Japan university admission: the Common Test and entry routes
How the national Common Test works and the three routes into a Japanese university, with how many students enter by each.
The Common Test for University Admissions (共通テスト)
The next Common Test is on 23 and 24 January 2027. It has seven subject areas and 21 papers, and each university chooses which papers it requires and how to weight them.
- Japanese: 90 minutes, 200 points.
- Geography, history and civics: up to two of six papers, 60 minutes and 100 points each.
- Mathematics: Mathematics I with A (or Mathematics I alone), and Mathematics II with B and C, 70 minutes and 100 points each.
- Science: up to two of five papers.
- Foreign language: English (Reading 100 points and Listening 100 points), or German, French, Chinese or Korean (written, 200 points).
- Information: Information I, 60 minutes, 100 points.
The three entry routes
Universities admit students in three ways:
- General selection (一般選抜): written exams, the Common Test, the university's own exams or both, mostly in February and March.
- School-recommended selection (学校推薦型選抜): based on your high school's recommendation and transcript; applications usually open in November.
- Comprehensive selection (総合型選抜, formerly AO entry): essays, interviews and presentations; applications usually open in September.
How many enter by each route
In 2025, 19.5% of university entrants came through comprehensive selection (7.7% at national universities, 22.8% at private ones) and 34.1% through school-recommended selection (12.7% at national, 38.8% at private). About 46% entered through general selection. Each university publishes its own results and requirements in its admission guide (募集要項).
Reading a university's admission guide
The admission guide lists which Common Test papers count and their weights, the university's own exams, the application dates and any conditions for each route. Dates and papers change from year to year, so check the guide for the year you apply.
Official pages
- National Center for University Entrance Examinations: Common Test 2027
- MEXT: university admission guidelines (実施要項)
- MEXT: 2025 admission figures by route
Common Test outline: 大学入試センターウェブサイト (National Center for University Entrance Examinations), processed by Peernovo. Entry route figures: MEXT, 令和7年度国公私立大学・短期大学入学者選抜実施状況の概要, processed by Peernovo.
Questions
Do all universities use the Common Test?
National and public universities generally use it for general selection, and many private universities offer a route that uses it. Each university chooses which papers count.
Why are there no deviation scores (偏差値) here?
Deviation scores come from private prep schools' mock exams, not from universities. We show only official information.
When should I apply?
Comprehensive selection opens first (usually September), then school-recommended selection (usually November), then the Common Test in January and general selection in February and March.