Testing Office

Regents' Exam

Students must take the Regents' Exam each semester of enrollment.  Students have only three semesters to satisfy the Regents' Exam.  Transfer students have only two semesters to satisfy the exam.

Description of the Exam
Test Preparation
What to Bring to the Exam
Exam Schedule
Who Tests?
Transfer Students & Accel Students
Approved Exceptions for Regents' Requirements
Policies for Taking the Exam
Policies for Failing the Exam
Extended Time Testing
International/Non-Native English Speaking Students & Students with Disabilities
Testing at Another School
Regents' Tips
Appeals
Reviewing your Essay

What is the Regents' Exam? (Why do I need to take it?)

The Regents' Exam is required by the Board of Regents for all student seeking an undergraduate degree from a University System of Georgia school. It is a test of reading and writing skills.

The Regents' Exam consists of two sections, essay and reading, administered in that order.  The essay section requires students write on one of the four essay topics provided.  A passing score on the Regents' essay is a 2 or 3.  The reading sections consists of 10 passages with multiple-choice questions on elements such as word usage and reading comprehension. The exam lasts two hours, 60 minutes for each section.  A passing score for the Regents' reading is a 61.

For the essay section of the Exam, each student will be given four general-knowledge topics and will be asked to write an essay about one of those topics. The topics include those dealing with life-experiences, and those requiring some knowledge of history, literature, or socio-economic-political issues. You have a choice between the two types, so you should select carefully and choose the topic you know the most about. A complete list of approved topics is available from Regents' Testing Office.

The reading comprehension section of the Regents' Exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, divided into 5-8 questions on each of 10 short reading passages. The passages are drawn from a variety of sources including college textbooks, popular magazines, encyclopedia entries, and short fiction. A sample reading test is available to practice.

The policies and procedures for this exam are primarily developed by and through the Regents' Testing Office. All Regents' Test policies and procedures are available from the Georgia Southern Testing Office. Local institutional policies are established through the Registrar's Office and are included in the information brochure.

Test Preparation
 Test Preparation is offered through the Regents' Testing Office web site and the Academic Success Center at Georgia Southern University. 

Essay Portion

On the essay section, which is rated from "1" to "3," a student is judged independently by three readers. An essay must be rated a "2" or higher by at least two of the readers in order for the essay to be passed. 

Reading Portion

On the reading section of the test, a student must score 61. To score 61, he/she must answer about 70% of the items correctly. International and Non-Native English Speaking Students must score 54. 

What to Bring to the Exam
Students should bring with them to the exam acceptable personal identification, pencils, pens (BLACK ONLY), and a dictionary for the last 15 minutes of the Essay Exam. 
 

TESTING SCHEDULE

The test is given at Georgia Southern on the following dates:

Identification Required for All Tests
Please make sure you bring an acceptable ID

Acceptable IDs are: a valid state driver's license, student ID or passport.
(Not accepted: check cashing cards, picture credit cards, Sam's cards, etc.)
 

WHO TESTS?

All Georgia Southern University students are required to take the Regents' Exam their first semester enrolled at the institution. 

Accel students are automatically scheduled for the Regents' Exam.  Accel students must take the Regents' Exam, if they are enrolled in classes through Georgia Southern University.  It is the responsibility of the Accel student to contact the Testing Office to change the exam date if it interferes with their classes in high school.

Transfer students are required to take the exam their first semester enrolled. Transfers must pass the Regents' Exam by their third semester or will be enrolled in the review course requirements.  Having completed ENGL 1101 or 1102, at their previous institution does not fulfill the Regents' requirement unless the students SAT/ACT scores meet the requirements below. 

Approved Fulfillment for Regents' Requirements

Students may fulfill the requirement of the reading portion of the Regents' Test with scores of:

Students may fulfill the requirement of the essay portion of the Regents' Test with scores of:

  • SAT - Reasoning Exam Writing score of at least 560

  • SAT - Reasoning Reading score at least 510 and SAT - Reasoning Exam Writing of at least 500

  • ACT Combined English/Writing score of at least 24

  • ACT Reading score of at least 23 and ACT Combined English/Writing score of at least 22

  • 3 or higher on Advanced Placement English Language/Composition test

  • 3 or higher on Advanced Placement English Literature/Composition test

  • 4 or higher on International Baccalaureate English test

  • 650 or higher on SAT II English Writing test

To apply for a Regents' Test fulfillment based on the information above:

  1. Students must have SAT or ACT or AP scores in BANNER or make arrangements to show official proof of scores.

  2. Students must send an email including their name, Eagle ID number, phone number, and Georgia Southern email address.  Students must include a specific message that tells which portion(s) of the test they qualify to fulfill and how (ex: ACT score or AP score meeting criteria listed above) they qualify to fulfill the portion.

  3. Students will email above information to the Testing Office at testing@georgiasouthern.edu.  No phone calls accepted.  A response will be sent to the students Georgia Southern email address provided within 3-5 days.

