The Nation - News from June 21, 1989

A statewide high school achievement test in New York was canceled after the New York Post published the answers on its front page to demonstrate what it called a growing black market in illicitly obtained exams. About 80,000 students were to have taken the chemistry exam. State Education Commissioner Thomas Sobol called the Post “beneath contempt” and threatened to sue the paper. Sobol said officials were investigating the theft of chemistry and other tests after learning the exams were “widely available” to students in New York City. Biology, math, French and global studies tests were also reported to be available, he said. The regents tests, given in 17 subjects in late June, are taken by college-bound high school students in New York state and generally account for about a quarter of a student’s final grade.