English (ELA) Regents: How to Ace All Three Parts
The English Language Arts Regents is built from three distinct parts, and each one rewards a specific approach. Once you understand what each section is really testing, the exam becomes far more predictable. Here's how to tackle all three.
Part 1: Reading comprehension
You'll read several passages and answer multiple-choice questions. The key is evidence: the right answer is always supported by the text, not by outside opinion. Practice eliminating choices that sound plausible but aren't backed by the passage. Manage your time so you're not rushing the later passages.
Part 2: The argument essay
You'll read several sources on an issue and write an argument taking a clear position. Plan before you write: pick your claim, then choose the strongest evidence from multiple sources to support it. A clear thesis in your first paragraph and specific, cited evidence are exactly what the rubric rewards.
Part 3: The text-analysis response
Here you analyze how an author uses a specific writing strategy (a central idea and a literary or rhetorical device) in one text. Name the technique, explain how the author uses it, and connect it to meaning with specific evidence. Keep it focused — this is a tight, analytical paragraph, not a full essay.
Manage your time across all three
The biggest avoidable mistake is spending so long on one part that another goes unfinished. Practice the whole exam under the real time limit so you learn your pace and finish every section. A complete, organized response always beats a brilliant unfinished one.
Regentify's English ELA practice includes authentic past exams with all three parts, so you can rehearse each section's strategy until it's second nature. Free for every NY student.