ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York's new integrated algebra test administered in June was so hard that a student could get a "raw score" of just 30 percent correct answers and still pass.

That's because the state Education Department uses a "scale score" for its final grade, which gives greater credit for answering the harder questions.

A student who was able to correctly answer only half the questions could get a grade of 76 percent, well above the 65 required to pass.

The state's use of a scale score has been questioned before. But the state Board of Regents says it uses the method because it's a more accurate gauge of whether students are meeting the standards for understanding a subject.

The statewide failure rate isn't yet calculated.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.