Global History & Geography II Regents Score Calculator

January 2026 2D Conversion Chart

Find your Parts I+II score on the left, Essay score on top, and the intersection is your final scaled score.

Tips to Maximize Your Score

Strategic advice to help you pass and earn mastery on the Global History Regents.

2026 Global History & Geography II Exam Format & Scoring

The Global History & Geography II Regents is administered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and covers world history from approximately 1750 to the present day. It is one of the five required Regents exams for graduation and is unique among Regents exams because it uses a 2D conversion chart — your final scaled score depends on the combination of your Parts I+II raw score AND your Enduring Issues Essay score. This means a strong essay can significantly offset a weaker MCQ performance, and vice versa.

The exam is a stimulus-based assessment — every MCQ and CRQ question is tied to a document, image, map, chart, or primary source. You are not expected to memorise dates, but you must be able to analyse sources, identify historical context, and connect events to larger themes and enduring issues.

How the 2D Conversion Chart Works

Unlike math and ELA Regents (which use a simple raw-to-scale conversion), the Global History exam uses a two-dimensional grid. One axis shows your Parts I+II combined raw score (0–35), and the other axis shows your Essay score (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, ... 5). The intersection gives your scaled score. This means the same Parts I+II score can yield different scaled scores depending on your essay quality.

Performance Levels & What They Mean

• Level 1 (0–54): Below Standard — significant gaps in historical knowledge and analytical skills.
• Level 2 (55–64): Approaching Standard — some understanding but struggles with document analysis and essay writing.
• Level 3 (65–84): Meets Standard — passing score. Demonstrates solid understanding of world history themes.
• Level 4 (85–89): Meets Standard with Distinction — strong analytical and writing skills.
• Level 5 (90–100): Exceeds Standard — exceptional mastery. Qualifies for Mastery endorsement on diploma.

Detailed Scoring Breakdown by Part

Part I: Stimulus-Based Multiple Choice (28 points)

Part I contains 28 stimulus-based multiple-choice questions worth 1 point each. Every question is tied to a document — a primary source, map, political cartoon, chart, graph, photograph, or excerpt. You must analyse the stimulus to answer correctly. There is no penalty for guessing. Questions test your ability to identify historical context, determine causation, recognise turning points, evaluate point of view, and compare events across regions and time periods.

Strategy: Read the stimulus BEFORE reading the answer choices. Identify: Who created it? When? What's the main message? Then read the question and all four choices carefully. Many wrong answers are historically accurate but don't match the specific stimulus. Use the process of elimination — if two answers seem correct, look for the one that is MOST directly supported by the document.

Part II: Constructed Response Questions — CRQ (7 points)

Part II has 2 CRQ sets, each based on a pair of documents. Each set contains 3–4 short-answer questions worth a total of 7 points. CRQ questions ask you to: identify the historical context of a document, explain the purpose or point of view, analyse cause and effect relationships, compare and contrast two documents, and explain the significance of events.

Use the HIPP Framework:

• Historical Context — What was happening at the time? What events led to this?
• Intended Audience — Who was this document created for?
• Purpose — Why was this document created? What was the goal?
• Point of View — What perspective or bias does the author have?

Strategy: Answer the SPECIFIC question asked — don't write a general paragraph about the topic. Use evidence from the document in your answer. Keep responses concise (2–4 sentences). For "explain the historical context" questions, describe events happening BEFORE or DURING the time of the document, not after.

Part III: Enduring Issues Essay (0–5 points)

Part III requires you to write an essay identifying an enduring issue — a challenge or problem that has persisted across time and places — from 5 provided documents. You must: (1) identify the enduring issue, (2) argue why it is significant, (3) use evidence from at least 3 of the 5 documents, (4) include relevant outside knowledge, and (5) explain how the issue has affected people or been affected by people. The essay is scored 0–5, with half-point increments possible.

