Most 9th graders in New York State take one or two Regents exams, with the specific exams depending on the courses their school schedules for freshmen. The two most common are the Algebra I (Common Core) Regents and the Living Environment (biology) Regents, since those are the math and science courses most schools place in the 9th-grade sequence. Some students take only one of these in 9th grade, while accelerated students may sit for additional exams.
Algebra I Regents
The Algebra I Regents exam is the one nearly every 9th grader encounters. It covers the full-year Algebra I curriculum, including linear equations, inequalities, functions, quadratics, and basic statistics. The exam is offered in January, June, and August, with most freshmen taking it in June at the end of the school year.
Students who entered high school in an accelerated math track may have already completed Algebra I in 8th grade and taken this Regents then. If that’s your situation, your 9th-grade math Regents would instead be the Geometry Regents or, less commonly, the Algebra II Regents. Your transcript should reflect which course you’re enrolled in, and that determines which exam you sit for.
Living Environment Regents
Living Environment is the biology-based science course that most New York high schools schedule in 9th grade. The Regents exam tests topics like cell biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, and lab skills. You need to complete a set number of required lab hours during the year to be eligible to sit for this exam, so attendance in lab sessions matters.
A smaller number of schools place Earth Science in 9th grade instead, which means those freshmen would take the Physical Setting/Earth Science Regents rather than Living Environment. Your school’s course catalog or guidance counselor can confirm which science course is slated for your freshman year.
Why These Two Come First
New York structures its Regents exams around specific courses rather than grade levels, so there’s no official rule that says “9th graders take these exams.” The exams are tied to the curriculum. Schools typically front-load Algebra I and Living Environment because they’re foundational courses that open the door to higher-level sequences in math and science over the remaining three years.
For graduation, you need to pass at least one math Regents, one science Regents, one English Language Arts Regents, and one social studies Regents, plus one additional “pathway” assessment. The advanced designation diploma requires three math Regents and two science Regents (one life science, one physical science). Taking Algebra I and Living Environment in 9th grade gives you a head start on those requirements and leaves room for the additional exams in 10th through 12th grade.
Scoring and What Counts as Passing
A score of 65 or higher on a Regents exam is the standard passing threshold for a Regents diploma. Students aiming for an advanced designation diploma need that same 65 on each required exam. A score of 55 can qualify for a local diploma under certain safety net provisions available to eligible students.
Scores are scaled, meaning the raw number of points you earn on the exam is converted to a final score between 0 and 100. Each exam has its own conversion chart released after the test is administered, so a raw score of 30 out of 86 possible points might translate to a scaled score of 68 on one exam but a different number on another.
What Happens If You Don’t Pass
If you score below 65, you can retake the exam at the next available administration (January, June, or August). There’s no limit on retakes. Your transcript will reflect the highest score you earn. Some students also qualify for appeals if they score between 60 and 64 and meet additional criteria set by their school district, such as having a passing course grade and good attendance.
Changes to Diploma Requirements
New York’s Board of Regents has proposed significant changes to how these exams factor into graduation. Under the proposed plan, students in recent cohorts (those who first entered 9th grade in 2024, 2025, or 2026) would still take Regents exams but would not be required to pass them to earn a diploma. Instead, passing Regents exams would earn optional endorsements, including the advanced designation. These changes have not been finalized and depend on Board of Regents approval, but they could reshape how much weight these 9th-grade exams carry for your diploma.
Even if passing scores become optional for graduation, the exams still serve as useful benchmarks. Colleges reviewing your transcript will see your Regents scores, and strong performance signals readiness for more advanced coursework. Taking them seriously in 9th grade sets a productive tone for the remaining three years of high school.