Tokyo Metropolitan Public High School Entrance Examination - Social Studies exam-day guide
Tokyo Metropolitan Public High School Entrance Examination - Social Studies · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
受験票 (admission slip / 受検票)
The single most important item. Without it you may not be admitted. Check the printed 受検番号 (candidate number), venue, and date against your own records. If it is lost or damaged, contact the 東京都教育庁都立学校教育部高等学校教育課 (the office named on your application documents) immediately - do not wait until test morning. Confirm the exact replacement procedure with the provider.
筆記用具 (pencils, eraser, sharpener)
Bring several sharpened HB or B pencils (the grade normally specified on the slip - confirm the required grade on your 受検票 or 募集要項). Bring a clean plastic eraser and a small sharpener or spare pencils. Mechanical pencils are generally acceptable but confirm with the provider, as some venues restrict them.
時計 (wristwatch, no smart functions)
Walls may not have a visible clock, and you are not guaranteed a time announcement. Bring an analogue or simple digital wristwatch. Smartwatches and any device with communication or calculation functions must not be worn or used - confirm the venue's policy.
上履き and 靴袋 (indoor shoes)
Most 都立 high schools require you to change shoes at the entrance. Bring clean indoor shoes and a bag for your outdoor shoes. Confirm whether your venue requires them; some specify slippers are provided.
昼食 and 飲み物 (lunch and drink)
The test day is long, with 国語・数学・英語・社会・理科 plus breaks. Bring a compact lunch that does not need heating and a sealed drink. Avoid noisy wrappers and strong-smelling food. Confirm whether eating in the classroom is permitted.
現金 (small bills and coins)
For train fare, vending machines, and any unexpected fee. Carry coins for a locker or a bus. Do not rely on a smartphone payment app.
雨具 and 防寒/暑さ対策
February test dates are cold; venues may be poorly heated, and waiting rooms and corridors are cold. Bring a coat you can remove in the classroom and a folding umbrella. Check the forecast the night before.
志望理由・面接メモ (for schools with 面接 or 作文)
Some 都立 schools add 面接, 作文, or 実技 on the same or a separate day. If your school does, prepare a short written summary of your reasons for applying, your middle-school activities, and your goals. Confirm the format and whether notes may be brought into the waiting room with the provider.
体調管理 and 当日の健康確認
Sleep on a normal schedule for the last week; do not study past midnight the night before. If you have a fever or symptoms on the day, follow the school's published instructions - do not enter the venue without guidance. Confirm the illness/absence procedure and any 追検査 (make-up test) eligibility with the provider in advance.
会場までの経路確認 (route check)
Do a practice run to the venue at the same time of day, and identify a backup route. Note that the school gate may be a distance from the station. Plan to arrive 30–45 minutes early; lateness rules are strict.
スマートフォン and 電子機器の扱い
Phones must normally be switched off and stored in your bag, not kept in a pocket. Confirm the venue's exact rule (some collect devices). Do not wear a smartwatch at all.
募集要項・受検案内の再読
Re-read the 募集要項 and the school's 受検案内 for your specific school: reporting time, permitted items, break rules, and the 解答用紙 format. Requirements differ by school and by year - treat this checklist as a starting point and confirm every item with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop starting new topics. Review your error notebook and formula/term lists only. Confirm the venue route, reporting time, and the item list on your 受検票. Prepare clothes and shoes. Keep study sessions to the length of an actual test period so your concentration matches the real schedule.
Do one full timed run of the 社会 (social studies) paper under real conditions - same start time as the real test if possible. Mark it, and write down only the three or four error types you will fix, not every mistake. Review map skills (scale, contour lines, latitude/longitude), graph and table reading, and the difference between 資料 (source) questions and knowledge questions.
Light review only: key terms, dates, and the structure of written-answer questions (state the trend, then the reason). Pack your bag completely and place it by the door. Check the weather and set two alarms. Eat dinner at a normal time and go to bed early; do not try to learn new material.
Eat a normal breakfast. Re-check the bag against the checklist: 受検票, pencils, eraser, watch, indoor shoes, lunch, drink, cash, umbrella. Leave with enough margin to arrive 30–45 minutes early. Do not do heavy last-minute study; read your one-page summary only.
Follow staff instructions, find your room and seat, and confirm the exit and toilet locations. Switch off your phone and store it. Use the toilet before the test begins. Sit quietly and breathe; do not compare preparation with other candidates.
Read the instructions on the answer sheet first and confirm the number of pages and the marks per section. Do the questions you can answer first, then return to harder ones. For 社会, read the source material carefully before the question, and write written answers in complete, short sentences that name the trend and the reason. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints and leave time to check that every answer is written in the correct place.
Do not discuss answers in the corridor or on the way home; it only adds anxiety before later papers. Confirm the time and place of any 面接 or additional test. Rest, then prepare for the next stage.
Rules to check
Bring your 受検票 and keep it on your desk. You may be refused admission without it; the replacement procedure is set by the provider, so confirm it in advance rather than on the day.
Arrive by the reporting time stated on your 受検票. Late arrival rules are strict and vary by school - confirm the exact cut-off with the provider. Plan to arrive 30–45 minutes early.
Switch off mobile phones and any other electronic device and store them out of reach. Smartwatches and devices with communication or calculation functions must not be worn. Confirm the venue's precise rule with the provider.
Follow all instructions from 試験監督 (invigilators). Do not talk, pass items, or leave your seat during the test. Raise your hand if you need assistance.
Breaks are short and are not free time to move around the building. Stay in or near your seat, use the toilet quickly, and return before the bell. Confirm where you may and may not go.
Bring only permitted items to your desk. Pencil cases, notes, and textbooks must be in your bag. Anything that could be used to cheat will be treated as a conduct violation - confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Scoring and admission decisions are made by the provider according to its published 選抜方法; do not rely on rumour about cut-off scores. Confirm how 内申 (school records), the test, and any 面接 or 作文 are weighted for your school.
If you are ill or cannot attend, contact the school as instructed in your 受検案内. Do not enter the venue with symptoms. Ask the provider in advance about absence handling and any 追検査 (make-up test).