New York State Regents Requirements

Can someone explain the requirements for NYS Regents exams? Do all high school students in New York have to take them? Also, do colleges outside of New York care about these exams?

The New York State Regents exams are a series of standardized tests that high school students in New York must take to meet graduation requirements. They are designed to assess students' comprehension and mastery of the skills and knowledge taught in various subject areas. While not all students must take every Regents exam, there are certain exams that everyone must pass to earn a high school diploma.

There are two types of Regents diploma: the standard Regents diploma and the Regents diploma with Advanced Designation. To earn the standard Regents diploma, students must pass exams in the following areas:

1. English Language Arts (ELA)

2. One math exam: either Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II (also known as Trigonometry)

3. One science exam: either Living Environment (Biology), Earth Science, Chemistry, or Physics

4. One social studies exam: Global History and Geography

5. One additional exam in social studies: U.S. History and Government

For the Regents diploma with Advanced Designation, students must pass additional exams:

1. All three math exams: Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II

2. Two science exams (one must be Living Environment)

3. Both social studies exams: Global History and Geography, and U.S. History and Government

4. A Language Other than English (LOTE) assessment

As for how colleges outside of New York view the Regents exams, they generally do not hold significant weight in the admissions process. Instead, colleges focus more on factors like your overall GPA, course rigor, SAT/ACT scores (if required), extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendation letters. However, a strong performance on Regents exams can still demonstrate your mastery of certain subjects and your ability to succeed academically.

In summary, while NYS Regents exams are important for graduation requirements within New York high schools, they carry less weight in the college admissions process, especially for schools outside of New York. It's essential to focus on maintaining a strong GPA, taking challenging courses, and participating in extracurricular activities to stand out to college admissions committees.