Science FAQ

2. Does the New York State Education Department have a required science curriculum?

No. It is the local school district's responsibility to implement a curriculum which will provide students opportunities to achieve the science learning standards. For all grade levels and courses, science educators should review and align the appropriate science learning standards and/or core curriculum, where applicable. Schools and districts need to be cognizant of the transition from the Learning Standards for Math, Science, and Technology (1996) to the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards (2016). Additional information can be referenced in the Science Timeline.

For more information, please reference the NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards on the Science webpage.

3. Are there any resources available to assist schools in designing courses that culminate in Regents exams?

The four high school science course maps have been developed by the Department to assist school districts in developing specific courses at the local level that align to the high school level (grades 9-12) performance expectations included in the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards (2016). Each science course map (Life Science: Biology; Earth and Space Sciences; Physical Science: Chemistry; and Physical Science: Physics), delineates specific performance expectations for courses that culminate in a corresponding Regents examination in science.

The High School Course Maps can be referenced on the Science Guidance & Resources webpage.

10. What is the laboratory requirement to qualify to take a science Regents examination?

To qualify to take a Regents examination in any of the sciences, a student must complete 1,200 minutes of laboratory experiences with satisfactory documented laboratory reports. 

In January 2023, the Board of Regents adopted the Amendment to Section 100.5(b) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Laboratory Experience Required in Order to Take a Science Regents Examination. This allows any combination of hands-on and simulated laboratory experiences to satisfy the 1,200 minute laboratory requirement for admission into a Regents exam in science. 

The 1,200 minutes of laboratory experience must be in addition to the required classroom instruction associated with earning a unit of credit.  This requirement can be referenced in the section 100.5(b)(7)(iv)(d) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

11. Can the 1200-minute requirement be met through virtual laboratory experiences?

Yes. Virtual laboratory experiences allow students to complete laboratory experiments through the use of technology. Virtual laboratory experiences may include internet-based activities, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), or other technologies. Virtual laboratory experiences should be comparable to in-person laboratory experiences in that they engage students in learning by thinking, discussing, investigating, and creating. Just as with hands-on laboratory experiences, the expectation is that virtual laboratory experiences are aligned to the New York State Science Learning Standards and provide the opportunity for students to engage in active learning. 

12. Can laboratory reports be stored electronically? 

Yes, laboratory reports may be retained via digital or hard copy. Schools and districts are required to retain satisfactory written reports for a time period of at least six months following the administration of the science Regents examination.  

13. How can schools plan and prepare for safety in the science learning environment?

Science safety is paramount whether student learning occurs in the school, in the home, or in other learning environments such as virtual settings. Schools and districts must consider science safety measures when planning and developing science curriculum programming and instructional materials, including hands-on science and laboratory activities, to assure they are conducive to various learning environments and follow health and safety guidelines established by the New York State (NYS) Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the NYS Education Department.

Education Law 2503(4)(c), Powers and duties of board of education, affords local control for the authorization of courses of study and their associated content.  With respect to science courses, schools and districts are also responsible for:

• aligning laboratory experiences specific to each science course;
• determining the mode or modes of instruction; and
• identifying a viable vetted list of acceptable labs that a student would need to complete for each science course.

In addition, schools and districts should review their current science safety plans and protocols so teachers and students can safely continue to engage in science learning through activities and investigations, no matter the learning environment. 

14. Must the laboratory requirement be met prior to admission to a State Regents examination in science?

Yes. Schools are permitted to establish a target date for the completion and submission of the laboratory requirement.

Once a student meets the laboratory requirement, for a specific science Regents exam, it does not expire. Students do not need to re-take the laboratory requirement to be admitted into a future science Regents exam.  Reference question 10 for additional information.

15. Can schools accept laboratory experiences completed in another school by a transfer student? 

Yes. When determining a transfer student’s eligibility for admission into a Regents exam in science, laboratory experiences from the sending school may be included. These may include hands-on and virtual laboratory experiences.

An attestation letter from the sending district confirming the number of laboratory minutes the student successfully completed in the science course may be requested. In instances where the student has transferred from out-of-state, these minutes could be embedded in the course, and this can be an approximation as the school may not be tracking specific minutes as we do in New York State. Any laboratory minutes successfully completed out-of-state may be included in the determination of whether or not the student met the 1,200 minute laboratory requirement for admission into a Regents exam in science.

16. May a school administrator or teacher exempt a student from the laboratory requirement?

No. All students must complete the laboratory requirement. Additional information pertaining to the laboratory requirement can be referenced in question 10.

19. When will the New York State science assessments be aligned to the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards (2016)?​​

Elementary

The Elementary New York Science Test (Grade 5), aligned to the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards (2016), was first administered in Spring 2024. 

Intermediate

The Intermediate New York State Science Test (Grade 8), aligned to the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards (2016), was first administered in Spring 2024. 

High School (Commencement)

The Regents exams in Earth & Space Sciences and Biology, aligned to the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards, will first be administered in June 2025. The Regents exams in Chemistry and Physics, aligned to the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards (2016), will first be administered in June 2026. Additional information can be referenced in the Science Timeline.

Update January 2023: For science, there will be an overlap period of the current and new exams for four administrations. This will ensure that students can complete the exam that matches the instruction they received. For more information, see the Implementation Schedule for New Regents Examinations in Mathematics, Science, and English Language Arts Memo.

20. Can a student be admitted into a Regents examination in science if they did not pass the associated course?

Yes. There are two instances where a student could be admitted into a Regents examination in science without passing the course.

• A student completed a course of study that culminates in a Regents examination in science and has also met the 1,200-minute laboratory requirement. Regardless of if the course was successfully (or unsuccessfully) completed, the student is eligible for admission into the Regents examination in science.
• A superintendent (or chief administrative officer) determined the student would benefit from credit by examination. The student met the 1,200-minute laboratory requirement. 

Please refer to pages 3 and 4 of the 2019 Edition School Administrator's Manual: Regents Examinations for additional information related to admission requirements for Regents examinations. 

21. What is the contact information for questions related to the Investigations for the Elementary-, Intermediate-level Science Tests, and the High School Science Regents Examinations?

Questions relating to the Investigations may be directed to the Office of State Assessment at emscassessinfo@nysed.gov.