<p>sybbie’s right - 8 Regents Exams are required for those seeking an Advanced Regents diploma (2 math exams covering 3 years of material; 1 global studies exam covering 2 years of material; 1 US History; 1 English; 1 foreign language; and 2 science exams). The Regents diploma requires only 1 math, 1 science, 1 global studies (again, the exam covers 2 years), 1 US History, and 1 English exam. </p>
<p>Until recently, the pass mark was set at 55 percent; to much wailing and moaning, it’s been increased to 65 percent, with accommodations made for certain circumstances.</p>
<p>I grew up in CT and don’t know how the exam compares with past testing as far as difficulty is concerned. However, the Regents tinker relentlessly with testing, including the curve assigned each year. One year, the only way to get an A in the Physics exam was to have a perfect score - anything less was a B-plus or lower. They’re constantly fooling with the Math curve and curriculum breakdown as well.</p>
<p>If you take more than 2 sciences (most college-bound kids in our district do), you must take the Regents exam in each, which means that many kids take 9 such exams. And the Regents score for each sits on the kid’s transcript in perpetuity.</p>