The article actualizes the problem of preparing students for the final state certification in foreign languages. A brief analysis of the concept of «control”» is given, and the main features of the control of the formation of speaking skills in the format of USE tasks in English are revealed. The results of the experiment on the section «Speaking» for 1st year students of Volgograd State University were analyzed in order to identify typical errors. In conclusion, the authors propose the most promising recommendations for the preparation of students for the oral part of the exam under consideration and improving their results.

Keywords: quality of education, control, unified state exam (USE) in foreign languages, speaking, tasks.