| The Biology Regents Exam, officially known as | | | | see you spend at least 30 minutes every |
| the Living Environment Regents Exam, is one of | | | | weekday evening on this class." I prefer goals |
| four science regents available to New York State | | | | that relate to effort rather than results because a |
| students who are pursuing a regents diploma. The | | | | student who is used to failure may feel that good |
| test itself consists of a multiple choice portion and | | | | results are impossible to achieve, and therefore |
| a free-response portion. Although there isn't a lab | | | | not try. |
| component, students must have completed at | | | | If the root of the problem is academic, then it is |
| least 20 hours of lab work to be eligible to sit for | | | | important to get appropriate help for the student. |
| the exam. | | | | For example, if your child is having trouble in |
| Students normally take the Biology Regents after | | | | biology class because of a low reading level, you |
| one year of high school biology. Not surprisingly, | | | | might want to look into after-school tutoring. |
| the test covers the topics one would expect to | | | | Ideally, that tutoring should address literacy and |
| find in an introductory, survey course in biology. | | | | biology together. In New York City, public schools |
| Cell structure, genetics, evolution, ecology, and | | | | should have at least some help available after |
| classification all make an appearance. Experimental | | | | school. Private tutoring can also be very helpful. |
| design and data analysis are also important parts | | | | Sometimes, the problem is not with the child, it is |
| of the exam. | | | | with the class. Perhaps the teacher is not very |
| Merely passing the biology regents requires a | | | | competent or other students are so troubled that |
| grade of 65 and isn't very difficult. In fact, it can | | | | even the best teacher would be hard-pressed to |
| be done with shockingly little actual knowledge of | | | | do much more than classroom management. In |
| biology because a significant portion of the test | | | | either case, it is a sad situation, but a motivated |
| consists of reading comprehension questions and | | | | student with reasonable skills could still look after |
| questions that test students' ability to create and | | | | his or her own interests and do well on the |
| understand graphs and charts. However, because | | | | regents (and maybe even learn some biology). |
| of the comprehensive nature of the exam, doing | | | | If a class is useless, I recommend either a course |
| very well does indicate that a student has | | | | of self-directed study, or study overseen by a |
| attained a meaningful level of proficiency. | | | | tutor. As an aside, let me say that it is my opinion |
| If a student fails the Biology Regents (or appears | | | | that self-directed study is sometimes needlessly |
| to be in danger of failure), there is usually an | | | | dismissed. It is not always realistic, but it can |
| underlying problem that needs to be addressed, | | | | work- I know this from personal experience. As |
| above and beyond that student's knowledge of | | | | an eighth grader, I recognized that my teacher |
| biology. Study habits, English language proficiency, | | | | was not competent and took charge of preparing |
| basic literacy, learning disabilities, and commitment | | | | myself for the Earth Science Regents. I passed |
| to school are possible problems to be considered. | | | | with a score in the high 80s (with no adult help). |
| Possibly, the teacher's performance should be | | | | For students who wish to study on their own, I |
| looked into, as well. | | | | recommend they start by first reading the |
| One often-cited reason for not passing the biology | | | | textbook and answering the study questions |
| regents is that the student was not allowed to | | | | included in it. Next, if they can talk about what |
| take the test because he or she lacked sufficient | | | | they are learning with their parents, that would be |
| lab hours. Unless the student was seriously ill | | | | very helpful. Finding relevant documentaries to |
| during the school year, this almost certainly | | | | watch and perhaps popular science books to read |
| indicates a chronic problem with cutting class. If | | | | is also a nice supplement. In the month or two |
| you are a parent and your child tells you that he | | | | leading up to the exam, studying old regents |
| or she wasn't allowed to take the Biology | | | | exams is a very good idea. |
| Regents, you should look into the situation very | | | | Of course, this type of self-study is appropriate |
| carefully. | | | | only for highly motivated students who are |
| If your child is struggling in his or her biology class, | | | | starting out with very solid academic skills. For |
| it is important to find and address the cause | | | | other students, private tutoring can make all the |
| sooner, rather than later. Parents should start by | | | | difference. If you are seeking a tutor for this |
| talking to their child about the class. Talking with | | | | exam, you should look for someone with |
| the teacher, either in person or by phone, is | | | | excellent references and a strong background in |
| usually the best second step. If the problem has | | | | biology. After one or two lessons, your child |
| behavioral roots (i.e., not paying attention in class, | | | | should feel like he or she is really starting to learn |
| cutting class, or not doing homework) there is a | | | | a lot. |
| lot that parents can do to help. Asking your child | | | | When studying for the Biology Regents Exam, it |
| about the class every day, looking at his or her | | | | is important to remember that passing the test |
| notebook and homework regularly, and staying in | | | | (while important) is not the main point. The main |
| touch with the teacher are all useful. Setting clear | | | | point should be to acquire a basic knowledge of |
| goals and consequences is also a good idea. An | | | | life science, and the test provides a framework |
| example would be something like, "If you want to | | | | for people working towards this goal. |
| go out with your friends on Saturday, I need to | | | | |