Regents Passing Score & How Regents Are Scored
A scaled score of 65 is passing on every New York State Regents exam. To earn a Regents diploma you must pass four core exams — English, math, science, and social studies — plus one additional pathway. Here is how scoring, mastery, honors, and appeals actually work.
Is a 65 passing on the Regents?
Yes. A scaled score of 65 is passing on every required New York State Regents exam — English, all three math exams, the sciences, and social studies. The threshold is the same across subjects; no required Regents exam has a higher or lower passing cut for a standard diploma.
To graduate with a Regents diploma you must pass four core exams (English, math, science, social studies) plus one additional "pathway" — a fifth Regents or an approved CTE, arts, world-language, or civic-readiness option. This is the 4+1 pathway.
How Regents exams are scored
Your raw score — the number of credits you earn — is not your final score. After each exam, NYSED publishes a conversion chart that turns raw credits into a scaled score out of 100. That conversion is set separately for every administration, so the raw score needed for a 65 shifts slightly each time. This is what students mean by "the curve."
Because the curve is not linear, one extra raw credit near the passing line can move your scaled score several points. Bank every credit you can, especially in the multiple-choice section. To convert a raw score for a specific exam, use the Regents score calculator.
Mastery, honors, and advanced designation
Two designations sit above a plain pass:
- Mastery — a score of 85 or higher on each of the three math exams (or each of the three science exams) earns a Regents diploma with advanced designation, annotated "mastery in mathematics" or "mastery in science."
- Honors — a 90% average across all the Regents exams required for your diploma. Averages below 90.0 are not rounded up.
New York does not use the phrase "with distinction" — the official terms are honors and mastery.
College-readiness benchmarks (CUNY)
Separate from passing, CUNY uses Regents scores to exempt students from remedial coursework — roughly 75+ on the English Regents and 70+ on Algebra I or Geometry. These are CUNY benchmarks, not NYSED passing scores: you still pass at 65, but hitting the higher marks can save you a placement test. CUNY notes its standards can change.
What if you score below 65?
Several routes exist:
- Appeal (60–64) — if you scored 60–64, took the exam at least twice, got extra help, and passed the course, you may appeal to graduate. A Regents diploma allows one such appeal; a local diploma allows two. Advanced designation does not allow appeals.
- +1 pathway — only four of five exams must be in the core areas, so a strong pathway score can offset a hard subject.
- Safety nets — students with disabilities have additional low-pass (55–64) and compensatory options, plus superintendent determination as a last resort.
When do Regents scores come out?
There is no single statewide release date. Exams are rated locally during exam week, and NYSED posts the conversion charts by the day after the last exam — so schools can compute scaled scores almost immediately. When you personally see your score is up to your district, but for the June administration it is typically by late June.
A note on upcoming changes
New York has proposed ending the requirement to pass Regents exams to graduate, starting around the 2027–28 school year, as part of a move to a single state diploma. The rules on this page are current and still in force for students in high school now. See what's changing with the Regents.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 65 passing on the Regents?
Yes. A scaled score of 65 is passing on every required New York Regents exam. To earn a Regents diploma you must pass four core exams plus one additional pathway.
What is a mastery score on the Regents?
Mastery is a score of 85 or higher on each of the three math Regents or each of the three science Regents, annotated on a Regents diploma with advanced designation.
Does a 65 mean I got 65% of the questions right?
No. 65 is a scaled score. NYSED converts your raw credits to a scaled score with a curve that changes each administration, so the raw credits needed for a 65 vary by exam.
Can you graduate if you fail a Regents exam?
Sometimes. A score of 60 to 64 can be appealed (once for a Regents diploma), the +1 pathway means only four of five exams must be in the core subjects, and students with disabilities have safety-net options.
When do Regents scores come out?
There is no single statewide date. Conversion charts post by the day after the last exam, and districts report scores to students afterward, usually by late June for the June administration.