The 5-Point Rubric:

• 5: Thoroughly develops argument. Uses 3+ documents with detailed analysis. Strong outside knowledge. Explains significance across multiple time periods.
• 4: Effectively develops argument. Uses 3+ documents. Some outside knowledge. Explains significance with clear connections.
• 3: Develops argument with some unevenness. Uses documents but analysis is limited. Minimal outside knowledge.
• 2: Partially develops argument. Uses 1–2 documents. Little or no outside knowledge. Weak analysis.
• 1: Minimal attempt. Mentions an issue but fails to develop argument. Little or no document use.

Strategy: Choose a BROAD enduring issue that you can connect to multiple documents and time periods. "Conflict" and "Human Rights Violations" are the most versatile options. Use the T-E-A structure for each body paragraph: Topic sentence → Evidence (from document + outside knowledge) → Analysis (why is this significant?). Always include at least 1 piece of outside knowledge per body paragraph.

What You Need for the Global History Regents Exam

Key Exam Rules

• No calculator allowed: This is a history exam — no math tools needed.
• No notes or reference materials: You cannot bring outlines, timelines, or study guides.
• All documents provided: Every stimulus (map, chart, primary source) you need is in the exam booklet.
• Annotation is encouraged: Write directly on the exam booklet — underline key phrases, circle dates, and annotate documents.
• Blue or black ink for essays: Parts II and III require pen. Part I (MCQ) uses pencil.

Building Outside Knowledge

The Enduring Issues Essay requires outside knowledge — facts, events, or details NOT in the documents. This is where most students lose points. Build a mental library of key historical examples for common enduring issues:

• Conflict: WWI's trench warfare, WWII's Holocaust, Cold War proxy wars (Korea, Vietnam), Rwandan Genocide
• Human Rights: Atlantic slave trade, Apartheid in South Africa, Tiananmen Square, UN Declaration of Human Rights
• Nationalism: French Revolution, unification of Germany/Italy, decolonization in Africa/Asia, Zionism
• Technology: Industrial Revolution (steam engine, factories), nuclear weapons, Green Revolution, internet
• Power: Absolutism (Louis XIV), imperialism in Africa, totalitarianism (Stalin, Hitler), Cold War superpowers

What to Bring on Test Day

• Blue or black pens (2–3) — for Parts II and III.
• Pencils and erasers — for Part I (MCQ) bubble sheet.
• Student ID — required for admission.
• Water and snacks — 3-hour exam.

Time Management During the Exam

You have 3 hours (180 minutes). The essay deserves the most focused time.

Topic-by-Topic Historical Era Guide

Major eras and themes tested on the Global History & Geography II Regents (1750–Present).

Common Enduring Issues & Examples

These are the most frequently tested enduring issues. Prepare at least 3 with outside knowledge.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These errors cost students the most points on the Global History Regents.

• ❌ Choosing a narrow enduring issue: Picking an issue like "trench warfare" limits your ability to connect across time periods. Choose BROAD issues like "Conflict," "Human Rights," or "Power" that appear in multiple documents and eras.
• ❌ No outside knowledge in the essay: The rubric requires information NOT found in the documents. Include specific facts, events, people, or dates from your studies. Even 1–2 pieces of outside knowledge per body paragraph can lift your score from a 2 to a 4.
• ❌ Summarising documents instead of analysing: Don't just describe what a document says. Explain WHY it matters, how it connects to the enduring issue, and what it reveals about the time period.
• ❌ Ignoring the stimulus on MCQs: Every MCQ is tied to a document. Students who don't read the stimulus carefully often choose answers that are historically correct but irrelevant to the specific document. Always read the source first.
• ❌ Not using enough documents: The essay requires evidence from at least 3 of 5 documents. Using fewer caps your score. Reference documents by number: "As shown in Document 2…"
• ❌ Not explaining significance: The essay must explain WHY the enduring issue matters — how it affected people, societies, or the course of history. Simply stating that the issue exists earns minimal credit.
• ❌ Leaving MCQ answers blank: No guessing penalty. Each correct MCQ adds to your Parts I+II combined score, improving your position on the 2D chart.

Global History vs. Other Regents Exams

4-Week Study Plan for Global History Regents

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common questions about the Global History Regents exam.