Tokushima Public High School Entrance Examination - Science exam-day guide
Tokushima Public High School Entrance Examination - Science · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
受験票 (admission slip)
Most prefectural entrance exams require the admission slip distributed by your junior high school. Keep it in a clear plastic folder so it does not get crumpled. If you have lost it, contact your homeroom teacher immediately - reissue procedures differ by school, so confirm with the provider (your junior high school or the exam-administrating board of education).
筆記用具 (pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener)
Bring several sharpened HB or B pencils (at least 3–4), a clean eraser, and a small sharpener. Some exams restrict mechanical pencils or specific pencil types; check your school's guidance document and, if unclear, confirm with the provider.
時計 (wristwatch without smart functions)
Classrooms may not have a visible clock. A simple analog or digital wristwatch is safest. Smartwatches and watches with communication or calculation functions are almost always prohibited; confirm the exact rule with the provider.
上履きと靴袋 (indoor shoes and shoe bag)
Many Japanese schools require you to change shoes at the entrance. Bring clean indoor shoes and a bag for your outdoor shoes. Whether they are required at your assigned venue should be confirmed with your junior high school.
昼食と飲み物 (lunch and drink)
The science test is usually one of several subjects in a single day, so bring a compact lunch and a water bottle (remove the label if the venue requires it). Avoid noisy packaging and strong-smelling food.
防寒・暑さ対策 (layers, handkerchief, tissues)
Tokushima exam season can be cold, and rooms may be heated unevenly. Wear layers you can remove, and bring a handkerchief and pocket tissues. Sitting for long periods can make you stiff, so choose clothing you can sit in comfortably.
志望校・受験番号の控え (school name and examinee number)
Write your examinee number and the name of the school and course you are applying to on a small card. You may need to write them on the answer sheet, and checking them reduces the risk of a transcription error.
理科の最終確認ノート (one-page science review sheet)
Prepare a single A4 sheet summarizing formulas, key terms, and common traps (unit conversions, graph reading, circuit rules, chemical equation balancing). Review it in the final days rather than learning new material.
当日の交通経路の確認 (route and timing plan)
Check the route to the venue, the train or bus times, and a backup route. Aim to arrive 30–45 minutes early. If snow or rain is forecast, plan one earlier service.
携帯電話の扱い (phone handling)
Phones must usually be switched off and stored in your bag, not on your person, during the test. The exact rule differs by venue; confirm with the provider and follow instructions on the day.
健康管理 (sleep, meals, and condition check)
Sleep on a regular schedule for the last week and eat a normal breakfast on the day. If you are unwell, do not decide alone - contact your junior high school, which can advise on the official procedure for special circumstances.
試験監督の指示の確認 (listen for instructions)
Rules on starting, finishing, and answer-sheet filling are announced on the day. Read the cover page of the question booklet carefully, because the number of questions and the time allocation can differ from practice tests.
Plan the day
Finish reviewing the whole science syllabus once, focusing on the four strands: physics (forces, electricity, energy), chemistry (particles, chemical changes, ions), biology (cells, heredity, ecosystems), and earth science (earthquakes, volcanoes, weather, celestial motion). Write down the formulas and rules you keep getting wrong on one sheet. Stop starting new topics.
Do one timed practice paper under exam conditions, including the answer-sheet format. After marking, classify each mistake as a knowledge gap, a reading error, or a time-management problem, and spend the remaining time only on the first two categories.
Pack your bag using the checklist, lay out your clothes, and confirm the route and departure time. Review only your one-page sheet and the question formats you found difficult (for example, experiment design, graph interpretation, or calculation). Go to bed at a normal hour; do not stay up late cramming.
Eat breakfast, check your admission slip and pencils one more time, and leave with enough margin to arrive 30–45 minutes early. On the way, review only the one-page sheet. Once at the venue, use the restroom before entering the room and avoid discussing answers or predictions with other candidates, which raises anxiety.
Put your admission slip and writing tools on the desk as instructed, switch off your phone, and listen carefully to the supervisor's explanation of time limits and answer-sheet rules. Fill in your examinee number and name before the start signal.
Read the whole paper briefly to see the question distribution, then answer the questions you are confident about first. For calculation questions, write the formula, substitute the values with units, and check the unit and significant figures of your answer. For graph questions, read the axis labels and units before reading the shape. For experiment questions, state the variable you changed, the variable you kept constant, and the result.
Reserve the last 5–10 minutes to check that every question has an answer, that your examinee number is correct, and that you have not left a mark outside the answer boxes. Change an answer only when you have a concrete reason; do not change it on a vague feeling.
Do not try to reconstruct the science paper with friends right after the test, because the next subject may still be ahead. Follow your school's guidance on interviews and document submission, and confirm any post-exam procedures with your junior high school.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from the examination supervisor. Instructions given on the day take priority over anything you heard secondhand, and if something is unclear, ask before the test begins rather than guessing.
Bring and display your admission slip as instructed. If you forget it or lose it, tell the supervisor or your accompanying teacher immediately; the response procedure is set by the exam-administrating body, so confirm with the provider in advance.
Electronic devices, including phones and smartwatches, must be switched off and stored as instructed. Using them during the test is treated as misconduct in most entrance exams; confirm the exact rule with the provider.
Do not talk, look at other candidates' papers, or pass anything during the test. Breaks between subjects are for resting and preparing your tools; keep conversation quiet and follow the supervisor's directions on leaving and returning to the room.
Write answers in the designated places on the answer sheet, and fill in your examinee number correctly. Answers written outside the designated areas may not be scored, so confirm the format on the cover page and in the supervisor's explanation.
Scoring and passing decisions are made by the exam-administrating body, and the weighting of the science paper within the overall selection is not something you can control. Focus on answering accurately rather than on guessing the scoring rules; for any specific question about scoring, confirm with the provider.
If you feel unwell, have a nosebleed, or need to leave the room during the test, raise your hand and tell the supervisor. Do not leave the room on your own; the procedure for special circumstances is set by the provider.
Keep the venue and your surroundings clean, and do not bring notes, textbooks, or reference materials to your desk unless the supervisor explicitly permits it. Possession of unauthorized materials during the test can be treated as misconduct.