<p>Hi, i'm a resident of Texas but today I heard my teacher mention the New York Regents exam. I have a very general idea of the regents. I supposed it is another series of state standardized tests required to graduate high school, similar to texas' TAKS (texas assessment of knowledge and skills). The TAKS test is untimed (the regents is timed i think), which means that kids can [and do] take a whole day on it. From what I've seen on the internet, the regents makes my state's TAKS look like a joke. I looked at some regents math b exams and I have to say that some of the honors kids [who consider themselves good at math] in my class would honestly fail that test (i go to a below avg school SAT about ~900 on 1600 scale). The physics regents test seems to be on SAT level. I mean, it tests concepts like Huygen's Principle, modern physics, and combining conservation of kinetic energy and momentum equations together which even my honors physics class did not even learn. And yea, history, lets not go there lol. My question is: how does the average joe pass these regents test...lol. I'm quite sure that the majority of people in my school's top 10%, much less the average kids would have a hard problem passing these test. Is that why there are so many high scorers on national standardized tests (SATs, AP, etc) in NY-because the system already prepares you for those tests? here are some links comparing the hardest level of my state test vs. the regents...</p>
<p>can anyone living in New york give an opinion? lol</p>
<p>Actually, in New York regents is "non-honors"!!! It is usually the lowest track. Math B is a very hard test, you can google the pass rate-but all the people in regulars (except for the random 1 or 2 who don't study) usually pass in my above-average school. </p>
<p>Physics is a very hard regents as well-Physics at most schools has requirements, like mine has an 85 average of chemistry to go into it. </p>
<p>History-generally regarded in New York as a joke compared to regular tests in school. The Regents is very basic about history topics and is a 2 year course for global</p>
<p>The Regents exames are made to be passed, but it's still hard to get high scores (in the 97+ range) on some tests.</p>
<p>The Math B exam is, by far, the hardest of the bunch, but is still curved so that almost everyone passes.</p>
<p>The science exams (except for biology) provide extensive reference tables. I'd estimate that at least 1/3 of the questions can be answered with help from a reference table, though the proporton that are direct table-searcing questions is considerably smaller.</p>
<p>Schools teach specifically so their students pass Regents exams. In non-Honors/AP classes, you end up learning mostly about how to take the Regents for that course. The curriculum is defined by what's on the test.</p>
<p>I know I'm being a bit cynical here, but basically, New York does everything in its capacity to ensure that as many students as possible pass the Regents exams. If you're just looking to pass, and you know the basic content and hav decent writing skills (for the English and history exams), you shouldn't be worried at all.</p>
<p>Lastly, allow me to emphasize one very, very important aspect of the Regents:
"CURVE"</p>
<p>^ doarkforce, you basically took the words out of my mouth.</p>
<p>Yeah, basically, you end up doing regents questions all year...as doark said, made to pass, not to get 100 on. For example, Regents english is pretty hard to fail but very hard to get a perfect score on.</p>
<p>Yea, regents are curved to let students pass (but only so much), but not for them to do well on. However, passing the math B regents isn't required to graduate. Honors courses are suppossed to be above regents curriculum, and being in an accelerated honors math b class, i can tell u i pray for regents questions on the class exams. All regents have a time limit of three hours, which you probably dont need for math A, but do for physics, math b and maybe chemistry. The history regents is viewed as easy tho. Sometimes teacher's emphasize the regents too much, and grade your in class- tests just as they would in the regents (which is really annoying) just so you get used to ticky tacky deductions. Schools are often regarded as good or bad based on their regents performace, which is another reason why it is so important.</p>
<p>What courses does one take to prepare for the Regents math B? I took a glance at it and the problems aren't too difficult. It's probably different since one would be under a time constraint, but it doesn't seem impossible. The tests are, however, much harder than our state's standardized tests. Our state math tests contains only basic algebra and geometry.</p>
<p>^ I realize the problems arent too difficult, but like you said compared to my state's test it's very hard.</p>
<p>Do schools get funds based on the regents test? Here in texas, the principals of the schools who do well gets bonuses and additional state funds....which is pretty messed up since that means the poor schools that needs the money won't get any.</p>
<p>New York State is busy taking every conceivable measure to ensure that a high school diploma won't get anyone a job. If they think making sure everybody can pass their regents tests and get a high school degree than they are not helping anyone, they're making everyone shell out an extra couple of thousand dollars and at least two years of their lives</p>
