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The global history Regents exam. It is, by all accounts, the hardest of the end-of-course exams, known as the Regents, that New York high-schoolers have to pass to graduate. It tests cumulative content from ninth and 10th grade. Tayshaun Williams is in 11th grade, in Binghamton, NY, and he's failed it twice.
To make sure he doesn't fail it a third time, Williams studies with not one but two different tutoring programs — one during school and one after-hours.
"I go to school, then twilight, then go straight to work," he says. "Every day. It's a lot."
During so-called "twilight school," Williams studies old Regents tests and works on a strategy for his next attempt, in June.
"You get in, and you have, I think, two or three hours to take it," he says. "And your mind ... you're sweating. And you're really stressed out."
It hasn't always been this way in New York. Students who failed a few Regents exams used to be able to get an alternative diploma. But, since 2001, the state has been raising the bar. The number of tests students needed to pass to earn the alternative diploma climbed steadily for several years. Then, in 2012, the state eliminated the option altogether, except for students with disabilities.
Despite those rising expectations, New York's graduation rate held steady at 77 percent between 2010 and 2013.
If Williams finally passes the global history Regents exam in June?
"I would be so happy I might cry," he says. "No lie."
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