Those distinctions are irrelevant. Education was free in USSR. Access to math circles and specialized math schools was also free. It was not necessary to hire a

Those distinctions are irrelevant. Education was free in USSR. Access to math circles and specialized math schools was also free. It was not necessary to hire a tutor or pay for advanced classes to get admitted, unless we’re talking about the Conservatory or MGIMO. Source: I was born and received education in USSR, so can tell Soviet propaganda from reality.