About 

The NYC Commencement Examination in Visual Arts is a closed exam offered to graduating seniors. It is the culminating assessment for students in a high school major art sequence. For students, this exam represents a fitting close to their high school education in visual arts. Administering the exam demonstrates the school’s commitment to a rigorous visual arts education that values exemplary teaching and learning. School leaders and teachers who prepare their students for the exam recognize the importance of a comprehensive visual arts sequence that includes the skills and techniques of artmaking, and the acquisition of a rich art vocabulary and background in art history.

The exam is administered in January during regents week from 1:15PM to 4:15PM. 2027 Exam date will be annouced Fall 2026.

Link to the 2026 Visual Arts Commencement Exam Guidebooklet

Add timeline and sample exam

Except for the Portfolio Presentation and Portfolio Essay, graded by pairs of teachers at the

school, all student work is graded centrally. This examination aligns with the Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Visual Arts.

Eligibility

High school seniors are eligible to participate in the Commencement Assessment in Visual Arts if:

- they are on track to earn a minimum of 10 credits in sequential visual arts coded coursework by June 2027

OR

- they have earned 9 credits in sequential visual arts coded coursework by June 2027 AND 6 LOTE (Languages Other than English) credits, and passed or waived the corresponding LOTE exam to earn an Advanced Regents Diploma.

The requirements for this diploma endorsement (sequential visual arts coded coursework and the successful completion of the assessment) can be applied toward partial fulfillment of Regents or Advanced Regents diploma requirements. Seniors who pass the Commencement Assessment in Visual Arts (with the required accumulated 10 (or 9 + LOTE requirements) credits of sequential visual arts coursework,

will receive a Chancellor’s Diploma Endorsement in the Arts: Visual Arts.

NOTE: High school seniors who have completed at least 6 credits of Visual Arts coded coursework also may take this exam. If successful, they receive a Certificate of Arts Achievement from the Office of Arts and Special Projects upon graduation.