<p>Like Macnyc, I am another one who thinks that the regents have gotten really really easy over the over the years (they are a real cake walk now as compared to when I was in high school and I know a lot of people who were thankful for the RCTs or the would not have a diploma) . </p>
<p>My daughter began high school in 2000 when the diploma changed to a regents based diploma across the board, Even then there was a phase in process where you could pass with a 55, I think the passing score of 65 just came in 2003/2004. I do remember a few years back (2003) when there was really made a mess of the math and physics regents and the state had to back peddle and rescore the exams (even then D got a 92 on the physics exam before rescoring) and it was at the principle’s discretion to allow students to graduate.</p>
<p>With the new change in the regents I don’t even think students have to pass 8 regents in order to graduate (english, global, math, gov’t, and 2 sciences) unless they are looking to get an advanced regents or regents with honors diploma.</p>
<p>Most states do have some type of state exam (regents or some other name) or exit exams that students have to pass in order to obtain thier diplomas so I do not see it as just an unnecessary evil that NYer’s have to go through. Depending on the school’s scheduling, most students are finished with all of their regents by the end of junior year. All though D went to a high school that did not teach to any of the exams threre was still a strong correlation between the grade given in class and the grade on the exam.</p>
<p>While there are flaws in the exam just like the SATs, all NYS students take the same exam and in a way, it does level things out because you wikk question how as student got a 95 in a course and a 60 on the state exam.</p>