language models for assessing free speech and writing, while the platform engineering team builds the technological infrastructure — including the admin panel, test player, and certificate issuance system. Artificial intelligence helps process results and reduce subjective bias. For remote test-takers, process transparency is ensured through proctoring — a modern video-based monitoring system.