Are Regents exams mandatory?

Hi all, I'm a high school junior in New York State and I've heard conflicting info about Regents exams. Are they mandatory for all students or do they only apply to certain classes? If they are required, how do they affect college applications? Thanks in advance!

Regents exams in New York State are indeed mandatory for public high school students and affect your graduation requirements. Specific exams vary depending on the diploma type you're aiming for. You can graduate with a Regents or an Advanced Regents diploma, and each one has distinct testing requirements.

For a Regents diploma, you must pass five core exams: English Language Arts (ELA), one math (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II/Trigonometry), one social studies (Global History or U.S. History), one science (Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics), and a fifth exam in any additional subject, whether it be an extra math, science, or social studies Regents test. An Advanced Regents diploma requires passing additional exams, including two more math tests, one more science, and a foreign language exam (unless exempted by your school).

While Regents exams are important for meeting your graduation requirements, they play a minimal role in college admissions outside of New York State. For out-of-state colleges, they primarily focus on your GPA, class rigor, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. However, within New York, especially for colleges within the SUNY and CUNY systems, your Regents exam scores might hold more weight during the admissions process, as they can demonstrate your competencies in specific subjects.

To ensure that you meet your graduation requirements and put your best foot forward for in-state college applications, focus on doing well in your classes and studying for your Regents exams. That said, don't forget to also dedicate time to other admissions factors that can help you stand out on your college applications. Good luck!