What Regents prep actually needs to do
New York Regents exams have two clear targets: 65 to pass and 85+ for an Advanced or Mastery diploma. They’re end-of-course exams, offered in January, June and August, and they’re built almost directly from previous years’ papers — the State releases real past exams with scoring guides, and question types repeat.
That makes Regents prep unusually answerable: practise the released exams, learn where partial credit lives on the constructed-response questions, and review the recurring topics until they’re automatic. Short daily practice on real past papers is the model that works.
How the Regents plan works
| Phase | Focus | Daily target |
|---|---|---|
| All year | Keep up with the course; the exam mirrors it | — |
| 8 weeks out | Topic-by-topic review of weak units using released exams | 15 min/day |
| 4 weeks out | Full past-exam sections; practise shown-work for partial credit | 15–20 min/day |
| 2 weeks out | Timed full past papers under exam conditions; error log | 20 min/day |
| Exam week | Light review of formula sheets / reference tables, then rest | — |
Because so many questions recur, finishing several full released exams is worth more than re-reading notes.
The exams and the diploma thresholds
For a standard Regents Diploma, students typically pass five exams at 65+: one math, one science, ELA, US History & Government, and Global History & Geography. An Advanced Regents Diploma adds Geometry and Algebra II, a second science, and a world-language assessment. Hitting 85+ across the relevant exams earns the Honors or Mastery designations. Knowing which threshold you’re aiming for shapes how hard you push past a simple pass.
Where students lose marks
- Math Parts II–IV — constructed-response questions give partial credit only for shown work; skipping steps loses points.
- Living Environment labs — data interpretation and the required lab questions.
- Source-based essays in ELA and history — graders reward a clear claim and document evidence.
- Reference-table misuse — not using the provided formula/reference sheets correctly.
Skoolskill grades practice against Regents-style scoring guides and uses spaced repetition to bring back the question types you missed.
Comparison: Regents tutor vs Skoolskill
| Private Regents tutor | Skoolskill | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $50–$100/hr (NYC) | Free or ~$6.99/month |
| Practice per week | 1 hour | 7 × 15-min sessions |
| Subjects covered | 1 per booking | Every Regents subject |
| Material | Generic worksheets | Your notes & past Regents papers |
| Cost over a prep season | $1,500+ | $0 or ~$7–$21 |
Skoolskill is an AI tutor that turns your own notes and past Regents papers into daily practice. Sitting the SAT too? See our SAT prep guide.
When a human tutor still matters
- A student is failing a course outright and needs the content rebuilt, not just reviewed.
- A learning difference calls for tailored, in-person strategies.
- A student needs accountability from a person to revise consistently.
- Test anxiety that a coach can work through.
Many New York families pair occasional tutoring with daily AI practice — see our free online tutor page.
Get started — free
- Create a free account — no credit card.
- Tell us which Regents exams you’re sitting and the test date.
- Snap a photo of your notes or a past Regents paper.
- Your first daily session starts in under three minutes.
Start free — free tier always available.