How to Study for the Regents Exams
The Regents reuse the same concepts, formats, and question archetypes every year — so the highest-yield way to study is real past exams, worked solutions, and the reference tables, not rereading notes. Here is a practical plan that works for any subject.
1. Study from real past exams
Rereading a textbook feels productive and mostly is not. What moves your score is active recall under exam conditions: sit a full past exam, timed, then grade it against the answer key and read the worked solution for every question you missed. Two to four full past exams per subject is a strong target. Start with your subject's past exams and answer keys — each question comes with a step-by-step solution.
2. Learn the reference tables cold
On many exams a real share of the points are free if you know where to look — a formula, a constant, a chart. Do not save the reference table for exam day; practice with it open until finding a value is automatic. See the reference tables and key formulas for your subject.
3. Work the curve — know your passing raw score
Regents are scored on a curve: your raw credits convert to a scaled score, and 65 passes. Because the curve is not linear, one extra raw credit near the passing line can move your scaled score several points, so bank every credit — especially in multiple choice, where there is no partial credit to lose. Convert a raw score for any subject with the score calculator, and see how scoring, mastery, and appeals work.
4. Space it out and target weak topics
Short, regular sessions beat one long cram. After a practice exam, spend the next sessions drilling only the topics you missed, then re-test. Practicing a single topic at a time — factoring, genetics, thermochemistry — turns a vague "I'm bad at this" into a specific, fixable gap.
5. Have a section strategy for exam day
Answer all the multiple choice first to lock in the sure points, then spend your remaining time on constructed response. Never leave a constructed-response question blank — show your work and set up the problem, because partial credit is real and every credit counts against the curve. Watch your time budget and come back to hard questions at the end.
Subject-by-subject study guides
Each guide shows exactly what's on that exam, how it's scored, and where to start practicing:
- Algebra I
- Geometry
- Algebra II
- English (ELA)
- Living Environment
- Earth Science
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Global History
- US History
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to study for the Regents?
Work real past-exam questions under timed conditions and read the worked solution for every one you miss. The Regents reuse the same concepts and question types each year, so past-paper practice is the highest-yield preparation.
How long should I study for a Regents exam?
A few weeks of consistent past-exam practice beats cramming. Completing two to four full past exams per subject, reviewing every mistake, is a solid target.
How many questions do you need right to pass a Regents?
It depends on the curve for that administration, which converts raw credits to a scaled score where 65 passes — often somewhere around 55–65% of the raw credits. Use the score calculator to convert a raw score for a specific exam.
Do the Regents repeat questions?
Not the exact questions, but the same concepts, formats, and question archetypes come back every year — which is why practicing real past exams is so effective.