Are you a New York high school student looking to pass the Regents Geometry exam? Students who pass the Geometry Regents exam have a clear understanding of the exam’s format, topics, and expectations.

In this detailed review guide, we’ll help you ace the Geometry Regents exam by reviewing the format of the exam, the topics covered on the test, the timing of the test, the most important dates, as well as provide a list of the best resources to use as you prepare to pass the exam.

Let’s do this!

Geometry Regents Exam Essentials

What’s the format of Geometry Regents?

The Geometry Regents exam includes 24 multiple choice questions and 11 constructed response questions. The multiple choice questions have 4 answer options and students must select the one correct answer. The constructed response questions are “open ended” meaning students are given a blank page to write out and explain their thinking.

Each question on the Geometry Regents exam is worth a specific number of credits on the test. Every multiple choice question is worth 2 credits. The constructed response questions are worth either 2, 4, or 6 credits depending on which part of the exam the question is in.

There are four different parts on the Geometry Regents exam. See a preview of each part of the exam in the section below called “What do Geometry Regents questions look like?“.

When you take the Geometry Regents exam, you’ll use pencil, pen, and paper – the exam is not available to be taken on a computer.

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What topics are covered on the test?

The Geometry Regents exam covers dozens of different topics that can be grouped into six specific domains. Here are those domains listed by how frequently they appear on the test:

• Similarity, Right Triangles, and Trigonometry (29%-37% of the exam)
• Congruence (27%-34% of the exam)
• Expressing Geometric Properties with Equations (12%-18% of the exam)
• Modeling with Geometry (8%-15% of the exam)
• Geometric Measurement & Dimensions (2%-8% of the exam)
• Circles (2%-8% of the exam)

To dive deeper into each of these domains, below are comprehensive guiding questions about concepts you should understand and skills you should master. These guiding questions are based on the specific New York State math standards from the Geometry Regents test guide.

Pro Tip: for a detailed study guide using the topics below, checkout Albert’s official Geometry Regents Study Plan.

Domain #1: Similarity, Right Triangles, and Trigonometry

The “Similarity, Right Triangles, and Trigonometry” domain accounts for 29%-37% of the exam. It is the most tested (and therefore most important) domain on the exam – so be sure you can answer “yes” to each of the guiding questions below:

Concepts You Should Understand:

1. Do you know what a dilation is?
2. Can you describe what happens to a line after a dilation?
3. Do you know how the length of a line segment changes during a dilation?
4. Can you explain all the ways to know if two triangles are similar?
5. Do you know that ASA, SAS, SSS, AAS, and Hypotenuse‐Leg theorem are valid criteria for triangle congruence?
6. Do you know that AA, SAS, and SSS are valid criteria for triangle similarity?
7. Do you understand that by similarity, side ratios in right triangles are properties of the angles in the triangle (leading to definitions of trig ratios for acute angles)?

Skills You Should Master:

1. Can you verify the properties of dilations given by a center and a scale factor?
2. Are you able to use the properties of similarity transformations to establish the AA criterion for two triangles to be similar?
3. Can you prove a variety of theorems about triangles?
4. Can you prove that a line parallel to one side of a triangle divides the other two proportionally (and conversely)?
5. Can you prove the Pythagorean Theorem using triangle similarity?
6. Can you prove the length of the altitude drawn from the vertex of the right angle of a right triangle to its hypotenuse is the geometric mean between the lengths of the two segments of the hypotenuse?
7. Can you use congruence and similarity criteria for triangles to solve problems and to prove relationships in geometric figures?
8. Can you explain and use the relationship between sine and cosine of complementary angles?
9. Can you solve right triangles in applied problems using trigonometric ratios and the Pythagorean Theorem?

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Domain #2: Congruence

The “Congruence” domain accounts for 27%-34% of the exam. It is the second most tested domain on the exam and includes a large number of standards focused on proving theorems. 

Concepts You Should Understand:

1. Do you know precise definitions of angle, circle, perpendicular line, parallel line, and line segment based on the notions of point, line, distance along a line, and distance around a circular arc?
2. Can you describe transformations as functions that take points in the plane as inputs and give other points as outputs?
3. Can you compare transformations that preserve distance and angle to those that do not (e.g., translation versus horizontal stretch)?
4. Are you able to develop definitions of rotations, reflections, and translations in terms of angles, circles, perpendicular lines, parallel lines, and line segments?
5. Can you use the definition of congruence (in terms of rigid motions) to decide if two figures are congruent?
6. Can you use the definition of congruence in terms of rigid motions to show that two triangles are congruent if and only if corresponding pairs of sides and corresponding pairs of angles are congruent?
7. Can you explain how the criteria for triangle congruence (ASA, SAS, and SSS) follow from the definition of congruence in terms of rigid motions?