When Does a Student Have to Take the Exam?

New Students (non-transfer)
All new students have three (3) semesters to satisfy the Regents' Exam.  Students must take the exam their first semester of enrollment and each subsequent semester until they have satisfied the exam.  Students who do not test their first semester cannot enroll in ENGL 1102, until they have attempted the exam.  After three semesters of enrollment, if the Regents' Exam has not been satisfied, the student must enroll in the Regents' Skill class(es) for the part(s) of the exam not satisfied. 

Transfers
Transfer students have two (2) semesters to satisfy the Regents' Exam.  Students must take the exam their first semester of enrollment and each subsequent semester until they have satisfied the exam.  After two semesters of enrollment, if the Regents' Exam has not been satisfied, the student must enroll in the Regents' Skill class(es) for the part(s) of the exam not satisfied. 

What Happens if a Student Fails the Exam?

 If a student scores a 50 or below on the Regents’ Reading Exam, the student is considered a “low-fail” and is required to enroll in the Regents’ Reading Skills class the next semester of enrollment.  If a student is considered a “low-fail” on the essay exam by the readers, the student is required to enroll in the Regents’ Essay Skills class the next semester of enrollment.   

Any student who scores a 51 to 60 on the Regents’ Reading or does not pass the Regents’ Essay exam but is not a “low-fail” will have one additional semester to pass the exam.  If the student has not passed the exam by the second attempt he or she must attend a Regents’ Reading or Essay Review Workshop offered by the Academic Success Center.  Any student who fails the Regents’ Essay exam may review their previous exam(s) with a Writing & Linguistics Professor.  After an unsuccessful third attempt, the student must enroll in the Regents’ Reading or Essay Skills class.

EXTENDED TIME
A student is eligible for extended time on the Regents’ test, if the student has successfully completed a minimum of two Regents' Test Prep courses in the same subject (essay or reading) that the student is applying to take with extended time.  Extended time is two hours in each section for which they qualify

Non-Native English Speaking Students
If English is not your native language, you did not attend high school in the United States, and you wish to discuss taking the International Test, you must come to Room 2031 of the Cone Hall.

 Students with Disabilities
All students with documented disabilities who are interested in receiving accommodations for the Regents’ Test will need to contact Michelle Smith at the Student Disability Resource Center, in Cone Hall, 478-1566.

TESTING AT ANOTHER SCHOOL

Current and former Georgia Southern University students who would like to test at another University System of Georgia school, please contact Testing Office at  912-478-5415 or testing@georgiasouthern.edu.  Or, Download the Request to Test at Another School Form (pdf) or Request to Test at Another School Form (word).  During the summer, students may still take the Regents' Exam even if they are not enrolled in summer classes. 

Requests to test at other schools must be processed prior to the testing period. Tests taken at a school other than a home institution without authorization may be voided.


REGENTS' APPEALS

If you did not pass the Regents' Essay portion of the exam and would like to appeal the score.  You must complete an Appeal Form at the Office of Testing Services in Cone Hall, Room 2031.  Appeals must be received no later than

August 31 (for the Spring and Summer Testing)
January 15 (for the Fall Testing)

Please note you will still be scheduled for the Regents' Essay exam the following semester.  If you have reached 45 hours, you will be scheduled for the Regents' Review class. 

Download the Regents' Essay Appeal Form (pdf) Regents' Essay Appeal Form (word)

Regents' Essay Reviews
Students' may request to review their essay with a Writing & Linguistics Professor.  A student who would like to review their essay should go to the Writing & Linguistic Department Office in Newton 1118B.  A review of the essay with a professor will not constitute a Regents' Appeal to reconsider a score.

REGENTS’ TEST TIPS

  • Registration for the Regents' test is required. All candidates for regular timed Regents’ Test are pre-registered by the Testing Office and the Registrar's Office.

  • Photo identification is required during the check in process.

  • Be on time.  Doors will close promptly.  No late admittance is allowed.

  • Allow 30 minutes for check-in and test instructions, plus one hour for each test section you are taking.

  • Bring pencils and if taking the essay portion, you will need black pens.

  • Some types of dictionaries are allowed during the essay portion of the test.

  • NO FOOD OR DRINKS ALLOWED IN THE TESTING ROOM.

  • NO CELL PHONES OR OTHER ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT ARE ALLOWED TO BE IN USE DURING THE EXAM PERIOD.

  • NO CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED IN THE TESTING ROOM.

Please note:
 Failure to take and pass both parts of the Regents’ Test may result in holds on future registration or mandatory registration for the Regents’ Preparation reading and/or essay writing classes. See below Requirements section above for more information.


For additional information, please contact:
Testing Office
Georgia Southern University
PO Box 8132
Statesboro, GA  30460-8132

Cone Hall Room 2031
912.478.5415 (phone)
912.478.5988 (fax)
e-mail: testing@georgiasouthern.edu


Last Updated August 21, 2008
Comments or Suggestions please contact The Student Affairs' Webmaster