Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Advising
Regents' Test Office
Regents' Exam Effective Fall 2008
Students at Albany State University must take the Regents’ Test each semester of enrollment unless they have passed or exempted both parts. Regular students will have three semesters to complete this process; transfer students will have only two semesters to complete this process.
WHAT IS THE REGENTS’ TEST? (WHY DO I NEED TO TAKE IT?)
The Regents’ Test is required by the Board of Regents for all students seeking a degree from a University System of Georgia school. It is a test of reading and essay writing skills.
The test consists of two sections, essay and reading, usually administered in that order. The essay section requires students to write on one of four essay topics provided. The topics include those dealing with real life experiences and those requiring some knowledge of history, literature, science, political issues or the like. The student chooses the topic that he/she knows the most about and uses knowledge of essay writing to complete the planning and the writing of the essay in 60 minutes. A passing score on the Regents’ essay test is a 2 or a 3. A complete list of approved topics can be found on the University System of Georgia Regents’ Test website.
The reading section consists of nine passages with 54 multiple choice questions to cover reading comprehension and contextual vocabulary skills. The passing score for the reading section is 61 or above. Students will have one hour for the reading part of the exam except for special situations which will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
WHO TESTS?
Unless a student has already passed or exempted the test, all students at Albany State University should sign up for the Regents’ Test regardless of the number of hours they are carrying. A new Board of Regents policy states that, “Beginning with the Fall 2008 semester, all incoming freshmen must sign up for and take the Regents’ Test during the first semester of their matriculation.” Students who do not sign up after enrolling in college will risk using up their “three enrollment attempts” before having to enroll in the Regents’ Test Preparatory classes. Any student who needs the preparatory classes and who has accumulated 45 hours will need to sign up for the preparatory classes as well (RGTE 0199 and/or RGTR 0198). One other such group required to take Regents’ Preparatory classes will include students who score below 50 on the reading test. Students in all preparatory classes will need the recommendations of their instructors in order to take the test.
Prior to the test dates, students will be issued permit tickets and will have their names on an approved roster giving them permission to enter the testing site. If a student takes the test and does not pass it, he/she will need to re-register the next semester of enrollment; an application will not carry over until the next semester of enrollment. All students who want to take the test must sign up for it (RGTE 1100 and RGTR 1100) after which they will sign up for classes if they have been assigned to or need them.
TEST PREPARATION
The Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Advising and the English Department are working jointly to offer lab assistance, workshops and preparatory class for students who need them.
The English Department offers reading and writing labs and required Regents’ Test Preparatory classes; CETLA offers Regents’ Test seminars/workshops and Web-CT practice tests.
READING
The reading comprehension section of the Regents’ Test consists of 54 multiple choice questions divided into 5 to 8 questions on each of 9 short reading passages. The passages are drawn from a variety of sources including college textbooks, popular magazines, encyclopedia entries, short fiction and the like. A student must score at least a 61 to pass the reading portion of the test.
The purpose of the essay section of the test is to find out how well a student can write an essay. A student must score at least a 2 to pass that portion which is evaluated by two or three professors in other parts of the state.
1. Your Regents’ Test Ticket - (You should have picked up your ticket from Simmons Hall, Room 105, please see Regents’ Test Schedule.)
2. A State Issued Identification - (DRIVER’S LICENSE, STATE ID, MILITARY ID, or a PASSPORT)
3. A Dictionary - (if you choose) for the last 15 minutes of the essay portion of the Regents’ Test (The dictionary should not contain a thesaurus.)
