Learn the Test
1Test the sides.
Are all sides exactly the same length?
2Test the angles.
Are all angles exactly the same size? BOTH tests must pass.
3Name it fully.
‘Regular hexagon’ or ‘irregular hexagon’ — the side-count name stays the same.
Worked Example
Regular or irregular?
Watch Out! Common Mistakes
Not enough! A rhombus has 4 equal sides but unequal angles — it’s irregular. Regular needs both tests passed.
Not enough! A rectangle has 4 equal angles but unequal sides — also irregular.
Wrong! Irregular is a precise term: any polygon where sides or angles differ. A perfectly neat rectangle is still irregular.
⬇ Cheat Sheet
- Regular = ALL sides equal AND all angles equal.
- Fail either test → irregular.
- Only regular quadrilateral: the square.
- Regular polygon examples: equilateral triangle, square, regular pentagon/hexagon.
📖 Continue Your Journey
Quick summary
- Regular polygon: every side equal AND every angle equal.
- Failing either test makes the polygon irregular.
- A rectangle (equal angles only) and a rhombus (equal sides only) are both irregular.
- The square is the only regular quadrilateral.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a polygon regular?
All its sides are the same length and all its angles are the same size — both conditions together. An equilateral triangle and a square are regular.
Why is a rectangle not a regular polygon?
Its four angles are equal (90°) but its sides are not all equal — and regular requires both.
When is this tested?
Recognising regular vs irregular polygons is a Year 5 objective and a common quick question in 11+ non-verbal and maths papers.
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