How to Score 95+ on NYS Geometry Regents Exam

In retrospect, the NYS Geometry Regents is difficult. When compared to other NYS regents examinations, the proficiency rate was just 53% during the 2021-2022 school year. Of course, this staggering statistic is prone to other factors such as the pandemic, but other examinations were subject to the same conditions.

This is why it is important to not only review and practice, but spend your time efficiently doing so. I want to emphasize the fact that this guide is based on my own personal experience of what has and hasn’t worked for me. It is supposed to represent the blueprint for quote on quote “mastering” a subject.

This little guide will be split into 3 parts.

Part 1: How to Start

• Use your school-provided geometry textbook if provided. There are textbooks available online.

• Organize your class notes for easy reference. For every unit you review, go back to these. Also consider creating a summary of key points in each section.

• Utilize Khan Academy (Geometry Section), Khan Academy Geometry offers video lessons, practice problems, and step-by-step explanations.

Part 2: Review of Concepts

Basic Refreshers:

• Focus on Angles, Triangles, Quadrilaterals, and Circles first. This website, GeometryHelp, offers clear explanations and practice problems for these topics.

• Understand Properties, Theorems, and Formulas of shapes and their relationships

• Transformations, Coordinate Geometry, and 3D Geometry

Exam Breakdown:

~35% = Similarity, Right Triangle Relationships, Trigonometry

~30% = Congruence (Properties, Quadrilaterals, Most common Proofs)

~15% = Expressing geometric properties with equations (slope, distance, point-slope.. etc)

~10% = Modeling (think cross-sections.. etc)

~5% = Circles

~5% = Geometric measurements + dimensions

By far, the most helpful resource of all is the Cold Facts you must know PDF for Geometry (pdf is at bottom of site).

Look this over while you are studying, the night before the exam, even 5 minutes before the regents!

Part 3: Practice, Practice, Practice (MOST IMPORTANT!!!!)

Sample Questions and Past Regents exams are your best friend. The regents examinations follow distinct statistical patterns, and through repetition, questions become clockwork and instead of figuring out how to do problems, the time can be spent on other necessities during test taking.

I took every online NYS Geometry regents exam available, and was therefore exposed to many question types. Some were unique and stumped me, but what stuck were key concepts and ideas. 

When you are taking practice tests, you should always review the answers afterward. I recommend this website, which provides videos that are clear and easy to follow.

Other Resources:

• JMAP: Visit the JMAP website for a comprehensive collection of past Geometry practice questions.

• Quizlet: Create flashcards on Quizlet to review important geometry formulas and theorems.

• Test Taking Tips: Review general test-taking strategies at Test Taking Tips.

• Archived Regents

Let me make one thing clear. 

Everyone has different capabilities and learned geometry in various school environments. Your score does not mean everything.. but it is always important to strive towards your academic potential.

Put in the work, and you will see the results. Good luck on your regents! 

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Want some extra review and practice? Check out our Geometry playlist below: