Regents Exams for New York State. Actual Regents questions and answers, on-line test preparation

General Helpful Tips

TIP 1

Be Confident and Prepared

SUGGESTIONS

Review previous tests.
Use a clock or watch, and take previous exams at home under examination conditions, (i.e., don't have the radio or television on.)
Get a review book. (The preferred book is one from Barron's Let's Review series.)
Talk over the answers to questions on these tests with someone else, such as another student in your class or someone at home.
Finish all your homework assignments.
Look over classroom exams that your teacher gave during the term.
Take class notes carefully.
Practice good study habits.
Know that there are answers for every question.
Be aware that the people who made up the Regents exam want you to pass.
Remember that thousands of students over the last few years have taken and passed Regents exams. You can pass too!
On the night prior to the exam day: lay out all the things you will need, such as clothing, pens, and admission cards.
Go to bed early; eat wisely.
Bring at least two pens to the exam room.
Bring your favorite good luck charm/jewelry to the exam.
Once you are in the exam room, arrange things, get comfortable, be relaxed, attend to personal needs (the bathroom).
Keep your eyes on your own paper; do not let them wander over to anyone else's paper.
Be polite in making any reasonable requests of the exam room proctor, such as changing your seat or having window shades raised or lowered.

TIP 2

Read Test Instructions and Questions Carefully

SUGGESTIONS

Be familiar with the test directions ahead of time.
Decide upon the task(s) that you have to complete.
Know how the test will be graded.
Know which question or questions are worth the most points.
Give only the information that is requested.
Where a choice of questions exists, read all of them and answer only the number requested.
Underline important words and phrases.
Ask for assistance from the exam room proctor if you do not understand the directions.

TIP 3

Budget Your Test Time in a Balanced Manner

SUGGESTIONS

Bring a watch or clock to the test.
Know how much time is allowed.
Arrive on time; leave your home earlier than usual.
Prepare a time schedule and try to stick to it. Remember that Regents exams are longer than classroom tests, so you will need to pace yourself accordingly.
Answer the easier questions first.
Devote more time to the harder questions and to those worth more credit.
Don't get "hung up" on a question that is proving to be very difficult; go on to another question and return later to the difficult one.
Ask the exam room proctor for permission to go to the lavatory, if necessary, or if only to "take a break" from sitting in the room.
Plan to stay in the room for the entire three hours. If you finish early, read over your work — there may be some things that you omitted or that you may wish to add. You also may wish to refine your grammar, spelling, and penmanship.

TIP 4

Be "Kind" to the Exam Grader/Evaluator

SUGGESTIONS

Assume that you are the teacher grading/evaluating your test paper.
Answer questions in an orderly sequence.
Write legibly.
Answer Part III questions with complete sentences.
Proofread your answers prior to submitting your exam paper. Have you answered all the Part I, the required number of Part II questions, and (if appropriate)Part III questions?

TIP 5

Use Your Reasoning Skills

SUGGESTIONS

Answer all questions.
Relate (connect) the question to anything that you studied, wrote in your notebook, or heard your teacher say in class.
Relate (connect) the question to any film you saw in class, any project you did, or to anything you may have learned from newspapers, magazines, or television.
Decide whether your answers would be approved by your teacher.
Look over the entire test to see whether one part of it can help you answer another part.
Be cautious when changing an answer. Try to remember why you selected the first answer to be sure that the new answer is better.

TIP 6

Don't Be Afraid to Guess

SUGGESTIONS

In general, go with your first answer choice.
Eliminate obvious incorrect choices.
If you are still unsure of an answer, make an educated guess.
There is no penalty for guessing; therefore, answer ALL questions. An omitted answer gets no credit.

Let's now review the six GENERAL HELPFUL TIPS for short-answer questions:

SUMMARY OF TIPS