Skills You Should Master:

1. Can you represent transformations in the plane using transparencies and geometry software?
2. Can you describe the rotations and reflections of a rectangle, parallelogram, trapezoid, or regular polygon that carry it onto itself?
3. Can you draw a transformed figure (on graph paper, tracing paper, or geometry software) after a rotation, reflection, or translation?
4. Can you specify a sequence of transformations that will carry a given figure onto another?
5. Can you use geometric descriptions of rigid motions to transform figures and to predict the effect of a given rigid motion on a given figure?
6. Can you prove a variety of theorems about lines and angles (such as vertical angles are congruent; when a transversal crosses parallel lines, alternate interior angles are congruent and corresponding angles are congruent; points on a perpendicular bisector of a line segment are exactly those equidistant from the segment’s endpoints)?
7. Can you prove theorems that involve complementary or supplementary angles?
8. Can you prove theorems about triangles (including measures of interior angles of a triangle sum to 180°; base angles of isosceles triangles are congruent; the segment joining midpoints of two sides of a triangle is parallel to the third side and half the length; the medians of a triangle meet at a point)?
9. Can you prove that an exterior angle of a triangle is equal to the sum of the two non‐adjacent interior angles of the triangle?
10. Can you prove theorems about parallelograms (including opposite sides are congruent, opposite angles are congruent, the diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other, and conversely, rectangles are parallelograms with congruent diagonals)?
11. Can you prove theorems involving rhombus as parallelograms with perpendicular diagonals?
12. Are you able to make formal geometric constructions with a variety of tools and methods (including copying a segment; copying an angle; bisecting a segment; bisecting an angle; constructing perpendicular lines, including the perpendicular bisector of a line segment; and constructing a line parallel to a given line through a point not on the line)?
13. Can you make a formal geometric construction involving the median of a triangle or constructing an isosceles triangle with given lengths?
14. Can you construct an equilateral triangle, a square, and a regular hexagon inscribed in a circle?

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Domain #3: Expressing Geometric Properties with Equations

The “Expressing Geometric Properties with Equations” domain accounts for 12%-18% of the exam. It is the third most frequently tested domain on the exam.

Skills You Should Master:

1. Can you derive the equation of a circle of given center and radius using the Pythagorean Theorem?
2. Can you complete the square to find the center and radius of a circle given by an equation?
3. Can you use coordinates to prove simple geometric theorems algebraically (such as: prove or disprove that a figure defined by four given points in the coordinate plane is a rectangle; prove or disprove that the point (1, \sqrt3) lies on the circle centered at the origin and containing the point (0, 2)?
4. Can you prove the slope criteria for parallel and perpendicular lines and use them to solve geometric problems (for example: find the equation of a line parallel or perpendicular to a given line that passes through a given point)?
5. Can you find the point on a directed line segment between two given points that partitions the segment in a given ratio?
6. Can you use coordinates to compute perimeters of polygons and areas of triangles and rectangles (for example: using the distance formula)?

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Domain #4: Modeling with Geometry 

The “Modeling with Geometry” domain accounts for 8%-15% of the exam. It is the fourth most frequently tested domain on the Geometry Regents exam.

Concepts You Should Understand:

1. Do you understand the meaning of “density”?

Skills You Should Master:

1. Can you use geometric shapes, their measures, and their properties to describe objects (e.g., modeling a tree trunk or a human torso as a cylinder)?
2. Can you apply concepts of density based on area and volume in modeling situations (e.g., persons per square mile, BTUs per cubic foot)?
3. Can you apply geometric methods to solve design problems (e.g., designing an object or structure to satisfy physical constraints or minimize cost; working with typographic grid systems based on ratios)?

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Domain #5: Geometric Measurement & Dimensions

The “Geometric Measurement & Dimensions” domain accounts for 2%-8% of the exam. It is tied for the fifth most frequently tested domain on the Geometry Regents exam.

Concepts You Should Understand:

1. Can you give an informal argument for the formulas for the circumference of a circle, area of a circle, volume of a cylinder, pyramid, and cone?
2. Can you give the informal arguments listed above using dissection arguments, Cavalieri’s principle, and informal limit arguments?
3. Can you identify the shapes of two-dimensional cross-sections of three-dimensional objects, and identify three-dimensional objects generated by rotations of two-dimensional objects?

