The Regents’ Test

The Regents’ Test is an examination to assess the competency level in writing and reading of all degree-seeking students enrolled in undergraduate programs in institutions in the University System of Georgia. Satisfactory completion of the Regents’ Test is required of all degree-seeking students before they can be certified for graduation from Macon State College.

Effective Spring 2009, all entering students and all returning Macon State College students who are not enrolled in English 99 and/or Reading 99, who have not earned forty-five or more hours of academic credit, who are not already enrolled in Regents’ skills courses, and who have not already satisfied the Regents’ Test requirement will have three semesters to pass the reading and writing portions of the Regents’ Test. Spring 2009 will count as the first semester for those who are currently enrolled, meaning that the Regents’ Test must be passed before these students complete two additional semesters. For former students who are re-admitted to the College after Spring 2009, the three-semester count will begin in the semester they next attend Macon State College.

Those students who do not pass both portions of the Regents’ Test by the end of their third semester of enrollment will be required to enroll in RGTR 198 (Regents' Reading Skills) and/or RGTE 199 (Regents' Writing Skills) each semester of enrollment until they have passed both parts of the Regents’ Test. RGTR 198 and/or RGTE 199 “holds” will be placed on their registrations to require them to see their advisors to register for courses. The “holds” can be bypassed by advisors on condition that students register for appropriate skills courses. Students will not be permitted to take the reading skills course one semester and the writing skills course another semester unless they are enrolled in only one degree credit course in the term they take one skills course. The RGTR 198 and/or RGTE 199 “holds” will not be removed from student registrations until both parts of the Regents’ Test have been passed. Once a portion of the Regents’ Test is passed, it need not be retaken.

Macon State College students who earned forty-five semester hours without passing the Regents’ Test or who failed either portion of the Regents’ Test two or more times prior to Spring 2009 are required to enroll in RGTR 198 (Reading) and/or RGTE 199 (Writing) each semester until they have passed both parts. These students will have RGTR 198 and/or RGTE 199 “holds” on their registration to require them to see their advisors to register for courses. The RGTR 198 and/or RGTE 199 “holds” can be bypassed by advisors on condition that students sign up for appropriate skills courses. The RGTR 198 and/or RGTE 199 “holds” will not be removed from student registrations until both parts of the Regents’ Test have been passed.

If students have a “Regents’ Test Hold” on their registration, the “hold” will automatically be removed after the students sign up online for the next administration of the Regents’ Test. Students may register for the Regents’ Test online at www.maconstate.edu/atc/regents/signup/ Students will need access to their Macon State College e-mail accounts to register for the Regents’ Test.

Regents’ Test Exceptions

Students with SAT-I Verbal scores of at least 510 or ACT Reading scores of at least 23 will be considered to have fulfilled the reading comprehension requirement of the Regents’ Test and do not need to take the reading portion of the Regents’ Test. Scores must be from a national administration of the SAT or ACT. Scores from institutional SAT or residual ACT tests will not be acceptable for this purpose.

Students with College Board Advanced Placement (AP) English scores of at least 3, International Baccalaureate (IB) higher-level English scores of at least 4, SAT II English Writing scores of at least 650, SAT Reasoning Test, Writing Section score of at least 560, or students who have an SAT Reasoning Test, Writing Section score of at least 500 and a score of at least 510 on the SAT Reasoning Test, Critical Reading Section will be considered as having fulfilled the essay requirement of the Regents’ Test and do not need to take the essay portion of the Regents’ Test. There is no implication that these students should be given any course credit or exemption from English courses.

Non-Native English Speakers

Students whose native language is other than English may petition the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs for permission to demonstrate their literacy competence in an alternative manner. Students in this category should supply necessary documentation (birth certificates, medical records, naturalization papers, or professional evaluation) to support their petitions.

Students with Disabilities

Students with documented disabilities must register for Regents’ Test accommodations through Disability Support Services. Information about accommodations is available at (478) 471-2985.

Regents’ Test Essay Review

If students fail the essay portion of the Regents’ Test, they may request a formal review of the essay portion of the Regents’ Test only if their essays received at least one passing score among the three scores awarded and if the students have successfully completed English 1101. The review will be conducted in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Regents and may be initiated by contacting the Chair of the Division of Learning Support no later than the tenth day of the student’s first semester of enrollment after the semester in which the essay received a failing score.

Registering for the Regents’ Test

Students must register online for the Regents’ Test. Advisors may assist students with test registration, but the online registration tool on the web is the only way students may sign up for a test date. Students must be enrolled during the semester in which they take the Regents’ Test. Students may register for the Regents’ Test at www.maconstate.edu/atc/regents/signup