The Upper Secondary School Equivalency Examination tests those who cannot take college entrance and other exams because they have not graduated upper secondary school, in order to certify whether they have the scholastic aptitude equivalent or greater than a upper secondary school graduate, in accordance with Section 1 of Article 90 of School Education Act. Those who pass are then qualified to take entrance exams of university (大学) and professional training college (専門学校). Those who pass the exam while still under age 18 will be recognized as successful candidates upon their 18th birthday. There are two types of documents: 合格証書 (gokaku-shosho) is a certificate which is issued only once, whereas 合格証明書 (gokaku-shomeisho) is a commonly used document to prove one’s qualification for further study and can be issued in multiple times. The latter, 合格証明書 is, in most cases, available in English as well.
Candidates to the exam are not required to complete specific years of education.
Subjects: As of 2019, for passing the examination, a candidate must pass following subjects: Japanese language; either of world history A and B; either of Japanese history A, Japanese history B, geography A and geography B; either contemporary society or ethics and politics/economy; mathematics; either (a) science and our daily life and one of basic physics, basic chemistry, basic biology, and basic earth science or (b) three of basic physics, basic chemistry, basic biology, and basic earth science; English. NB: The number of subjects required for passing is 8, 9 or 10 depending on candidate’s selections.
Grading: Passing grades are A, B or C whereas A indicates the highest score range between 80 and 100 out of 100.
There had been the University Entrance Qualification Examination (大学入学資格検定, daigaku-nyugaku-shikaku-kentei) until 2005. The Upper Secondary School Equivalency Examination replaced the above examination.
Comments/Additional Information
The Upper Secondary School Equivalency Examination tests those who cannot take college entrance and other exams because they have not graduated upper secondary school, in order to certify whether they have the scholastic aptitude equivalent or greater than a upper secondary school graduate, in accordance with Section 1 of Article 90 of School Education Act. Those who pass are then qualified to take entrance exams of university (大学) and professional training college (専門学校). Those who pass the exam while still under age 18 will be recognized as successful candidates upon their 18th birthday. There are two types of documents: 合格証書 (gokaku-shosho) is a certificate which is issued only once, whereas 合格証明書 (gokaku-shomeisho) is a commonly used document to prove one’s qualification for further study and can be issued in multiple times. The latter, 合格証明書 is, in most cases, available in English as well.
Candidates to the exam are not required to complete specific years of education.
Subjects: As of 2019, for passing the examination, a candidate must pass following subjects: Japanese language; either of world history A and B; either of Japanese history A, Japanese history B, geography A and geography B; either contemporary society or ethics and politics/economy; mathematics; either (a) science and our daily life and one of basic physics, basic chemistry, basic biology, and basic earth science or (b) three of basic physics, basic chemistry, basic biology, and basic earth science; English. NB: The number of subjects required for passing is 8, 9 or 10 depending on candidate’s selections.
Grading: Passing grades are A, B or C whereas A indicates the highest score range between 80 and 100 out of 100.
There had been the University Entrance Qualification Examination (大学入学資格検定, daigaku-nyugaku-shikaku-kentei) until 2005. The Upper Secondary School Equivalency Examination replaced the above examination.