Skills You Should Master:

1. Can you use volume formulas for cylinders, pyramids, cones, and spheres to solve problems?

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Domain #6: Circles

The “Circles” domain accounts for 2%-8% of the exam. It is tied for the fifth most frequently tested domain on the test.

Concepts You Should Understand:

1. Can you identify and describe relationships among inscribed angles, radii, and chords (include the relationship between central, inscribed, and circumscribed angles; inscribed angles on a diameter are right angles; the radius of a circle is perpendicular to the tangent where the radius intersects the circle)?
2. Can you describe relationships among angles involving tangents and secants?

Skills You Should Master:

1. Can you prove that all circles are similar?
2. Can you construct the inscribed and circumscribed circles of a triangle, and prove properties of angles for a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle?
3. Can you derive using similarity the fact that the length of the arc intercepted by an angle is proportional to the radius, and define the radian measure of the angle as the constant of proportionality?
4. Can you derive the formula for the area of a sector?

The table below shows a full summary of all topics:

Source: Geometry Regents Test Guide

So, what’s the bottom line?

There are a wide range of topics covered on the Geometry Regents exam and the majority of these topics can be found in the first two domains mentioned above (“Similarity, Right Triangles, and Trigonometry” and “Congruence”).

Return to the List of Topic Domains

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How many questions does Geometry Regents have?

The  Geometry Regents exam has 35 total questions split into 4 different parts. The first part of the exam is all multiple choice while the final 3 parts are all constructed responses questions.

The exam has 24 multiple choice questions and 11 student-constructed response questions. Each question is worth a specific number of points (called “credits”). 

See below for an overview of each part on the Geometry Regents exam:

Hungry for even more info about the test? Checkout our FAQ page about the Geometry Regents exam.

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What do Geometry Regents questions look like?

Part I: Multiple Choice

Part I of the Geometry Regents exam is where all of the multiple choice questions live. Multiple choice questions include 4 different answer options and should take you about 2-3 minutes each to complete. All multiple choice questions on the Geometry Regents exam have exactly 1 correct answer.

In total, there are 24 multiple choice questions in Part I, each worth 2 credits.

You will earn full credit for a correct answer (2 credits) or no credit for incorrect answers (0 credits), so you should put an answer down for every question (even if you have to guess). There is no partial credit earned on multiple choice questions.

Here’s an official example of a Part I question:

Source: Regents Geometry Exam, August 2019, Question #2

Part II: Constructed Response

There are typically 7 short constructed-response answers on Part 2 of the Geometry Regents exam. This means you are provided a question prompt and an empty answer area in which to write, draw, graph, or explain each answer. You can earn partial credit for these questions. 

For all questions in Part II, a correct numerical answer with no work shown will receive only 1 credit. Each constructed responses question in Part II is relatively short (Part II typically does not include multi-part prompts) and is worth 2 credits each.

Here’s an official example of a Part II question:

Source: Regents Geometry Exam, August 2019, Question #25

Part III: Constructed Response

Part III begins the multi-part constructed response questions for the Geometry Regents exam. These 3 questions typically include multi-part prompts where you complete at least two different tasks within the same question or a more complicated “proof”.

For all questions in Part III, a correct numerical answer with no work shown will receive only 1 credit. Each question in Part III is worth a maximum of 4 credits.

Here’s an official example of a Part III question:

Source: Regents Geometry Exam, August 2019, Question #33

Part IV: Constructed Response

The final part of the Geometry Regents exam, Part IV, generally includes the most difficult question on the entire exam. The question is typically a somewhat complex proof (or multiple proofs) based on a geometric figure (such as a triangle or quadrilateral).

But, fear not! We have tips and tricks to help you get full credit on every question.

The Part IV question is worth 6 points, the most points of any question on the exam.

Here’s an official example of a Part IV question:

Source: Regents Geometry Exam, June 2019, Question #35

Quick tip:

For Parts II, III, and IV of the Geometry Regents exam, a zero-credit response is completely incorrect, irrelevant, or incoherent or is a correct response that was obtained by an obviously incorrect procedure. This means you should always show as much correct work as possible on your constructed response questions!

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How long is the Geometry Regents exam?

You are given a total of three hours to complete all parts of the Geometry Regents exam. There are no official time constraints required for each part of the exam, so you can use the three hours to answer any of the questions on the test. Most students finish the exam with plenty of time leftover to check answers.

Assuming you want to use the entire three hours of test time, here are some suggestions on how long to spend on each question of the exam:

Note that the timings in the table above should only be considered suggestions. You can adjust these suggestions to whatever will work best for your needs.

