AP & Regents Exam Tutoring — NYC & Online
Private 1-on-1 preparation for all AP subjects and New York State Regents exams with Dr. Stuart Donnelly, Oxford Ph.D.
Personalized AP & Regents Tutoring from an Oxford Ph.D.
Whether you are a high school student preparing for Advanced Placement exams to earn college credit or a New York student who needs to pass the Regents exams to graduate, Dr. Stuart Donnelly provides the focused, one-on-one instruction that makes the difference.
With a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford and over 20 years of private tutoring experience, Dr. Donnelly has helped hundreds of students achieve top scores on AP exams in Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and many other subjects, as well as across the full range of NY Regents exams.
Sessions are available in person in New York City or online via Zoom, so you can receive expert preparation from anywhere.
Book Free ConsultationAP Exam Tutoring
AP courses and exams allow high school students to challenge themselves, explore their interests, and earn college credit. Dr. Donnelly provides expert preparation across the following AP subjects.
AP Sciences
AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, AP Chemistry, AP Biology
AP Mathematics
AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics
AP English
AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition
AP History & Social Sciences
AP U.S. History, AP World History, AP Government & Politics, AP Economics (Macro & Micro)
AP Languages
AP Spanish Language, AP French Language, and other language exams by arrangement
Additional AP Subjects
AP Computer Science, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, AP Art History, and more
Why AP scores matter: A high score on an AP exam can earn you college credit, advanced placement, or both at most U.S. colleges and universities. The College Board also offers AP Scholar Awards for outstanding performance, which colleges recognize during the admissions process.
NY Regents Exam Tutoring
The New York State Regents Exams are required tests in core high school subjects. Students must pass five Regents exams to receive a New York high school diploma, with Advanced and Honors designations available for higher-achieving students.
Math Regents
Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 — covering number sense, algebraic reasoning, geometric proofs, trigonometry, and statistical analysis.
Science Regents
Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics — lab-based exams that test both conceptual understanding and scientific inquiry skills.
English Language Arts Regents
Reading comprehension, text analysis, argumentative essay writing, and the ELA Common Core exam requirements.
Social Studies Regents
U.S. History & Government, Global History & Geography — document-based questions, thematic essays, and multiple-choice analysis.
Regents exams are held in January and June each year. Dr. Donnelly recommends beginning preparation at least 6 to 10 weeks before the exam date to allow time for thorough content review and targeted practice.
How Dr. Donnelly Prepares You to Succeed
Diagnostic Assessment
Every engagement begins with a thorough assessment to identify your strengths, weaknesses, and target score. This allows Dr. Donnelly to build a customized study plan focused on the areas that will yield the greatest improvement.
Targeted Instruction
Rather than generic review, each session targets the specific content areas and question types where you need the most help. Dr. Donnelly teaches proven strategies for every section of the AP or Regents exam you are preparing for.
Exam-Day Confidence
Through timed practice tests, detailed answer review, and test-taking strategy refinement, you will walk into your exam fully prepared and confident. Dr. Donnelly ensures there are no surprises on test day.
How Are Regents Exams Graded?
Understanding how Regents tests are graded is essential for setting realistic score targets and effective Regents prep. The New York Regents exam is a series of standardized tests administered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in public schools across the state. Here is a full explanation of the Regents grading system:
Raw Score to Scaled Score
Each Regents exam has a different total number of raw score points (typically 60–87 depending on the subject). Your raw score is converted to a scaled score from 0 to 100 using a conversion chart that the NYSED publishes after each exam administration. This means a raw score of 30 out of 60 does not necessarily equal a 50 — the conversion curve can work in your favor.
Passing Scores
The minimum passing score on a Regents test is a score of 65 or higher for a standard Regents diploma. Students aiming for an Advanced Regents Diploma need to pass additional Regents tests beyond the minimum. A score of 85 or above is considered mastery level. Raw scores are converted to scale scores using NYSED conversion charts.
Multiple-Choice vs. Constructed Response
Most Regents exams include both multiple-choice questions (scored by machine) and constructed-response questions (short answer, extended response, or essays) that are graded by trained teachers using NYSED-provided rubrics. The constructed-response portions are where tutoring with Dr. Donnelly makes the biggest difference — he teaches the specific frameworks and techniques that scorers are looking for.
