The Regents Competency Program has two basic purposes: (1) to assure the early identification of students who need help in developing reading, writing, and mathematics skills and (2) to assure that students have acquired adequate competency in these skills before receiving a high school diploma. The New York State Preliminary Competency Test in Reading is designed to measure reading achievement by determining the most difficult prose text a student can read with comprehension. Scores obtained on the test can be used to: (1) evaluate students' current level of achievement in reading; (2) determine the most difficult prose text a student can profitably use in instruction and in independent reading; (3) measure growth in the ability to read with comprehension; (4) determine statewide trends in students' ability to read with comprehension; and (5) indicate the extent of remedial help, if any, that a student may need in order to achieve success on the Regents Competency Test in Reading; and (6) provide the basis for the termination of remediation. Topics include: administering and scoring the test; interpreting results; using the test for instructional purposes; and technical characteristics. (Author/PN)