Each essay is graded on a holistic grading scale by three raters with 4 representing the highest grade and 1 representing a failing grade. The student's score is the rating that at least 2 of the 3 scorers give the essay. If there is no agreement among the raters, the essay receives the middle score of the three scores. An essay must receive at least a score of 2 to pass. Within five weeks of administering the Regents' Exam, each institution will receive a report of its students' scores.
Individual institutions are responsible for reporting scores to each student.
Once a student passes the reading or writing section of the Regents' exam, the student is no longer required to retake that section of the test. Students who have completed 30 hours of coursework and have not completed English 1101 or 1102 must take the Regents' exam and must take it every semester after the completion of 30 semester hours until the requirement is met. This policy will continue until both sections of the Regents' exam have been passed- no exceptions. Students who transfer into the system with 45 or more semester credit hours from a system that does not require the Regents' Exam should plan on taking the exam during their first two semesters of enrollment in a program leading to a baccalaureate degree. These students will not be required to take remedial courses unless they have been enrolled at SPSU for two semesters and have not passed both sections of the exam.