1.1 How the Geometry Regents Works

The Four-Part Structure

The Regents Examination in Geometry is a single three-hour test built from four parts that together carry 80 raw-score credits. There are no optional sections — you answer every question, and the parts grow harder as you move down the booklet.

Part I — Multiple Choice

The 24 four-option multiple-choice questions are worth 2 credits each (48 credits total). They are all-or-nothing: a correct choice earns 2, and a wrong or blank answer earns 0. No work is required and there is no guessing penalty, so never leave a Part I question blank — an educated guess costs nothing.

Parts II-IV — Constructed Response

The remaining 11 questions are constructed response (CR): Part II has seven 2-credit items, Part III has three 4-credit items, and Part IV has one 6-credit item. These ask you to show work, write reasons, graph, construct, or prove. Unlike Part I, they award partial credit, so a partly correct response still scores.

Notice the math: Part I alone (48 credits) already exceeds the raw score usually needed to pass, but the constructed-response credits are what separate a bare pass from a strong scale score.

From Raw Score to Scale Score

After grading, your Part I and Part II-IV credits are added into a raw score out of 80. That raw score is then converted with the conversion chart for that specific administration into a scale score from 0 to 100. A scale score of 65 is the passing standard — and it is not the same as answering 65% of the exam correctly.

How different are they? On the January 2026 conversion chart, a raw score of just 35 out of 80 (about 44%) converted to a scale score of exactly 65. You can miss more than half the available credits and still pass.

A scale score of 85 (Level 5) is often used for advanced or college-and-career-readiness designations. Because the raw-to-scale mapping shifts every administration, raw 35 might convert to 64 or 66 on a different date — so only use the chart printed for the exam you took.

Time, Tools, and Logistics

• Three hours. That is roughly five minutes per multiple-choice question if split evenly, but plan to move quickly through Part I and bank time for the proofs in Parts III-IV.
• Graphing calculator: you must have exclusive use of one for the entire exam. Know how to clear its memory before and after, as directions require.
• Compass and straightedge (or ruler): required, because construction questions appear in the constructed-response parts.
• Bring a pencil for graphs and constructions; some responses are completed in ink.

Pacing the Three Hours

Because Part I is quick and all-or-nothing, most students spend roughly 50-60 minutes on the 24 multiple-choice questions and bank the remaining two hours for constructed response. A reliable plan: make a first pass through Part I answering everything you know and flagging the hard ones, then work Parts II-IV where partial credit lives, and finally return to the flagged multiple-choice items with your leftover time. Never surrender the 6-credit Part IV question by running out of time — even a partial diagram, setup, or first few proof steps earns credit, and 6 credits is nearly a full performance level on the conversion chart.

Why the Score Matters for Your Diploma

A scale score of 65 or higher is a pass. Passing the Geometry Regents counts toward the mathematics assessment requirement for a New York State diploma, and Geometry is one of the three math Regents (with Algebra I and Algebra II) a student passes on the path to an Advanced Regents diploma. Scores of 85 or above can support advanced or honors designations.

The current test measures the Next Generation Mathematics Learning Standards; the first Next Generation Geometry Regents was administered in June 2025, so older "Common Core" released exams are still useful practice, but expect the newer standards framing and the pared-down reference sheet described in Section 1.2.

How Partial Credit Works (Overview)

Constructed responses are scored holistically against a NYSED rating guide, not by a rigid point-per-line rule. In general: a correct answer with complete, correct work earns full credit; a sound method with a small computational slip usually loses one credit; and a correct final answer with no supporting work usually earns only 1 credit, no matter how many the item is worth. Section 1.3 breaks this down in detail — the takeaway now is that on Parts II-IV, how you show your reasoning is graded, not just the final number.