Pro tip: Albert offers exclusive full-length Geometry Regents practice exams to build your confidence before test day!

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What can you bring to the Geometry Regents test?

There are so many things to remember for the Geometry Regents exam. Don’t use up your mental energy worrying about what to bring on test day.

Instead, just follow our Geometry Regents packing list to make sure you have everything you need for the exam. Pro Tip: Pack everything in a backpack the night before the exam so that you aren’t scrambling to get your materials together in the morning.

The Essential Geometry Regents Packing List

• Sharpened #2 pencils: You’ll need your tried and true #2 pencils for the multiple choice questions in Part I of the exam and for drawing graphs and diagrams in Parts II, III, and IV of the exam. More of a mechanical pencil person? Make sure you’re choosing a lead labeled “HB.”
• Erasers: Pack your highest quality erasers for the Geometry Regents exam. Be sure to fully erase any smudge marks in your answer document. Remember, a machine is grading your multiple choice questions, so precision is key!
• Black or blue pens: All work (other than graphs and diagrams) for the Geometry Regents constructed response questions needs to be answered in blue or black ink. Don’t bother with erasable pens. If you make a mistake, just cross it out and start again.
• Student identification: Some testing locations require students to bring identification to the exam. Check with your teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator to see what’s required for your test.
• Graphing calculator: According to the official directions for administering the Geometry Regents exam, “schools must ensure that each student has the exclusive use of a graphing calculator when taking the Regents Examinations in… Geometry”. You can bring your own calculator (as long as it doesn’t have symbol manipulation) or use the one provided by your testing location.
• Extra batteries: You can use your graphing calculator for the duration of the Geometry Regents exam, so don’t let it die halfway through. Bring an extra set of batteries for the exam. Most calculators require 4 standard AAA batteries, but double check before the exam to be certain.
• Ruler: Students can use a straightedge or ruler for the entire Geometry Regents exam. Don’t let any of your opportunities go to waste! Your ruler might come in hand for showing your work or creating graphs in the constructed response portion of the exam.
• Compass: You’ll likely need a compass for a question on Part II, III, or IV of the exam. While your school will provide one, you can bring your own trusty compass that you feel comfortable using. 
• Watch: The time limit for the Geometry Regents exam is three hours, but it’s not broken down by section. Bring your own watch so you can effectively pace yourself throughout the test. Just make sure it’s not a “smart watch” or any kind of watch with wifi capabilities. 

What NOT to bring to the Geometry Regents Exam

• Cell phones: According to the official directions for administering the Regents exams, cell phones are a no-go. If you’re caught with a cell phone during the exam, your score could be invalidated and all of your preparation would go right down the drain. Do yourself a favor and leave your phone outside the examination room. 
• Review notes: You’ll have access to the Regents mathematics reference sheet during the exam. Leave other notes and cheat sheets behind.
• Scrap paper: There will be scrap paper included in your exam booklet and you’re free to write in the multiple choice section of your booklet as well. However, you won’t be allowed to use your own scrap paper during the exam.

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What reference sheets are given for the Geometry Regents?

The Geometry Regents exam uses the same official high school mathematics formula sheet as the Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 Regents exams, so get familiar with what’s on this equation sheet. You can save yourself valuable study time by not memorizing the many formulas and conversion rates available to you on this cheat sheet.

But let’s be real – knowing that 1 radian is equal to \dfrac{180}{\pi} degrees won’t do you much good if you don’t know what a radian is. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the equation sheet means you don’t have to study. 

To best use the Geometry Regents formula sheet, make sure you can answer these questions:

• What is a parallelogram and which part is the height?
• How can you find the radius of a sphere, cone, or cylinder?
• Which part of a triangle is the hypotenuse?
• When do you use degrees vs. radians?

What does e mean when it’s used by itself in a formula?

Not feeling 100% confident using the reference sheet? We’ve created a Geometry Regents cheat sheet guide for you to practice the formulas and equations in action. 

No matter what, think of your formula sheet as a helpful tool rather than a complete crutch. You still need to study extensively for the Geometry Regents.

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How many questions do you need to get right to pass the Geometry Regents test?

To pass the Geometry Regents exam, you’ll need to reach a performance level of 3 or higher. But what exactly does that mean? 

The New York State Education Department sorts students’ results into five performance levels according to the table below:

Source: New York State Regents Examination in Geometry (Common Core)  from EngageNY

Notice that your performance level correlates to your scale score. Your Geometry Regents scale score is based off of your raw score (how many credits you earn on the exam), but determined by a formula that changes based on the difficulty of the exam and the student population that takes the exam.