When Are Regents Scores Released?
Regents exam scores are typically available within a few weeks of the exam date. Schools receive results from NYSED and share them with students. January, June, and August are the three Regents exam periods each year. If you don't achieve your target score, you can retake the exam at the next scheduled administration.
Whether you are wondering “what is a Regents test?” or need targeted Regents exam prep to boost your score, Dr. Donnelly provides the expert guidance that makes the difference.
Regents Exam Passing Scores & Diploma Requirements
Understanding the Regents grading scale and diploma requirements helps you set the right targets for each exam.
Regents Diploma
Requires passing 5 Regents exams with a score of 65 or higher: English Language Arts, one math (Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra 2), one science (Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, or Physics), U.S. History & Government, and Global History & Geography.
Advanced Regents Diploma
Requires passing 9 Regents exams with a 65 or higher, including all three math exams (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2), all three science exams (Living Environment plus two of Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics), and a world language proficiency exam or equivalent.
Regents Exams by Subject — What to Expect
Each NY Regents exam has a different format, number of questions, and grading structure. Here is what you need to know.
Regents Algebra 1
37 questions across multiple choice, short response, and extended response. Tests linear equations, functions, statistics, and probability. Raw score converts to a scaled score out of 100. One of the most commonly failed Regents exams.
Regents Living Environment
Covers biology topics including cell biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, and human body systems. Includes a lab performance component that students must complete before sitting for the written exam.
Regents ELA
Tests reading comprehension, text analysis, and argumentative writing. Includes multiple passages and a written essay. The constructed-response portions are graded on rubrics that reward clear thesis statements and text-based evidence.
Regents Chemistry
Covers atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, organic chemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Includes both multiple choice and constructed response. Requires use of the provided Reference Tables throughout the exam.
Regents U.S. History
Covers American history from the colonial period through the present. Includes multiple choice, short-answer constructed responses, and a civic literacy essay. Document analysis skills are heavily tested.
Regents Physics
Covers mechanics, electricity, magnetism, waves, and modern physics. Requires strong math skills for calculations. Includes use of the Physics Reference Tables. One of the more challenging Regents exams for most students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Donnelly provides private tutoring for AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Statistics, AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP U.S. History, AP World History, AP Government & Politics, and additional AP subjects by arrangement.
Dr. Donnelly offers private tutoring for all core Regents exams, including Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, English Language Arts, U.S. History & Government, and Global History & Geography.
Yes. Dr. Donnelly offers AP and Regents tutoring both in-person in New York City and online via Zoom. Online sessions are available year-round to students anywhere in the United States.
New York State requires students to pass five Regents exams to earn a standard high school diploma: one in English Language Arts, one in a math subject, one in a science subject, one in U.S. History & Government, and one in Global History & Geography. Advanced and Honors designations are available for students who exceed the minimum requirements.
For AP exams, starting at least 8 to 12 weeks before the test date allows sufficient time to build skills and complete practice exams. For Regents, 6 to 10 weeks of focused preparation is typically effective. However, the earlier you start, the more thorough and relaxed your preparation can be.
Regents exams are graded using a two-step process. First, your raw score is calculated by adding up the points from multiple-choice questions (machine-scored) and constructed-response questions (graded by teachers using NYSED rubrics). Then, your raw score is converted to a scaled score from 0 to 100 using a conversion chart published by the New York State Education Department after each exam. A scaled score of 65 or higher is passing. The conversion curve varies by exam and administration, so a raw score of 50% does not always equal a scaled score of 50.
You need a scaled score of 65 or higher to pass a Regents exam and earn credit toward a Regents diploma. A score of 85 or above is considered mastery level. Students with IEPs may qualify for a Local Diploma with scaled scores of 55 to 64 on up to two Regents exams, under certain conditions set by NYSED.
Regents exams are administered three times per year: January, June, and August. The June administration has the most subjects available. Scores are typically released within 2 to 3 weeks after the exam. Your school will notify you of your results, and scores appear on your official transcript.
Yes. There is no limit to how many times you can retake a Regents exam. You can sit for the same exam at the next scheduled administration (January, June, or August). Your highest score is the one that counts for graduation. Many students improve significantly on a retake with targeted tutoring from Dr. Donnelly.