4. Two #2 Pencils already sharpened, along with TWO black ink pens
Please Don’t Bring:
5. CELL PHONES or other similar electronics - They WILL NOT be allowed in the testing site!!
6. Handbags or Bookbags - They WILL NOT be allowed in the testing site!!
7. Paper and other Text Books
REGENTS’ TEST SCHEDULE
JANUARY 6-9
REGENTS' TEST SEMINAR REGISTRATION (Must be registered via Banner Web in order to register for these seminars)
JANUARY 12
OFFICIAL BANNER WEB REGENTS' TEST APPLICATION DEADLINE
JANUARY 12
RAP SESSIONS (TBA) (PROVIDES GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT REGENTS' TEST)
JANUARY 21 – FEBRUARY 9
ESSAY WRITING TEST SEMINARS (MWF) SIMMONS HALL, RM 101 (TBA) (First and Second Time Test Takers)
FEBRUARY 11 - 27
READING TEST SEMINARS (MWF) (SIMMONS HALL, RM 101 (TBA) (First and Second Time Test Takers)
FEBRUARY 27
RECOMMENDATIONS DUE (INSTRUCTORS OF 0198 AND 0199 PREPARATORY CLASSES)
MARCH 2-4
TICKET PICK-UP(SIMMONS HALL, RM 105) (Students with 0-44 hours) (BRING STATE IDENTIFICATION.)
MARCH 5-6
TICKET PICK-UP(SIMMONS HALL, RM 105)(Students with 45 and above hours) (BRING STATE IDENTIFICATION.)
MARCH 9-13
*****SPRING BREAK*****
MARCH 17-19
REGENTS' TEST ADMINISTRATION (ACAD, ROOM 150) - (New freshmen & non-system transfer students with 0-44 hrs)
MARCH 20-24
REGENTS' TEST ADMINISTRATION (SIMMONS HALL, ROOM 101) -(45+ hours)
MARCH 21-23
REGENTS' TEST ADMINISTRATION (CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ROOM 111) - (0-44 hours)
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Non -system transfer students should sign up for the test during their first semester of matriculation. Beginning with the summer 2008 semester, if they have above 45 college credits after the first semester of enrollment, they will enroll in the Regents’ Test Preparatory classes. If they have fewer than 45 hours, they will have a second attempt. System transfers with 45 college credits or “three semesters of enrollment” must sign up for the Regents’ Test and the Regents’ Test Preparatory classes just as any other Albany State student will do.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
If English is not a student’s native language, if the student did not attend high school in the United States, and if the student wishes to discuss taking the Regents’ Test especially designed for International students, the student must contact the Regents’ test Director whose office is in 103 Simmons Hall (229-430-4735 ~ flo.hill@asurams.edu). The local International Students Task Force Committee has suggested that a student be considered for a special form of the essay test after taking and failing the test at least once. There is no special test for reading at this time; however, students may be given more time and may be allowed to use their translation dictionaries as they read.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
All students with documented disabilities who are interested in receiving accommodations for the Regents' Test will need to contact the Regents' Test Director at 229.430.4735. Approval letters must come from the Disabilities Coordinator, Ms. LaHura Larkins.
EXTENDED TIME TESTING
A student may be eligible for extended time on the Regents' Test if the student is classified as a multiple repeater or if the student has a documented disability that requires extended time. Extended time is two hours for each section for which the student may qualify.
APPROVED EXEMPTIONS
All University System of Georgia students are expected to take and pass the exam, except those who have earned some type of exemption.
READING TEST EXEMPTIONS
SAT-I - 510 or higher on VERBAL (coded NA) ACT – Reading exemption score: 23
ESSAY TEST EXEMPTIONS
SAT-I – 560 or higher on SAT Reasoning Test, Writing Section (coded NA) SAT-II English Writing score of 650 SAT Reasoning Test, Writing Section, exemption score of 560 SAT Reasoning Test, Writing Section, exemption score of 500 (only for students who also have at least a 510 on the SAT Reasoning Test, Critical Reading Section). AP English score of 3 or more IB English score of 4 or more ACT – Writing Exemption: 24 or more ACT- Writing and Reading Combination: ACT Writing score of 22 or more and ACT Reading score of 23 or more
Students Entering USG Institutions Before Summer 2008 (Exemptions)
SAT Reasoning Test, Critical Reading Section score of at least 530 and a grade of “A” in English 1101, or SAT Reasoning Test, Critical Reading Section of at least 590 and a grade of “B” in English 1101, or ACT English score of at least 23 and a grade of “A” in English 1101, or ACT English score of at least 26 and a grade of “B” in English 1101
Students who think they are exempt from the Regents’ Test should, first of all, check Banner Web to see if they have a reading or writing score. If there are no reading or writing scores listed, they should, then, contact the Registrar’s office or their advisors to find out if they have exempted one or both parts of the test.
