BASIC TEST INFORMATION AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Essential Facts
- Q: What is the Regents' Test and who has to take it?
- A: It is a University System of Georgia test of basic reading and writing skills that must be passed before a student can earn an associate degree from Gordon College. See the Academic Catalog for details.
- Q: When do I have to take the test?
- A: That depends on when you started college. Students beginning their course of study during the fall 2008 semester or later and who are not required to complete Learning Support classes in either Reading or English should plan to take the Regents’ Test during their first semester of college. Students who began their college careers before August 2008 should take the test at the next available opportunity.
- Q: Why are there two sets of guidelines? That sounds complicated.
- A: Perhaps it is. The problem is that the Regents' Test is changing. In order to try to identify students who may need extra help, the Board of Regents moved the test to students' first semester.
- Q: So, if I haven't taken the test yet, am I "behind"?
- A: No, not at all. Simply register for the test during your next semester and take it then.
- Q: How do I sign up for the Regents' Test?
- A: Register for the Regents' Test as you register for your other courses (no charge for the test). The last day a student may sign up for the test is the last day of the Drop/Add period of each semester. This date is published in the Schedule of Classes booklet. If you accumulate more than forty-five credit hours before fulfilling the Test requirement, then you will be required to take and successfully complete a Regents' Test Skills Class before being allowed to register for the Regents' Test.
- Q: When is the next Regents' Test?
- A: October 22, 23, 27 and 28, 2008.
- Q: When will I get the results of the test?
- A: Results will be posted around December 8, 2008. The results will be posted on BANNER WEB FOR STUDENTS under Legislative Requirements on your Academic Summary.
- Q: "Do I have to take the Regents' Test Skills Class before I take the Regents' Test?"
- A: Most students taking the Regents' Test for the first time and taking the test in a timely manner will not be required to complete the Regents' Test Skills Class (RGTR 0198 and RGTR 0199). See the Academic Catalog for details.
- Q: "The Regents' Test schedule in the course book looks confusing; which one should I choose?"
- A: If you haven't taken the test before, speak English as your native language, and are not exempt from the requirement, you must sign up for both parts. Please choose from one of the following:
A1 1:45 S1 5:45 A4 1:45 S4 5:45 A8 1:45 S10 5:45 If you need to take the essay only, please choose from one of the following:
A2 1:45 S2 5:45 A5 1:45 S5 5:45 S8 5:45 A9 1:45 S11 5:45 A7 1:45 For students whose native language is not English A11 1:45 If you need to take the reading only, please choose from one of the following:
A3 1:45 S3 5:45 A6 1:45 S6 5:45 A10 1:45 S12 5:45 S7 5:45 For students whose native language is not English S13 5:45 Regents' Test Schedule
NOTE: The dates, times and CRNs for these sections can be found in the Schedule of Classes Booklet each semester.If you have taken the test at least twice and not passed it, you are required to register for the appropriate Skills class (RGTR 0198 and/or RGTE 0199) and the Regents' Test each semester until you pass the test.
Failure to do so will make you ineligible to take the test.
Failure to register for the test by the deadline will result in your not being able to take the test that semester. It is your responsibility (not your advisor's) to make sure your name is on the list by the deadline.
Failure to register for the appropriate skills classes, if needed, will result in your name being removed from the Regents' Test list.
Test Day Questions
- Q: The course book contains times for the sessions, but not specific locations. Where do I go on test day?
- A: All students begin by signing in for the Regents' Test in the Student Center lobby. Once there, you will complete registration and be informed of the exact location of your session.
- Q: "What do I need to bring to the Regents' Test?"
- A: Bring a photo ID, two number two pencils, two pens (black ink only) and a dictionary.
- Q: "Why do I need both pencils and pens? That seems silly."
- A: Perhaps, but there's actually a good reason for it. Students mark their answers to the reading section on a Scantron — a device that is read by a computer. The computer can only read number 2 pencil marks. The writing portion of the test is graded by hand. Graders do not accept essays in pencil as pencil can so easily smear or otherwise be altered. Therefore, test takers need both pencils and pens.
- Q: "Can I bring a thesaurus?"
- A: No. The only reference resource allowed is a dictionary.
- Q: "Can I bring an electronic dictionary?"
- A: Generally, electronic devices that function only as dictionaries are acceptable. However, it's probably best to have a test administrator check the device in person BEFORE the test. Students who are unsure whether their particular device is allowed should plan to bring the device to Dr. Richard Baskin, Humanities Division Chair, Academic 103-B during Dr. Baskin's regularly scheduled office hours.
- Q: "Does the Humanities Division have a dictionary I can use during the test?"
- A: No; students are responsible for furnishing their own dictionaries, pens and pencils.
What If...?
- Q: "What if I do not know whether or not I am registered for the Regents' Test?"
