Regents Earth and Space Sciences: the course and the exam

One three-hour test of 45 to 55 one-credit questions, grouped into 9 to 11 clusters that each follow a phenomenon. Six topics, each with a set share of the test.

Weeks before your Earth and Space Sciences exam

Hours a week for Earth and Space Sciences

Topic 1: Space Systems

Topic 2: History of Earth

Topic 3: Earth's Systems

Topic 4: Weather and Climate

Topic 5: Human Sustainability

Topic 6: Engineering, Technology, and the Applications of Science

26 weeks, 104 hours in all

Start with Topic 1

Space Systems: 24 of your hours. It is 6 of the 24 questions on our timed checks, 25%.

Hours per topic
Topic	Your hours	Share of the checks
Topic 1: Space Systems	24	25%
Topic 3: Earth's Systems	24	25%
Topic 5: Human Sustainability	20	21%
Topic 2: History of Earth	12	13%
Topic 4: Weather and Climate	12	13%
Topic 6: Engineering, Technology, and the Applications of Science	4	4%

Week by week

Week 1Topic 1: Space Systems
Week 2Topic 1: Space Systems
Week 3Topic 1: Space Systems
Week 4Topic 1: Space Systems
Week 5Topic 1: Space Systems
Week 6Topic 1: Space Systems
Week 7Topic 3: Earth's Systems
Week 8Topic 3: Earth's Systems
Week 9Topic 3: Earth's Systems
Week 10Topic 3: Earth's Systems
Week 11Topic 3: Earth's Systems
Week 12Topic 3: Earth's Systems
Week 13Topic 5: Human Sustainability
Week 14Topic 5: Human Sustainability
Week 15Topic 5: Human Sustainability
Week 16Topic 5: Human Sustainability
Week 17Topic 5: Human Sustainability
Week 18Topic 2: History of Earth
Week 19Topic 2: History of Earth
Week 20Topic 2: History of Earth
Week 21Topic 4: Weather and Climate
Week 22Topic 4: Weather and Climate
Week 23Topic 4: Weather and Climate
Week 24Topic 6: Engineering, Technology, and the Applications of Science
Week 25A timed check and a set of question clusters, then review every lost credit
Week 26A timed check and a set of question clusters, then review every lost credit

Check your topics with the free test

The test	One written test, three hours
Questions	45 to 55, in 9 to 11 clusters
Question types	About 60% multiple choice, 40% constructed response, 1 credit each
Tools	A four-function or scientific calculator and the 2026 Reference Tables

The six topics and their share of the test

Space Systems: 20 to 31%.
History of Earth: 11 to 20%.
Earth's Systems: 20 to 31%.

Question clusters

Every question sits in a cluster built around one phenomenon. A cluster opens with an introduction that says how many questions it has, then gives several stimuli: reading passages, data tables, graphs, diagrams or photos, often from real data. Its questions mix multiple choice and constructed response, and each answer adds to an explanation, a model or a design.

Calculator and reference tables

Every student has a four-function or scientific calculator for the whole exam; graphing calculators are not allowed. Each student also gets a clean copy of the Reference Tables for Earth & Space Sciences (2026 Revised Edition): data, maps, charts and models you are expected to find and use rather than memorize.

Try 2 questions

Question 1

A comet's closest distance to the Sun is 0.6 AU and its period is 76 years. Its mean distance a (in AU) is halfway between its closest and farthest distances, and Kepler's third law gives T² = a³ (T in years). Use the reference tables (1 AU = 149.6 million km). How far from the Sun is the comet at its farthest, and where is that point?

Question 2

Binghamton station readings
Time	Temperature (degrees F)	Dew point (degrees F)	Pressure (mb)	Wind from
8 a.m.	62	58	1006.4	S
11 a.m.	66	60	1004.1	SW
2 p.m.	68	62	1002	SW
5 p.m.	55	41	1005.8	NW
8 p.m.	50	35	1009.3	NW

A weather station in Binghamton records the data in the table one day. Which statement best describes the front that passed the station?

Next step

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Questions people ask

How many credits is each question worth?

One. Multiple-choice and constructed-response questions are each worth 1 credit.

Can I use a calculator?

Yes: every student must have a four-function or scientific calculator. Graphing calculators are not allowed.

What standards does the exam test?

The New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards. Every question draws on science and engineering practices, core ideas and crosscutting concepts together.