The research aims to identify effective methods and forms of interpretive activity of students in Russian language and literature classes aimed at achieving subject-specific and meta-subject results within the framework of preparing for the state final certification in the 11th grade. The paper examines one of the key methodological problems of the modern educational space, i.e., the organization of text work among graduates in Russian language and literature classes in the context of preparing for the final essay. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that it presents a communicative-cognitive approach to text work in Russian language and literature classes in high school in the context of preparing students for the final essay. As a result, the stages of text work have been identified, the methods and techniques of students’ interpretive activity have been described. In addition, the paper has systematized questions and tasks that contribute to the organization of a dialogic classroom space, understanding of the text, help to actualize analytical work in class, activate the generation of students’ own texts based on the use of cognitive teaching methods, and also ensure the implementation of the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard of Secondary General Education in the area of achieving students’ subject-specific, meta-subject and personal results during preparation for the state final certification.