
What is ‘Kyotsu Test’ ??
I’m interested in it !
I wrote this article to clear your question about ‘Kyotsu Test’ in Japan.
I would like to explain about the topic with mainly two parts.
- Basic knowledge of Kyotsu Test in Japan
- Deep Diving with answering questions
- Qualification
- Subject area
- History
In first part, you can get basic information about ‘Kyotsu Test’ in Japan.
And next, I would like to introduce more details, with style of answering questions. You can get information with cherry pick style, in stead of reading long article.
I hope you will have proper information about ‘Kyotsu Test’ in Japan, after reading this page.
What is Kyotsu Test

Kyotsu Test is examination as 1st step to enter University in Japan. ‘Kyotsu’ means common. The results of Kyotsu Test is valid commonly to various Universities, especially to national universities.
Kyotsu Test is held in 3rd Saturday and Sunday in January. Then, 2nd examination will be held in each University in February.
- Examination as 1st step to enter Universities
- ‘Kyotsu’ mean ‘’common’
- Valid commonly to multiply universities
- Held in 3rd weekend in January
Deep Diving into Kyotsu Test in Japan
I would like to introduce more information about Kyotsu Test in Japan, in this paragraph. It’s with Q & A style, so that you can access information easily.
Please kindly open items what you want to know.

I hope you can clear your question in this part.
The organizer of Kyotsu Test is National Center for University Entrance Examinations. This organization is established based on Japanese law as independent administrative agency.
Sauce : DNC webpage
Qualification to have Kyotsu Test is given to following person
- Graduated High Schools in Japan
- Expected Graduation of Japanese High School in coming March
- Passing Japanese high-school equivalency examination
People who graduated high school out of Japan need to check one by one with Organizer about qualification.
Sauce : DNC webpage
There are 6 main subject area in Kyotsu Test
- Kokugo (Japanese)
- Mathematics
- History & Geography
- Civics
- Science
- Foreign Languages (Select one language)
- English
- French
- Germany
- Chinese
- Korean
Sauce : Kawaijuku webpage
No, Kyotsu Test is with currently Japanese language only. Even in examination of English, questions are made with Japanese Language.
Sauce : DNC webpage
Kyotsu Test was held in different name in the past. The name of examination was changed few times, however, nature of examination remain unchanged.
- 1979 Kyotsu Ichiji as prototype of Kyotsu Test was started
- 1990 Renamed as ‘Center Shiken’
- 2021 Kyotsu Test is started
Sauce : DNC webpage

I had ‘Center Shiken’ long time ago !
It depends on design of entering examination in each University. In most of Japanese National University, it’s required to have Kyotsu Test as first examination.
On the other hand, there are many of private Universities to whom we can enter without having Kyotsu Test.
Sauce : Kawaijuku webpage
No, Kyotsu Test is not applicable for international student to enter Japanese universities basically. Kyotsu Test is mainly for people living in Japan.
Author’s research
Yes, Past paper of Kyotsu Test is available in organizer’s webpage, while the page is Japanese language only. https://www.dnc.ac.jp/kyotsu/kakomondai.html
Sauce : DNC webpage
Postscript
That’s all today. How was the content today ?
I Hope this article help you to clear your question about Kyotsu Test .

I hope you have clear understanding of Kyotsu Test !
Thank you for your reading !
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