<p>They are not making the regents curving so easy that they are passable by everyone ( i know alot of kids who failed...). If you dont pass the math B regents or a certain amount of regents, you dont get an advanced designation diploma, and if you do really bad, you dont even get a regents endorsed diploma (something like this). Im not exactly sure if they get funds for doing well on regents, but they phase out schools for poor regents performance..i mean real poor. Most schools get below 70% passing rate on math a regents...( the well known exceptions are the specialized high schools, midwood, murrow and cardozo and a few others). To prepare for the math B regents, you take a class called "Math B", which is either a 1 1/2 year course or a 2 year course, and schools can also make them honors or regular. The main problem is that since the course is so long, u have to recall facts and things u learned 1.5-2 years ago on the test, the problems aren't impossible if youve been paying attention and class and studied alot b4 the test to review everything, thats why barrons has made a killing with regents review books.</p>
<p>i know plenty of kids who have failed da regents i have 2 poor but passing grades from 8th(MAtH A baby!) and 9th(LIVING ENVIRONMENT/BIO) grade at public school....but im a stupid kid i go to vincent smith school now(private school baby it SuX) if u live on long island u know its the "short bus" school...and im proud im one of the only kids in my school that is smart/has a chance at college theres these kids at my school that r like i wanna go to umiami i laughed..my ass off in my head i have little chance in getting in....and they think they do? They never do there hw...and they dont do well one of the kids who mentioned this is failing 2 classes in my school thats so easy TO DO well in its a joke and no regents for god sakes!</p>
<p>LOL, I thought the NYS Regents weren't too bad and some of them a joke (History) but yeah It's agreed Math B and Physics are the hardest ones ( I have to take them both this year help!)</p>
<p>In TAKS ,I've seen a lot of middle school facts meaning like theoretical positions on the subject and you have only like 60 science questions (on Bio, Chem and Physics put together). We have to take the Regents for science after completing the course meaning (70/84 questions per regents) </p>
<p>The NYS Kids are prepared for the Regents every year. And if you were a student here, you would be prepared too.</p>
<p>Haha, Regents are a joke. I don't normally post on these forums, but since you are asking for the opinion of New Yorkers, I will. I'm not saying this to boast or anything, but I've gotten a 95+ on every Regents I've taken. And I'm pretty sure many other kids in my school do just as good as me, so its not really impressive. They make the regents very easy, and the schools (At least my school) prepare us well for the regents by incorporating questions from the Regents Exam into the curriculum. In fact, most of us look forward to taking the Regents because it is counted as the final exam in all our regents classes, and it is an easy A+. So the bottom line is that it isn't something to worry about as long as you take challenging classes, and even normal classes will suffice.</p>
<p>when you apply to colleges in NY, do they look at wat grade u got on regents or do they just look at ur average in that class. Ppl have been telling me that they just care wat grade u get in class and want you to just pass the regents. If anyone knows, please clarify.</p>
<p>Yeah, there are times I wish I lived in New York. Or China. Or that wacko-4th-in-the-world international school. Or anywhere with an educational system better than ours. Our FCAT science tests are easier than the Texas tests. At least I'm at a magnet school, so I'm getting a better education than most Floridians.</p>
<p>The regents vary in their level of difficulty. English/History/Sciences are the easiest. I recieved grades of 100(Global), 99(English), 99(Liv.Enviornment) and 98(American History). </p>
<p>Then you have Math B and Chemistry, 47 first time on Math B, 74 next time and 68 for Chemistry.</p>
<p>It sucks for people that grew up in a different state and then transfer to NY because you have to take them to graduate. My friend is in this predicament. She lived in NJ until this year, and now has to take all the regents while the rest of us get off.</p>
<p>Yea the Regents exams are considered to be a joke at my school. The only exams that are considered to be difficult at my school are the Math B and Chemistry. I find it interesting that so many people are saying that Physics is one of the hardest Regents exams. At my school we have a good physics teacher so everyone gets between 80-100 on the exam. We have the worst chemistry teachers ever so everyone who relied on what we learned from the teachers gets between 60-85. Everyone else who got higher had tutoring.</p>
<p>The easiest exams are the Math A, English, History, and the foreign language exams.</p>
<p>Yeah, the languages are pretty stupid if you've taken the language and studied. For example, Latin you get to pick like 20/40 culture questions to count AND there's 10 pts of dictation by your teacher (free points, anyone?)</p>
<p>Regents are insanely easy, pretty much a joke. Although, I must admit Math B and Chemistry are difficult. In my school, the regents exam count as our final for the class which is nice.</p>