- A: It's easy to find out whether or not you're registered for the Regents' Test: just go to the "Student Academic Summary" section of Banner Web and look under "Current Schedule;" the Regents' Test will appear as if it were a regularly scheduled Gordon College class.
- Q: "What if I forget which day and time I registered for?"
- A: Go to the "Student Academic Summary" section of Banner Web and look under "Current Schedule." The Regents' Test will appear as if it were a regularly scheduled Gordon College class. Then, match the Regents' Test's Course Request Number (CRN) with the appropriate Regents' Test session as outlined "Test Schedule" section of this web-site or the current Gordon College Schedule of Classes booklet.
- Q: "What if I miss the test? What if I'm sick or have a flat tire?"
- A: The test is given only three times a year (once during the summer, once during the fall and once during the spring). There is no "makeup day." Sign up for it again the next time you sign up for classes. There is no penalty for missing the test.
- Q: "What if I'm an ESL writer; will that be taken into consideration when I take the Regents' Test?"
- A: If you're a non-native speaker of English, you must register for the "ESL only" sections of the Regents' Test (sections S7 or A7). Registering for ESL only sections is the ONLY way to get the extra time ESL speakers are entitled to.
- Q: "What if I usually do pretty well in writing and reading, but I get really nervous taking tests. What should I do?
- A: The Counseling Center at Gordon College will offer a Test Anxiety Workshop on June 11, 2008. Contact the Counseling Center at 770.358.5326
- Q: "I have heard some people don't have to take the Regents' Test; what if I am one of them?"
- A: Effective summer 2008, students are exempt from the essay portion of the test if they:
- have a score of at least 510 on the SAT-Critical Reading and a score of at least 500 on the SAT-Writing
- or have a score of at least 24 on the ACT Combined English/Writing exam
- or have a score of at least 22 on the ACT Combined English/Writing for students who also earned an ACT Reading score of at least 23
- or have a score of at least 3 on the AP exam in English Literature and Composition or English Language and Composition
- or have a score of at least 4 on the higher-level IB English exam
- or have a score of at least 650 on the SAT II (Subject) English Writing exam
- or have a score of at least 560 on the SAT Writing exam
Effective summer 2008, students are exempt from the reading portion of the test if they:- have a score of at least 510 on the SAT-I Verbal*
- or have a score of at least 23 on the ACT Reading*
- Q: "What if I registered for the test and took it even though I wasn't eligible; will that count?"
- A: No. Students who register for the Regents' Test without being eligible will, in all likelihood, have their scores eliminated and will have to re-take the test after establishing eligibility.
- Q: "What if I fail the reading portion of the test; can I appeal?"
- A: Yes. Although answers on the reading portion of the Regents' Test are pretty objective, a student can petition to get his or her reading portion of the test graded by hand. Hand grading of the reading test costs $10.00 and must be paid before the essay is re-graded. Students contemplating applying for this option should note: the computer aided grading of the Regents' Test is very reliable and hand grading has never lead to a failing grade being overturned. Students wishing to pursue this option should contact the Humanities Division office (Academic 103). Appeals must be made within one year of the date of the test; allow at least a week before that date for your appeal to reach the appropriate office at the Board of Regents.
- Q: "What if I fail the written portion of the test; can I appeal?"
- A: It depends. The written portion is graded by three evaluators. Usually, failing essays receive failing grades from all three evaluators. However, if a student received a passing grade from at least one evaluator, he or she can petition to have the essay reviewed. This appeal process rarely results in a failing grade being overturned. Students who receive failing grades from all three evaluators do not have an option for appeal.
Students believing their essay failed due to an error in grading must take the following steps:
- acquire a copy of their essay text from the Humanities Division office. The essays are usually returned to Gordon College around the beginning of the following term.
- make an appointment with a Gordon College English faculty member during his or her regularly scheduled office hours.
- ask the faculty member if he or she sees any hope for a successful appeal.
- A student must initiate the review procedure by mid-term of his/her first semester of enrollment after the semester in which the essay was failed. The review must be initiated, however, within one calendar year from the semester in which the failure occurred.
- After the student has followed the procedure above, he/she must submit a letter to the Humanities Division office requesting a review of the essay.
- Students whose essays are under review and who have earned 45 credit hours must be enrolled in the Regents' Writing Skills course.
- The review will be initiated at the campus level. The on-campus review will be conducted by three faculty members designated by the Chair of Humanities; the faculty member who originally advised the student about the essay (see above) cannot be a member of the review panel. The student will be notified concerning the results of the on-campus review. A decision by the on-campus review panel to terminate the review process is final.
- If the on-campus panel recommends re-scoring of the essay, that recommendation will be transmitted in writing, along with the essay, to the office of the System Director of the Regents' Testing Program. The Director will convene a panel of experienced Regents' essay scorers to review the essay. The decision of the panel will be final, thus terminating the review process. The student will be notified through the college concerning the results of the review.