This New York State Regents examination is the culmination of one year of the study of secondary-level high school Chemistry. The exam tends to be structured as follows:
- Part A: 30 multiple-choice questions from all units covered over the course of the school year.
Total points: 30 - Part B-1: 20 multiple-questions, with a mix of short answer and multiple-choice. Questions focus on the Reference Tables, graphing, and laboratory experiments.
Total points: 20 - Part B-2: 15 short answer questions. Questions focus on the Reference Tables, graphing, and laboratory experiments.
Total points: 15 - Part C: 20 short answer questions, broken down into smaller parts. Questions are drawn from all Chemistry units, and may require students to write brief paragraphs, use equations and reference tables, or draw graphs and diagrams.
Total points: 20
Students taking the exam should come with a scientific calculator (not a graphing calculator), pen, and pencil. Reference Tables will be provided.
Total points available (raw score): 85 points: This exam is known for having a negative curve at the mastery grades (85 – 89). This means that more than for every one point of raw score missed, more than one point of scaled score is lost.
Recent (January 2016) raw-to-scaled score conversions:
- 79 – 85 points: 90 – 100
- 74 – 78 points: 85 – 89
- 69 – 74 points: 80 – 84
- 57 – 68 points: 70 – 79
- 50 – 56 points: 65 – 69
- Below 50 points: failing
Required Units for the Chemistry Regents
Unit 1: Matter and Energy
Unit 2: Atomic Structure
Unit 3: Bonding
Unit 4: The Periodic Table
Unit 5: Stoichiometry and the Mathematics of Chemistry
Unit 6: Kinetics and Equilibrium
Unit 7: Acids and Bases
Unit 8: Electrochemistry (Oxidation-Reduction)
Unit 9: Organic Chemistry
Unit 10: Nuclear Chemistry