EJU Japanese exam-day guide
EJU Japanese · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission ticket (受験票)
Print or keep the admission ticket sent by JASSO and bring the physical copy; check the venue, date, and your examinee number on it. If it has not arrived or contains wrong personal details, contact the administering body immediately - confirm the correction procedure with the provider.
Valid photo ID
Bring the identification document your admission ticket or the exam instructions specify (typically a passport, residence card, or other official photo ID). Japanese EJU sessions generally expect a passport or residence card for identity checks - confirm the accepted documents for your session with the provider.
Writing implements (pencil and eraser)
Use HB or similar pencils and a clean eraser for mark-sheet answers; mechanical pencils may be restricted at some venues, so bring ordinary wooden pencils as a safe fallback. Do not rely on pens for the answer sheet.
Watch without smart features
Many venues do not guarantee a visible clock. Bring a simple wristwatch; smartwatches and any device with communication or storage functions are usually prohibited. Confirm the venue's clock policy with the provider.
Lunch and drink
The Japanese as a Foreign Language section plus other subjects can make a long day. Bring food and a drink that do not require preparation, and check whether eating is allowed only in designated areas.
Confirmed test-subject lineup
Re-check which subjects you registered for (Japanese, plus Science/Japan and the World/Math as applicable). You cannot normally add or switch subjects on the day; if your registration is wrong, contact the provider before the exam.
Transport plan and arrival time
Plan to arrive with margin before the doors close; late arrival may mean you are not admitted to a section. Check the venue's opening time and the exact building on the admission ticket.
Review of the Japanese section format
Know the order and rough timing of the Japanese section (writing, reading, listening) so you can pace yourself. Timings are announced on the day; verify the current structure with official JASSO materials.
Listening equipment readiness
The listening part is usually played through venue speakers or headphones. If the instructions say to bring anything for audio, follow them exactly; otherwise confirm the equipment arrangement with the provider.
Clothing layers
Venue heating and cooling vary. Wear layers you can adjust without disturbing others, and avoid noisy accessories.
Phone powered off and stored
Plan to switch off any phone or alarm device before entering the test room; an alarm sounding during the test can lead to invalidation. Confirm the venue's device rules with the provider.
Emergency contact and cash
Carry a small amount of cash and a written emergency contact in case of transport disruption; do not keep notes or study sheets inside the test room.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: re-read the admission ticket, check the venue route and travel time, and decide your departure time. Prepare the ID document and check that its details match your registration. Do a timed run of one Japanese reading set and one listening set to calibrate pacing, then stop adding new material.
Review your error patterns rather than new vocabulary lists: skim notes on question types you lose points on (for example, paragraph-order or integrated-reading items), and practise the writing task once under time, checking that you state and support an opinion clearly. Confirm the subject lineup and any venue-specific instructions with the provider if anything is unclear.
Pack the bag: admission ticket, ID, pencils, eraser, sharpener, watch, lunch, drink, cash, layers. Charge nothing you cannot bring - leave smart devices out. Check the weather and transport notices. Sleep at your normal time; avoid late-night listening practice that can distort your sense of timing.
Eat a normal breakfast, leave with extra margin, and arrive early enough to find the room and use the restroom. Switch off your phone before entering the building or as instructed. Do not discuss answers or study intensely in the waiting area; a short warm-up of reading in Japanese is enough.
Follow the announced order: writing first, then reading, then listening, unless the venue announces otherwise. For writing, spend a few minutes planning, keep to the required length and style, and leave time to check grammar and particles. In reading, answer easier items first and do not let one passage consume the clock. In listening, read the question before the audio starts, mark answers as you go, and never stop listening to fill in a previous item.
Use breaks to eat, drink, and rest rather than to re-check answers. Return to your seat before the announced time; re-entry rules after leaving the room vary by venue, so confirm with the provider.
Note which question types cost you time while memory is fresh, keep your admission ticket for score access, and check the official score-report schedule. Do not rely on unofficial answer keys circulating online.
Rules to check
Bring the admission ticket and the accepted photo ID; if you cannot present them, you may be refused entry or have your result invalidated. Confirm the exact accepted documents with the provider.
Switch off phones and any alarm-capable devices and keep them out of reach during the test. A device sounding or being used can lead to invalidation of your results.
Follow all instructions from proctors about seating, starting and stopping, and answer-sheet completion. Do not open the booklet or write before the start signal or after the stop signal.
Do not communicate with other examinees during the test, and do not look at another person's answer sheet. Suspected cheating is handled under the administering body's rules.
Leaving the room during a section is generally restricted; if you must leave, expect supervision and possible inability to resume that section. Confirm the venue's break and re-entry rules with the provider.
The Japanese section is scored on scaled scores across writing, reading, and listening; the writing task is judged on relevance, clarity, and language use, so an off-topic or far-too-short response loses points even if the grammar is good.
Answers must be marked on the answer sheet in the specified way; answers written only in the question booklet or in a non-specified format are not scored.
If you are late, arrive at the venue and ask staff rather than entering a room mid-section on your own; admission after a section has started is at the provider's discretion.