Students and Parents Unhappy with New Biology Regents Exam Format
There’s quite a stir this year regarding the biology regents exam, with students, parents, and teachers expressing frustration over significant content changes.
This year, the traditional Life Sciences: Biology and Earth and Space Science exams have been replaced by new assessments called the “Living Environment” and “Physical Environment/GeoScience.” Many are questioning why material not directly related to biology seems to have been included.
On TikTok, one student vented, “Why did Earth Science and Chemistry sneak into my biological test?” after taking the exam on June 10. Another shared their confusion, linking aspects of the test to their previous Earth Science Regent experience. “Why was there stuff about erosion and sand dunes? I was expecting questions on meiosis, mitosis, mitochondria, reproduction, and homeostasis,” they said.
Another student expressed disbelief, stating it felt like flipping through a biology book for months only to see irrelevant content on the exam.
A hand-drawn illustration depicting confusion over topics like starch, proteins, and amino acids added to the buzz on social media.
Interestingly, some educators have chimed in too, with one NYC high school teacher suggesting that the exam seemed more chemistry-focused than biology. Others remarked on the heavy reading load, likening the exam’s text to something more suited for an English test, which left some students struggling to get through it.
Reports have noted that similar complaints have surfaced in relation to the Earth Sciences exams as well. One school administrator pointed out that students were well-prepared, but the exam didn’t align with the expectations set forth earlier. “There were a lot of unexpected questions,” they noted during a board meeting.
According to the state, some material in the new tests aligns with updated standards, but caution was advised that certain schools might still be adjusting to these changes. In response, parents and teachers are actively voicing their concerns to state officials about the new exam structure.
