NY families, teachers blast bio Regents: ‘Nothing we learned’
The 2025 biology Regents exam has left students, parents, and teachers feeling frustrated and confused. The new format, which included elements of earth science and chemistry, caught many off guard as it deviated from the material they had studied and prepared for.
Students took to social media, particularly TikTok, to express their disbelief and frustration over the unexpected questions on the exam. Many questioned why topics such as erosion and sand dunes were included on a biology test, instead of focusing on core biological concepts like meiosis, mitosis, reproduction, and homeostasis.
Pictures of hand-drawn diagrams related to starches, proteins, and amino acids further added to the confusion, with some teachers even commenting that the questions seemed more aligned with chemistry than biology. The exam was criticized for being wordy and filled with writing prompts that resembled an English Language Arts test rather than a science exam.
The earth science portion of the exam also received backlash, with reports indicating that the questions did not align with the material that students had been taught. Jericho Assistant Superintendent Ivy Sherman highlighted the discrepancies at a school board meeting, stating that while students were well-prepared, the exam did not match the blueprint they were given.
The state responded to the criticism by stating that ample materials were provided for the new standards, but some schools may not have implemented them effectively. Parents and teachers have begun submitting their complaints about the new tests to the state in hopes of addressing the issues that arose during the exam.
Overall, the 2025 biology Regents exam has left many feeling frustrated and disappointed, with concerns raised about the lack of alignment between the exam content and the material that students had studied. It remains to be seen how the state will address these issues and ensure that future exams accurately reflect the curriculum taught in schools.
