The US History and Government Regents was administered on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 as a morning exam. The scoring key and rating guide posted at approximately 11:00 AM on June 23. Unlike other Regents exams, the US History Regents uses a 2D conversion chart — your final scaled score is determined by the intersection of your combined Parts I, II, and IIIA raw score (0–44) and your essay score (0–5). A scaled score of 65 or higher is passing.
If you took the US History and Government Regents on June 23 or are a teacher scoring papers, here is a complete guide to the scoring materials and how to calculate the final scaled score.
Exam and Scoring Key Details
The June 2026 US History and Government Regents was a morning examination.
Students needed to be admitted by 10:00 AM. The scoring key posted at approximately 11:00 AM the same day.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Date | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 |
| Session | Morning |
| Student Admission Deadline | 10:00 AM |
| Scoring Key Posted | Approximately 11:00 AM, June 23 |
| Chart Type | 2D Conversion Chart |
| Passing Scaled Score | 65 or higher |
| Mastery Scaled Score | 85 or higher |
Exam Structure — What Was Tested
The US History and Government Regents has three scored components.
Part I and Part II are the multiple-choice and constructed-response sections combined into one raw score for the conversion chart.
And Part IIIA contains short-answer scaffold questions. Part IIIB is the Civic Literacy Essay, scored separately on a 0 to 5 scale.
| Part | Content | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | Multiple Choice Questions | Combined with Part II and IIIA |
| Part II | Short Essay Questions (SEQ) | Combined raw score: 44 pts max |
| Part IIIA | Short-Answer Scaffold Questions | Included in 44 pt combined score |
| Part IIIB | Civic Literacy Essay | 0 to 5 points (half-points allowed) |
What Makes This Exam Different — The 2D Chart
Most Regents exams use a simple one-dimensional chart. You find your raw score and read the scaled score.
The US History Regents is different. It uses a two-dimensional conversion chart.
Your final scaled score depends on two separate inputs — your combined Parts I, II, and IIIA raw score AND your essay score.
This matters because a strong essay can partially offset weaker performance on the multiple-choice sections, and vice versa.
How to Use the Conversion Chart
Using the 2D chart requires two numbers.
The first is the student’s combined raw score from Parts I, II, and IIIA. This number ranges from 0 to 44.
The second is the student’s essay score from Part IIIB. This ranges from 0 to 5 in half-point increments — so scores like 3.5 or 4.5 are valid.
Find the combined raw score along the left side of the chart. Then find the essay score along the top. The cell where these two values intersect is the student’s final scaled score.
For example: a student with a combined raw score of 32 and an essay score of 4 would look across row 32 and down column 4 to find the scaled score at that intersection.
Always use the June 2026 specific chart. It is crucial that, for each administration, only the conversion chart provided for that specific administration be used to determine the final score.
Approximate Raw Scores Needed to Pass
The exact curve is set after each administration.
Based on established equating formulas from recent Framework administrations, here are approximate benchmarks:
| Goal | Approximate Combined Raw Score Needed | Essay Score Assumed |
|---|---|---|
| Passing (scaled 65) | ~38–43 out of 44 | Varies — higher essay helps |
| Mastery (scaled 85) | Strong performance needed on both sections | 4 or 5 essay score recommended |
These are estimates only. The official June 2026 chart is the only accurate reference once posted.
One key insight: a student with a lower MCQ raw score can still pass if their essay score is high. The 2D structure intentionally rewards strong writers.
Performance Levels
| Scaled Score | Performance Level | Diploma Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 85–100 | Mastery (Level 5) | Yes — with Mastery designation |
| 75–84 | Advanced (Level 4) | Yes |
| 65–74 | Proficient (Level 3) | Yes — minimum passing |
| 55–64 | Basic (Level 2) | No |
| 0–54 | Below Standard (Level 1) | No |
The US History and Government Regents is a required exam for both the standard Regents Diploma and the Advanced Regents Diploma in New York State.
Scoring Rules for Teachers
The essay and constructed-response sections of the US History Regents require a specific scoring setup.
At least two subject-specific teachers must rate answer papers for United States History and Government. No teacher may score their own students’ papers.
The essay is scored using the Civic Literacy Essay rubric included in the Rating Guide. Essay scores use half-point increments from 0 to 5.
The Rating Guide also includes a Model Response Set. This provides examples of how less common student responses should be scored and should be used alongside the rubric during scorer training.
During the rating period, the NYSED scoring information page should be checked regularly for any clarifications posted for this exam.
Where to Find the Scoring Materials
The scoring key and rating guide for June 2026 are posted at:
nysed.gov/state-assessment/june-2026-regents-examination-scoring-information
Past exam papers, scoring keys, and conversion charts are archived at:
nysedregents.org/us-history-govt/home.html
All files are password-protected PDFs. You must use Adobe Acrobat X or higher to open the secure PDFs. Earlier versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader or Professional will not open the files even with the correct password.
Next Opportunity — August 2026
Students who did not pass the June 2026 US History Regents can retake in August.
The August 2026 Regents administration runs August 18 and 19, 2026.
Only the highest score counts toward diploma requirements. Retaking does not erase a previous passing score.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the US History Regents scoring key posted in June 2026?
The scoring key posted at approximately 11:00 AM on June 23, 2026 — the morning of the exam, after the testing session ended. Posting times for morning examinations are approximately 11:00 AM.
How does the 2D conversion chart work for US History Regents?
Find the student’s total essay score along the top of the chart and the total Parts I, II, and IIIA score down the side. Where they intersect is the student’s final examination score.
What is the passing score for the US History Regents?
A scaled score of 65 or higher is the minimum passing score. A scaled score of 65 fulfills the graduation credit requirement for a local or Regents diploma in New York State.
What is the maximum raw score on the US History Regents?
The combined raw score for Parts I, II, and IIIA has a maximum of 44 points. The essay in Part IIIB adds up to 5 additional points in half-point increments. These two values together determine the scaled score via the 2D chart.
Can a strong essay compensate for a weaker MCQ score?
Yes. The 2D chart combines your Parts I, II, and IIIA score with your essay score to determine the final scaled score. A higher essay score moves your result to a higher column on the chart, which can increase your scaled score even with the same raw score.
How many teachers need to score the US History Regents essays?
At least two subject-specific teachers must rate answer papers for United States History and Government. No teacher may score their own students’ papers. The Civic Literacy Essay is scored using the rubric and Model Response Set included in the Rating Guide.
When is the next US History Regents after June 2026?
The next administration is August 18–19, 2026. After that, the January 2027 window opens. Contact your school’s testing coordinator to confirm eligibility and registration for the August session.
Bottom Line
The US History Regents scoring key for June 23, 2026 posted at 11:00 AM on exam day.
This exam uses a 2D conversion chart — not a simple raw-to-scaled lookup. You need both the combined Parts I, II, and IIIA raw score and the essay score to find the final scaled score.
Use only the June 2026 chart. Previous administration charts will produce incorrect scores.
Official Resources:
- June 2026 Scoring Information: nysed.gov — June 2026 Scoring
- US History Regents Archive: nysedregents.org — US History
Last Updated: June 23, 2026.
Meet Deepkant Shrivastava, he has been writing content since 2020. Over the years he has worked across more than ten websites — mostly covering job updates, career guidance, and government schemes — which gave him a solid grip on how to break down complicated topics for everyday readers.
At NextExamNews, he writes guides, exam updates, and result-related articles covering major about various exams. He tries to keep every article easy to read and straight to the point.
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