Letter: Raising Regents exam scores a 'farce'

The farce of the meaning of Regents scores continues as Board of Regents Chairwoman Meryl Tisch calls for raising the college readiness scores on English and algebra exams to 75 percent and 80 percent, respectively. To be considered college-ready now, a student must earn a 65 ["Regents: Raise bar on exams," News, Dec. 12].

Currently, a 65 on the English Regents means a student got 31 out of a possible 87 points, and the 65 on algebra is the same.

Raising the grade to 75 percent or 80 percent will mean the student scored 44 or 56 points out of the 87 -- still way below what anyone should possibly consider proficient.

In the past, when the exams got more difficult, the state just lowered the number correct to pass. In addition, teachers go over exams giving points for some of the most ridiculous answers to get students over the hump, so these grades of 75 or 80 will still be meaningless. The system is broken. Just requiring a new number won't fix it.

Linda Silverman, Bellerose Manor

Editor's note: The writer is a former math teacher, retired from Francis Lewis High School in Queens.