LC Japanese exam-day guide
LC Japanese · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
needs_review: Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted (passport, residence card, driver's licence) and whether the name must match your registration exactly. Bring the original, not a photocopy, unless the provider explicitly allows copies.
Admission ticket or registration confirmation
needs_review: Check whether the provider requires a printed copy or accepts a digital version. Save an offline copy on your phone as backup, but assume phones will be stored during the test.
Two or more HB pencils and a good eraser
needs_review: If the test is paper-based, machine-scored answer sheets usually require pencil, not pen. Confirm with the provider whether pencils are supplied and whether pen is permitted for written sections.
Pencil sharpener or spare leads
A small sharpener is cheap insurance; confirm it is not on the prohibited-items list. If you use a mechanical pencil, bring spare lead.
Analog watch
needs_review: Many rooms have no visible clock and phones are not allowed. Confirm with the provider whether a watch is permitted and whether smartwatches are banned.
Clear water bottle and a small snack
needs_review: Confirm the room's policy on drinks and whether any break is long enough to eat. Keep packaging quiet and avoid noisy wrappers.
Layered clothing
Test-room temperatures vary. A removable layer lets you adapt without distracting others.
Written transport and timing plan
Know the exact building, entrance, and room. Plan to arrive well before the reporting time; confirm the provider's late-entry cutoff rather than guessing.
A timed practice run of each section
Do at least one full timed set of listening, reading, and any writing or grammar sections under exam conditions. Practise transferring answers to the answer sheet if the test is paper-based.
Review of the provider's test-day instructions
Read the official notice for prohibited items, ID rules, break policy, and whether electronic devices must be handed in. Do this at least 72 hours before so there are no surprises.
A short Japanese warm-up routine
Prepare 10–15 minutes of light material: common kanji readings, listening to short Japanese audio, and a few grammar patterns. Use it on the morning of the test to activate the language without cramming.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: test centre address, room, reporting time, and the provider's late-entry rule. Check that your ID is valid and the name matches your registration. Print or download the admission ticket. Read the prohibited-items list and decide what you will leave at home.
Do one full timed practice test, including answer-sheet transfer. Identify the two or three question types that cost you the most time, and review only those. Stop learning brand-new material after this point.
Pack your bag: ID, admission ticket, pencils, eraser, sharpener, watch, water, snack, tissues, and layers. Lay out clothes. Check the weather and transport disruptions. Charge your phone but plan to store it; do not rely on it during the test.
Keep review light: skim your error list, listen to 10 minutes of Japanese, and review test-section order and timing. Set two alarms. Aim for a normal night's sleep rather than a late cram session.
Eat a normal breakfast and limit caffeine if you are prone to anxiety. Arrive early enough to find the room, use the restroom, and settle. Do a short warm-up in Japanese, not a new mock test.
Before entering the room, turn off and store your phone and smartwatch exactly as instructed. Keep only permitted items on the desk. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions, especially about filling in your candidate number and name.
Read the instructions for each section before starting. Note the time and number of questions, and set a rough pace. If a question stalls you, mark your best answer and move on; return only if time allows.
For listening, follow the audio pace and do not fall behind by re-checking earlier items. For reading, use question order and keywords to locate answers rather than reading every passage in full first. For any writing section, spend a minute planning before writing.
Check that your answers are marked clearly and that stray marks are fully erased. Confirm your candidate details are correct. If time is called, stop writing immediately and follow the invigilator's instructions.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID type the provider accepts, and make sure the name matches your registration. If your names differ, contact the provider before test day; do not assume the centre will resolve it.
Arrive by the reporting time. Late candidates may be refused entry or admitted without extra time - confirm the provider's cutoff and policy in advance.
Phones, smartwatches, and notes must be switched off and stored as instructed. Do not keep them in your pocket or on your desk, even during a break.
Follow invigilator instructions and do not communicate with other candidates once the test has begun. Raise your hand if you need attention.
needs_review: Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, how long they are, and whether you may leave the room. Do not assume a restroom break will be allowed during a timed section.
needs_review: Confirm the scoring rules - whether wrong answers are penalised, whether sections are weighted, and whether there is a minimum score per section. Do not guess.
Mark answers in the required format. On machine-scored sheets, unclear or double marks may not be read; erase fully if you change an answer.
If you feel unwell or need to leave for a medical reason, raise your hand and follow the invigilator's procedure. Do not leave the room unannounced.