The Algebra I Regents Exam requires a minimum scaled score of 65 out of 100 to pass in New York State. The exam is scored using an official conversion chart that translates raw points into a scaled score — and because of the curve, a raw score of approximately 30–35 out of 86 points often earns a scaled score of 65. Understanding how the curve works, what a 65 means for graduation, and how to maximize your score helps you target the right preparation strategy.
The Algebra I Regents Exam is scored in two stages: raw scoring by individual graders and conversion to a scaled score using the official NYS conversion chart.
Exam structure and raw points:
Multiple-choice answers are machine-scored. Free-response questions (Parts II–IV) are scored by trained teachers using official NYS scoring rubrics. Each rubric describes exactly what earns 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 points for a given question. Partial credit is available — a response that shows correct work but arrives at a wrong answer typically earns 1–2 points.
New York State applies a conversion chart (sometimes called the curve) to transform raw scores into scaled scores on a 0–100 point scale. The conversion chart is unique to each exam administration — it is set after the exam is administered based on that session's statistical difficulty analysis.
Key patterns in typical Algebra Regents conversion charts:
The curve is most generous in the 55–75 scaled score range — small gains in raw points produce larger scaled score jumps in this zone. This means that students near the passing threshold benefit disproportionately from improving their free-response work.
The Algebra Regents has different score thresholds depending on the type of diploma a New York student is pursuing:
Students who do not pass the Algebra Regents on the first attempt should:
New York does not penalize students for multiple retake attempts. All Regents attempts appear in the student's record, but only the highest passing score counts toward graduation requirements.