Most are three hours long and divided into a multiple-choice section and a portion for a long answer/essay. The foreign-language Regents also include listening skills, and the history Regents require short-answer responses.

Regents are scored on a 100-point scale, and students must earn a 65 and above to pass, though scores of 55 and up can earn credit toward a local diploma.

“Our role is to make sure students who need to take Regents are aware of which ones they need to sit for and what times they are,” Duffy said.

“That’s especially important for students who may have taken them before and didn’t pass but need to pass them to fulfill diploma requirements.”

EXTRA HELP

Struggling students receive Academic Intervention Services to help them the second time around.

Teachers offer extra prep time for all students taking Regents exams, usually after school and sometimes during final-exams week.

“This is a stressful time of year,” Duffy said. “Students are trying to make it through classes and get credits, and seniors are trying to graduate and prepare for next year.”

‘WANTED TO DO WELL’

Stephanie DeMane is relieved she completed her final Regents last year.

The Plattsburgh High School senior found the exams annoying, especially when she had to take one for an AP course.

“Technically, if you take an AP course and pass, you don’t have to take the Regents, but the schools make us take them anyway.”

She found the Math A Regents easy but said Math B was difficult, while English was the most challenging for her. She didn’t do much to prepare for the exams except to take practice tests for Math B.