EJU Japan and the World exam-day guide
EJU Japan and the World · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission ticket / 受験票
Print or download the admission slip issued for your registration. The exact format and whether a printed copy is mandatory depend on the administering body and test site, so confirm with the provider before the test day. Keep a digital backup as well as a paper copy if paper is accepted.
Valid photo ID
Bring the original identification document (typically a passport or residence card for international candidates). Photocopies are generally not accepted. Which documents are valid for your registration category must be confirmed with the provider, since rules differ between domestic and overseas venues.
Writing instruments (pencil and eraser)
The Japan-side EJU is commonly taken with pencil, and answers are marked on machine-readable sheets. Bring several sharpened pencils (HB or similar) and a clean eraser. Confirm the permitted pencil grade and whether mechanical pencils are allowed with the provider.
Watch without communication or storage functions
Many venues do not guarantee a visible clock. A simple analogue or basic digital watch is usually acceptable, but smartwatches and any device with communication, camera, or storage functions are normally prohibited. Confirm the exact device policy with the provider.
Lunch and drink
The test day is long, with subjects spread across morning and afternoon. Bring a compact lunch and water if the venue permits food outside the test room. Check whether eating inside the building is allowed at your site.
Directions and arrival-time plan
Locate the exact building and room in advance using the venue information on your admission slip. Plan to arrive well before the announced reporting time; late arrival may mean exclusion from some or all subjects. The cut-off time is set by the provider, so verify it.
Review of subject and language choices
Confirm which subjects you registered for and whether you are taking the test in Japanese or English. You cannot usually change these on the day. Check your registration details on the admission slip and contact the provider immediately if anything is wrong.
Clothing suitable for an unheated or over-cooled room
Venues vary in temperature control. Wear layers that can be adjusted without disturbing others, and avoid clothing with large printed text or slogans that might attract scrutiny.
No prohibited electronics in the test room
Phones, smartwatches, earphones, and similar devices must be switched off and stored as instructed, often in a bag away from the desk. Touching or sounding a device during the test can lead to invalidation. Confirm the storage rule with the provider.
Understanding of the answer-sheet format
Practice filling in the marking sheet correctly, including writing your examinee number and shading the correct bubbles. Errors in the number field can invalidate your answers. The official sample sheets show the exact format.
Emergency and contact information
Note the provider's contact channel in case of illness, transport disruption, or a lost admission slip. Procedures for special circumstances are set by the administering body and should be confirmed in advance, not improvised on the day.
Physical preparation the night before
Sleep adequately, avoid an all-night review, and set two alarms. Fatigue is a bigger risk on a multi-subject day than one extra hour of cramming.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Review your error log for the two or three most frequent mistake types per subject, and rehearse the timing of each section with a full past paper under exam conditions. Confirm your venue route, reporting time, and the list of permitted items using your admission slip and the provider's instructions.
Do a light pass over formulas, kanji or vocabulary lists, and graph-reading conventions that you already know. Prepare your bag with documents, pencils, eraser, watch, lunch, and layers. Check that your ID is valid and not expired, and that the name matches your registration.
Visit the venue or check the route map online if you have not already. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Do not attempt a full mock test; a short review of your own summary notes is enough. Reconfirm the reporting time and any rule about arriving early.
Eat breakfast, arrive at the venue with margin for transport delays, and use the waiting time for a brief, calm review of key points rather than new material. Follow staff instructions for entering the room, placing bags, and switching off devices. Fill in your examinee number carefully before the first section begins.
Read the instructions for each section before starting. Watch the announced timing and divide minutes deliberately, leaving time to transfer answers to the marking sheet. If you are unsure of an item, mark a provisional answer and move on; do not leave blanks if there is no penalty for guessing, but confirm the scoring rule with the provider. Between subjects, step outside if permitted, drink water, and avoid comparing answers with others, which only adds noise.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from invigilators. They control entry, seating, breaks, and dismissal, and their directions take precedence over anything you have read elsewhere. If a rule is unclear, ask before the section starts, not during it.
Bring the identification document required for your registration and present it when asked. The list of accepted documents and the procedure for a missing or expired ID are set by the provider; confirm them in advance rather than assuming a workaround exists.
Keep all communication and storage devices switched off and stored as instructed. Do not keep a phone or smartwatch on your person during the test. Consequences for a device sounding or being handled during the test are determined by the provider and can include invalidation.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not look at another person's answer sheet. Any suspected cheating or impersonation is handled under the provider's rules, which may include invalidation and reporting.
Respect break rules. Leave and return within the announced time, keep noise down in corridors, and do not discuss question content with other candidates until the test is over.
Understand how scoring works before the day. Scores are reported per subject, and universities set their own use of those scores; the provider publishes the scoring and reporting framework. Do not rely on hearsay about score conversions or bonus points.
If you feel unwell or face a transport disruption, notify venue staff or the provider as soon as possible. Special-consideration procedures exist but are time-bound and evidence-based; confirm the exact process with the provider.
Keep your admission slip and examinee number secure. Do not post test content, answer sheets, or venue photographs online during the test day; such conduct may breach the provider's rules and can affect your result.