Tochigi Public High School Entrance Examination - Japanese (Kokugo) exam-day guide
Tochigi Public High School Entrance Examination - Japanese (Kokugo) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
受験票（admission slip）
Most prefectural high school exams in Tochigi require the 受験票 distributed through your junior high school. Keep it in a clear plastic folder so it does not get folded or wet. If you have lost it or never received it, contact your homeroom teacher immediately; the exact reissue procedure is set by the school or the prefectural board of education, so confirm with the provider (your junior high school or the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education).
筆記用具（writing tools）
Bring several sharpened pencils (HB or B is the usual school recommendation), a quality eraser, and a pencil sharpener. For kokugo you will write longer answers, so a mechanical pencil plus spare lead is also practical. Confirm with the provider whether any specific pencil grade is required; most schools do not mandate one.
時計（watch）
Bring a wristwatch without communication or smart functions. You cannot rely on a wall clock being visible from your seat, and phones must be off. A simple analogue watch is the safest choice. Confirm with the provider whether any watch type is prohibited.
上履き・体育館シューズ（indoor shoes）
Many test venues are school buildings where outdoor shoes are not allowed in the exam rooms. Bring clean indoor shoes and a shoe bag. Whether they are required depends on the venue, so confirm with the provider (your junior high school or the receiving high school).
お弁当・飲み物（lunch and drink）
The kokugo test is one part of a full day of testing. Bring a lunch you can eat without heating and a drink in a closed bottle. Check with the provider whether lunch is expected at the venue and whether a garbage bag is needed.
防寒・体温調節（cold-weather preparation）
Tochigi February mornings are cold, and exam rooms may not be fully heated. Wear layers you can remove, and consider a lap blanket if the venue allows it. Confirm with the provider whether blankets or heat packs are permitted.
交通経路と時刻の確認（route and timetable check）
Confirm the train or bus times and the walking route to the venue in advance, and plan to arrive well before the reporting time. If snow is forecast, prepare an earlier route. School-specific reporting times must be confirmed with the provider.
スマートフォン・通信機器の扱い（phone handling）
Phones must be switched off and stored out of reach during testing. A ringing or vibrating phone can be treated as a rule violation. Confirm with the provider where devices should be left on the day.
漢字・語句の最終確認資料（kanji and vocabulary review sheet）
Bring a short, single-sheet summary of kanji you often miswrite, 四字熟語, 慣用句, and 敬語 forms. Keep it brief so it does not create anxiety. Review it only before entering the room, following venue rules on materials.
古文・漢文の要点メモ（classical Japanese notes）
A one-page reminder of key 古語 meanings, 係り結び, and common 漢文 return marks (レ点, 一二点) helps on the day. Do not bring full textbooks unless the provider permits them.
健康管理（health preparation）
Sleep normally for several days before the exam, and avoid new foods the night before. If you are ill on the day, do not decide alone: your junior high school and the provider have procedures for 追検査 (make-up testing) and illness; confirm with them.
心の準備（mental preparation）
Decide in advance the order in which you will attempt the kokugo sections (for example, kanji and grammar first, then reading passages), and how many minutes you will reserve for the final check. Write this plan on a small card.
Plan the day
Stop starting new topics. Review only your error notebook and kanji list. Confirm the venue route, reporting time, and what to bring with your family. Check the weather forecast for snow. Confirm with your junior high school any details you are unsure about, such as indoor shoes, lunch, or the admission slip.
Do one full kokugo past-paper or mock under timed conditions, then spend more time reviewing mistakes than scoring. Re-read the 古文 and 漢文 notes. Prepare the clothes and bag you will use.
Pack the bag completely: admission slip, pencils, eraser, sharpener, watch, indoor shoes, lunch, drink, and tissues. Lay out clothes. Eat a normal dinner, avoid late-night cramming, and go to bed at your usual time. Check the route once more and set two alarms.
Eat breakfast, leave with time to spare, and arrive early. Use the waiting time for a light glance at your kanji sheet, not for heavy study. Turn your phone off before entering the building or as instructed. Use the restroom before the test begins.
Read the instructions and point allocation first. Answer kanji and grammar quickly, then read the passages with the questions in mind. For 古文, identify the subject and honorifics. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints, keep a few minutes for the final check, and never leave a blank answer.
Do not compare answers with friends, because it raises anxiety and may breach venue rules. Drink water, stretch, and switch mentally to the next subject. Confirm with the provider whether leaving the room during breaks is allowed.
Do not change answers from memory or dwell on mistakes. Follow your school's guidance on the result announcement and any subsequent procedures. Confirm all post-exam steps with the provider.
Rules to check
Follow every instruction given by the venue staff and the proctors. Rules can differ by venue, so confirm anything unclear with the provider (your junior high school or the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education) before the day.
Bring and display your 受験票 as instructed. If you forget it, report to the staff immediately rather than staying silent; the response procedure is set by the provider, so confirm it in advance.
Switch off all phones and communication devices and store them as instructed. Do not keep them on your desk or in a pocket during testing.
Do not talk, pass notes, or look at another candidate's paper during testing. Follow the proctor's instructions on raising your hand for questions or toilet breaks.
Do not bring reference materials, textbooks, or notes into the exam room unless the provider explicitly permits them. Follow the venue's rules on what may be left at your seat.
Arrive by the reporting time. Late arrival may affect whether you can sit the test; the cut-off and make-up procedures are set by the provider, so confirm them in advance.
If you are ill or unable to attend, contact your junior high school immediately. Do not decide on your own about 追検査 (make-up testing); the eligibility and procedure must be confirmed with the provider.
Scoring and answer-sheet handling rules are set by the prefectural board. Do not assume partial credit or specific marking policies; confirm with the provider if it affects how you should answer.