The formula for converting your raw score to your scale score changes for each exam administration. You can check out the August 2019 Conversion Chart, the June 2019 Conversion Chart, and the January 2019 Conversion Chart to get an idea of the relationship between raw score, scale score, and performance level.

Generally, you’ll need a raw score of at least 30 credits (out of 80 total credits) to pass the Geometry Regents exam.

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How do you find out your Geometry Regents score? When do scores release?

We know that you’ll be eager to see your Geometry Regents score after you finish taking the exam. However, when and how you receive your exam score depends on your school or test administration facility. 

Most schools choose to release students’ scores online on a school website, as part of a student portal, or via a digital report card. Check with your teacher or guidance counselor for the specifics on how you’ll receive your score. 

You should also check with your school to find out when you’ll receive your Regents score. It can take anywhere from days to weeks.

The official directions for scoring the Geometry Regents might give you a little more context on what needs to happen before you can see your exam score.

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Can you retake the Regents exam?

In short, yes! Students are able to retake Regents exams as many times as they need. 

However, you might not be able to take it at your school. Some schools don’t allow students to retake Regents exams. Plus, schools don’t necessarily offer the exam at every possible administration.

So, you might need to do some research on where and when you can take the next Geometry Regents, but rest assured that it can be done!

To set yourself up for success the next time you time the Geometry Regents, check out our 30 day Geometry Regents study guide.

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Important Dates to Remember for Geometry Regents Exam (+ downloadable)

When is the Geometry Regents Exam? Complete Schedule

The New York Department of Education administers Regents exams three times a year, typically in January, June, and August. Knowing this schedule is important because it means you actually have three potential opportunities to score as high as you can in a school year: once at the beginning of the year, at the midpoint, and at the end of a standard academic calendar. Most students take the exam in June of every year because it’s the end of the academic year.

Note that the June 2020 exams have been cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more details, read about the coronavirus-related changes to Regents exams and New York graduation requirements.

Currently, the next confirmed Geometry Regents exam is scheduled for Friday, August 14, 2020 at 12:30 PM.

Looking ahead, New York has already set the 2021 Regents testing windows as January 26-January 29th, June 16-June 25, and August 12-13. 

If trends continue, the Geometry Regents exams will likely be scheduled for:

*predicted date and time based on historical scheduling trends

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Geometry Regents Review Notes and Practice

What are Popular Geometry Regents Teacher Notes and Resources?

Read to start studying for the Geometry Regents exam? There are tons of Geometry Regents websites for review, notes, and practice. Here are some of our favorites from across the web:

Burger Junior High School: This teacher-created page contains links to notes and practice problems for a variety of Geometry Regents topics, from Area and Volume to Circle Segments and Angles. 

• Use this site for: Quick overviews of different Geometry topics and associated practice problems. This is great if you need a refresher of a certain topic.
• Don’t use this site if: You don’t do your best learning from textbooks. The links in this page are essentially scans of textbook pages. If you need more interactive or instructive resources, try a different website. 

Pearson Prentice Hall Video Tutors: This page contains “video tutors” covering 12 different chapters from a Geometry textbook. 

• Use this site for: Video-based direct instruction on a wide variety of Geometry topics. The videos are offered in both English and Spanish! 
• Don’t use this site if: You want Regents-tailored practice. While the most of the topics from the videos appear in the Geometry Regents exam, these videos cover some topics that fall outside the scope of Regents. 

NY Geometry Final Exam: This 20-question final exam is based on the 20 most commonly assessed Geometry standards from the Regents exams. It comes with an answer sheet that transforms the exam into a study guide for students. This resource is available for purchase on TeachersPayTeachers.

• Use this site for: A check to see your mastery of the most important Geometry Regents skills and concepts. This resource is great if you already feel like you’re in a good place for the Geometry Regents exam.
• Don’t use this site if: You’re still getting started on your Geometry Regents studying and need a little more guidance and support to get you ready for the exam.

What are Helpful Practice Resources for Geometry Regents?

Albert has a number of Geometry Regents practice tests for your test prep!

Unique from other Regents prep sites, Albert not only provides access to some of the previously released Regents tests, but also includes original New York Geometry Regents practice questions. Create your free account today.

Start your Regents test prep here

For more information on the Geometry Regents exam, check out Albert’s Geometry Regents Study Tips or our 30-day Geometry Regents Study Guide.