In addition to finding help at the Writing Center with your various courses and assignments, if English is not your first language, you can also get help with the multilingual version of the Regents’ Exam. You should come to the Writing Center in person to sign up for this special version of the exam; do not sign up for the Regents’ Exam on OASIS. In the Writing Center, you can also do practice tests and go over them with a tutor who is experienced in working with students who are native speakers of languages other than English.

If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity, then you must come to the Writing Center in person in order to register for the exam. We will assist you with the details, including submitting a waiver that will exempt you from the reading portion of the exam.

Below, you will find the information sheet that we give to non-native speakers when they register to take the multilingual version of the Regents' Exam.

You have signed up for a version of the Regents' Essay Exam designed here at the University of Georgia for students whose first language was not American English. The test only differs in a few ways from the test for native speakers the topics have been selected for relevance to those who might be new to American culture, and the length of the test is 2 hours instead of one. You can use your dictionary throughout the test period. You can write in legible pencil, and we will give you extra paper if needed. Your essay will be rated in the same way as the test for native speakers, but the raters will include only teachers experienced in teaching English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

You do not need to take the reading part of the Regents' Test. However, to get permission to not take the reading test you must contact Dr. David Payne at the time you sign up for the alternate exam (Sign up in Park Hall 66, seek Dr. Payne in Park Hall 260). You will not be able to waive the reading part of the test, and the reading course RGTR 0198, until you sign up for the alternate exam.

To prepare for the test you might want to take practice tests at the Writing Center (Room 66 Park Hall) and discuss them with an ESOL tutor. The Writing Center also has a handout of “Tips for the Regents Test” that gives useful suggestions. A preview lecture on "How to Take the Regents" will be given.  See workshops list for further information.

When you take the test, remember to write CLEARLY in either pen or pencil. Skip lines so you can go back and make corrections. We will give you extra paper for this purpose; you cannot use your own paper. It is OK to erase, cross out words, write between the lines, and draw arrows to show how you want to revise. You do not have to make a perfect copy at the end. Just make sure we can read your essay.

You MUST bring these things to the exam: 1) your UGA identification card; 2) this sign-up paper; 3) pens or pencils (don't forget a sharpener).

You CAN bring a watch, electronic spellers (no text memory allowed); dictionaries—native language/English dictionaries and plain English dictionaries are allowed.

You MUST NOT bring loose sheets of paper, notes of any kind, electronic devices that are not simple spellers
 
Your test date will be [DATE] in [location]. You may arrive no earlier than [time] and no later than [time].  The test will end at [time].

 Your test number is ________.