All New York State high school students with Individualized Education Plans can get a diploma by passing six Regents Competency Tests, or RCTs. They’re essentially simplified versions of New York State Regents exams, which general education students must pass to graduate.
There once was a time when all students could get a diploma by passing the RCTs, but rising standards in the wake of No Child Left Behind have increasingly made them obsolete – except for students with special needs.
In all, students must pass six RCTs – reading, writing, math, science, global studies, U.S. history and government.
While there is no shortage of Regents prep materials, RCT review resources are a little harder to come by. And since the state recycles questions from year to year, it currently restricts four of the exams – math, science, global studies, and U.S. history and government – meaning schools have to seal and return all test booklets. Making copies is strictly forbidden.
With no legitimate means by which to get practice tests, special educators across New York often find themselves scrambling for materials to prepare students for the exams.
The following is a list of where useful prep material can be found on all four restricted RCT exams:
Science RCT Resources
- The Home Instruction Schools website offers six sample intermediate science exams (with answer keys) that closely mirror the format and question style of the New York State RCTs. And it’s completely free!
- Competency in Science [N&N Publishing Co., 1995] by Hebert G. Koenig. This compact text offers a comprehensive overview of every topic covered in the science RCT, along with review questions at the end of the chapter.
Math RCT Resources
- Achieving Proficiency in Mathematics [Amsco, 1994] by Matthew Mandrey and Marvin Schneider. This workbook offers lessons on all topics included in the Math RCT and then some, with lots of review questions and word problems.
- National Competency Mathematics [Westsea, 1994] by John Allasio. This text too covers all the topics on the tests, though its sample lessons are shorter than the above book. This is a great worksheet resource, as it offers dozens of questions on each topic that can easily be photo copied for a class.
- Regents Competency Test in Mathematics [National Learning Corp., 2004] by Jack Rudman. This is a workbook is essentially a collection of sample exams for the teacher just looking for practice material.
Global RCT Resources
- Regents Competency Test in Global Studies [National Learning Corp., 2004] by Jack Rudman. Like the one in mathematics, this one offers sample exams for global studies.
- A Brief Review for Global History and Geography [Pearson Prentice Hall, 2002] by Steven Goldberg and Judith Clark Dupre. While this is really a Regents-level review book, it still is a great resource for a teacher looking to go over individual topics and concepts covered in the RCT.
U.S. History and Government RCT Resources
- Regents Competency Test in U.S. History and Government [National Learning Corp., 2004] by Jack Rudman. Another trove of sample exams, this time covering American history.
- A Brief Review in U.S. History and Government [Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007] by Bonnie-Anne Briggs. Offering a comprehensive review of all topics covered on the RCT, this text is simple for students to understand.
There are lots of resources available for special education teachers dedicated to helping their high schoolers pass the New York State RCTs, even though it might not seem like it. The above books can be found through most online bookstores.
Nicholas Buglione - Nick Buglione has taught special education at a high school in Queens, New York for the past four years. Prior to becoming a teacher, he ...
