Regents ELA exam strategy overview quiz quiz

Three hours; pass at 65 on a scaled score out of 100

Four hours; pass at 70

Ninety minutes; pass at 60

Two hours; pass at 50

Each part is graded separately out of 100

Only the essays count

They are a simple percentage

They are added and converted to a scaled score out of 100 using the NYSED conversion chart

Part 1 is the largest single block of raw points (24), more than the two essays combined before weighting

Multiple choice is graded by a rubric

Part 1 is not scored

Part 1 is optional

About 45 to 60 min on Part 1, 70 to 80 min on Part 2, 35 to 45 min on Part 3, with a proofreading buffer

All three hours on Part 2

Equal thirds regardless of task

Ten minutes on Part 1, the rest on essays

No cost; Part 2 is worth more

Part 3 is automatically full marks

Part 3's up-to-4 points get too little time while extra Part 2 effort yields diminishing returns

The exam is extended

List several things

Name or point to something

Explain how something works or achieves an effect

Summarize the text

Identify and analyze mean the same thing

Part 3 asks you to identify a central idea AND analyze a strategy; naming a strategy without analyzing it does only half the task

It does not matter

Part 3 has no command words

Only the first bullet counts

The directions are optional

Each bullet (claim, counterclaim, three texts, citation, organization, formal style) is a scored requirement

They are just preamble

Claim, evidence, counterclaim, conclusion

Reading, writing, listening, speaking

Spelling, length, neatness, speed

Content and Analysis, Command of Evidence, Coherence/Organization/Style, Control of Conventions

Each criterion is scored separately and summed

Only the conclusion is scored

The score is random

A rater gives one overall score reflecting the whole response across all four criteria

Length

Analysis over summary: explaining how, not retelling what

Number of quotations

Use of first person

Finishing as fast as possible

Working the exam deliberately: knowing the format, pacing, reading the tasks, and writing toward the rubrics

Focusing only on the essays

Writing as much as possible