If you fail a Regents exam in New York State, you generally have the opportunity to retake the exam during the next administration, such as over the summer or when it is next offered
. Failing the Regents exam does not mean you fail the course itself, as earning course credit is independent of passing the Regents exam
. Students who pass the course but fail the Regents exam may not be required to attend summer school but can receive tutoring and retake the exam later
. To graduate with a Regents diploma, students usually must pass a set number of Regents exams (typically five), including English, math, science, and social studies exams. If a student fails one or more Regents exams, they can retake them multiple times. Additionally, there are appeal options for students who score slightly below passing (scores between 50-64), allowing them to potentially earn a diploma if they meet certain conditions such as passing the course and receiving teacher recommendations
. If a student fails the Regents exams repeatedly and does not meet the passing requirements, it can delay graduation and increase the risk of dropping out, as the exams are tied to diploma eligibility
. However, there is ongoing discussion and proposals in New York State to reduce or eliminate the Regents exams as a mandatory graduation requirement, potentially offering multiple pathways to a diploma in the future
. In summary:
- Failing a Regents exam means you must retake it to meet graduation requirements.
- Passing the course does not depend on passing the Regents, but passing the Regents is required for a Regents diploma.
- Students can retake exams multiple times and may qualify for appeals on low scores.
- Failure to pass required Regents exams can delay graduation.
- New policies may soon provide alternative pathways to graduation beyond Regents exams.
This system aims to balance maintaining standards with providing multiple opportunities for students to succeed