TESTING AT ANOTHER SCHOOL
Students who would like to test at another school must be cleared as transient students first, one semester BEFORE they are requesting to be transients. The Regents’ Test Director will write a “permission to take the test letter” to the Regents’ Test Director for the school visited, clearing the students to take the test there.
POLICIES FOR TAKING THE EXAM
The registration steps are as follows: (1) sign up for the test --- RGTE 1100 and /or RGTR 1100; (2) if students have three attempts, 45 hours or above, or have scored less than 50 on the reading portion of the test on their last attempt, they should also sign up for the Regents’ Test Preparatory class(es). ALL students must sign up for the test unless they have already exempted or passed it.
Students should print a Regents’ Test Schedule for the current semester to find out when Regents’ Test Tickets will be issued. In addition, they MUST pick up a Regents’ Test Ticket.
After getting a ticket, students should report to the testing site on the date and time indicated on your ticket.
POLICIES AFTER FAILING THE EXAM
If students fail one or both parts of the test the registration steps are as follows: (1) sign up for the test --- RGTE 1100 and /or RGTR 1100; (2) if they have three enrollment attempts(an attempt is any semester a student is enrolled in school, regardless if they tested or not), 45 hours or above, or have scored less than 50 on the reading portion of the test on their last attempt, they should also sign up for the Regents’ Test Preparatory class(es). ALL students must sign up for the test unless they have already exempted or passed it.
Students enrolled in Regents’ Test Preparatory classes must be recommended to take the Regents’ Test by the instructor. Students who are not recommended for any reason must register for the Regents’ Test Preparatory classes the next semester of enrollment.
Students should print a Regents’ Test Schedule for the current semester to find out when Regents’ Test Tickets will be issued and should pick up a Regents’ Test Ticket during those days.
APPEALS
If a student did not pass the Regents’ Test and would like to appeal a score, the student must complete an Appeal Form from the Regents’ Test Office, Simmons Hall, Office 103.
Reading Test Appeals
You will mail the Reading Test Appeal Form to the Board of Regents office along with a processing fee. The Reading Test will be rescored and you will be notified if there is a change in your score.
You will complete the Essay Test Appeal Form. Your essay will be reviewed by a panel of writing instructors at ASU. If the panel does not believe the essay should receive a passing score, the appeal process will stop here. If the panel believes the essay is a passing one, the Regents’ Test Director will forward the essay to the Board of Regents for a review. If there is a score change, the director will be notified.
1. Please pick up your admission ticket prior to the date of the test and bring it to the test site with you; you will NOT be able to take the test without a ticket. NOTE: Please bring your DRIVER’S LICENSE, STATE ID, MILITARY ID, or a PASSPORT in order to pick up the ticket and to enter the test site. ASU ID’s will not be accepted.
2. Please report to your site at least twenty minutes before test time. Late people will not be admitted once the directions for a test have begun.
3. Please plan to stay in each test session at least two hours. (You may not need this much time, but this is a precautionary measure.) For example, if you plan to take the reading and the essay writing tests; plan for at least two hours to be devoted to reading and two hours to be devoted to essay writing. The two hours will include completing answer sheets and handing out and collecting the tests and the answer sheets. The actual test time is 60 minutes for each test, except for special situation students (chronic repeaters, second language students, physically disabled students, etc.) who may get extra time.
4. Dress in layers; some of the rooms are cool, and temperatures cannot be adjusted.
5. Please bring TWO #2 PENCILS ALREADY SHARPENED, along with TWO black ink pens. Pencils or pens will not be provided. No blue pens will be allowed.
6. You may bring a dictionary to use during the last 15 minutes of the essay. (The dictionary should not include essay notes or a thesaurus.)
7. No student will be allowed to leave before the test time is up, except in the case of an extreme emergency. Walking around disturbs other students, and we want everyone to have an equal opportunity to pass the test.
8. Be sure to get a good night’s rest before the day of the test; you want to be well rested, so you can do your best.
