🌍 New York Earth and Space Sciences Regents Exam Past Papers (2025-2026)
Access the complete collection of official New York State Earth and Space Sciences Regents examination past papers, scoring keys, rating guides, and conversion charts. Essential resources for students studying Earth's systems, geology, meteorology, astronomy, climate science, and environmental interactions.
📋 Exam Format: The Earth and Space Sciences Regents consists of 85 questions completed over 3 hours. The exam integrates Earth Science and Space Science concepts while emphasizing science and engineering practices. Part A includes multiple-choice questions covering all major topics. Part B contains constructed-response questions requiring data analysis, model interpretation, and evidence-based reasoning. Part C features questions assessing understanding of Earth and space systems, their interactions, and human impacts on these systems.
🆕 New Exam Format: The Earth and Space Sciences Regents exam was introduced in June 2025 as part of New York State's updated science assessment framework. This exam replaces the previous Physical Setting/Earth Science Regents exam and aligns with the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards. The format emphasizes systems thinking, cross-cutting concepts, and the integration of Earth and space sciences with environmental and human dimensions.
📚 Complete Past Papers Collection
Note: Large type version should be printed on 11x17 inch paper
🎉 First Administration of Earth and Space Sciences Regents
Note: Large type version should be printed on 11x17 inch paper
🎯 Key Content Areas in Earth and Space Sciences
Earth's Systems & Interactions
Throughout examGeosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere interactions. Energy and matter cycles between systems. Feedback mechanisms. Earth as a dynamic, interconnected system with complex relationships.
Earth's Structure & Plate Tectonics
15-20% of contentEarth's internal structure (core, mantle, crust), plate boundaries, seafloor spreading, continental drift, mountain building, earthquakes, volcanoes, hot spots, and evidence for plate tectonics theory.
Rocks, Minerals & Earth Materials
10-15% of contentRock cycle, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, mineral identification and properties, formation processes, weathering, erosion, deposition, and soil formation.
Earth's History & Geologic Time
10-15% of contentGeologic time scale, relative and absolute dating, radiometric dating, fossils and fossil record, index fossils, law of superposition, uniformitarianism, major events in Earth history.
Weather & Atmospheric Processes
15-20% of contentAtmospheric composition and structure, energy transfer, air pressure and winds, humidity and clouds, precipitation, air masses, fronts, weather systems, severe weather, weather maps and forecasting.
Climate & Climate Change
10-15% of contentClimate vs weather, climate zones and controls, ocean currents and climate, greenhouse effect, climate change evidence, human impacts on climate, paleoclimatology, and climate models.
Water & Hydrologic Cycle
10-15% of contentWater cycle processes, groundwater systems, surface water, watersheds, stream dynamics, glaciers, oceans and ocean circulation, water as a natural resource, and water quality issues.
Astronomy & Space Systems
15-20% of contentSolar system formation and structure, celestial motions, Earth-Moon-Sun relationships, seasons, tides, stars and stellar evolution, galaxies, universe structure and origin, space exploration.
Natural Resources & Energy
8-12% of contentRenewable and nonrenewable resources, fossil fuels, alternative energy sources, mineral resources, resource management, sustainability, and environmental impacts of resource extraction and use.
Natural Hazards & Human Impacts
10-15% of contentEarthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts, mass wasting, hazard prediction and mitigation, human activities and environmental change, land use impacts.
Earth Observation & Models
Throughout examMaps and mapping, topographic maps, remote sensing, satellite imagery, weather models, climate models, geologic models, scale and proportion, data visualization and interpretation.
Science & Engineering Practices
Throughout examDeveloping and using models, planning investigations, analyzing data, using mathematics, constructing explanations, engaging in argument from evidence, obtaining and communicating information.
📖 How to Use These Resources Effectively
Study Strategy for Earth and Space Sciences Regents
- Understand Systems Thinking: This exam emphasizes how Earth's systems interact. Study connections between atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere rather than viewing topics in isolation.
- Practice with Complete Exams: Work through full past papers under timed conditions (3 hours). This builds stamina and helps you understand the exam's scope and integration of topics.
- Master Data Analysis Skills: Practice interpreting graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, and data tables. Many questions require extracting information from various data representations and using evidence to support conclusions.
- Study Rating Guides Carefully: Rating guides show exactly what graders expect. Note key vocabulary, level of detail required, and how to structure complete answers that earn full credit.
- Use Models and Diagrams: Create your own models of Earth processes (rock cycle, water cycle, plate tectonics, etc.). Drawing and labeling diagrams reinforces understanding and helps with visualization questions.
- Connect to Current Events: Relate concepts to real-world phenomena like recent earthquakes, weather events, climate change impacts, and space discoveries. The exam emphasizes real-world applications.
- Review Cross-Cutting Concepts: Understand patterns, cause and effect, scale and proportion, systems and models, energy and matter, structure and function, and stability and change as they apply across topics.
- Practice Quantitative Reasoning: Be comfortable with calculations, unit conversions, scale, rates, and mathematical relationships. Practice using formulas and solving problems with real data.
💡 Pro Tip: Since the Earth and Space Sciences Regents is a new exam format (introduced June 2025), the available past papers are invaluable. Pay close attention to how questions integrate multiple concepts, how evidence-based reasoning is assessed, and how the exam emphasizes understanding Earth as an interconnected system. The rating guides are especially important for understanding the depth of explanation expected.
🔄 Key Differences from Previous Earth Science Exam
Integrated Systems Approach
Greater emphasis on understanding Earth as a system with interconnected components. Questions require analyzing interactions between atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere rather than isolated facts.
Space Science Integration
More comprehensive coverage of astronomy and space sciences, including solar system, stars, galaxies, and universe. Space content is integrated with Earth processes and comparative planetology.
Climate & Environmental Focus
Increased emphasis on climate science, climate change, human impacts on Earth systems, sustainability, and environmental decision-making based on scientific evidence.
Engineering & Design
Integration of engineering design concepts, including analyzing solutions to environmental problems, evaluating technologies, and understanding how science informs engineering decisions.