Common Test

Overview

The 大学入学共通テスト (Common Test for University Admissions) is a nationwide standardized test run by the Center for University Entrance Examinations (DNC, 独立行政法人大学入試センター). Held once a year in mid-January, it is taken by the large majority of Japanese high-school graduates applying to university, making it one of the highest-volume entrance tests in Japan. It also forms the first stage of the two-stage admission process most national and public universities use, and it is accepted on its own by many private universities under their "Common Test utilisation" (共通テスト利用) admission route.

Who can apply

Current third-year high-school students and graduates of a Japanese high school (or an equivalent recognised qualification) who intend to apply to a Japanese university can register for the Common Test. Current students normally apply through their school; graduates and other eligible candidates apply individually through the official online application site. For the test held in January 2027 (令和9年度), candidates first created a "my-page" account on the application site between 1 July 2026 and 2 October 2026, then submitted their subject choices and university-use details between 15 September 2026 and 2 October 2026.

Exam pattern

All Common Test papers are answered on a mark-sheet (multiple-choice); none of the subjects include a written/descriptive section. Candidates choose which subjects to sit based on the requirements of the universities and courses they plan to apply to.

Japanese (国語)

Geography, History and Civics (地理歴史・公民)

Mathematics (数学)

Science (理科)

Foreign Language (外国語)

Information (情報)

The test is held over two days, with subjects grouped by day and time slot; the exact timetable is published with each year's implementation guidelines.

Marking and results

Every paper is scored by mark-sheet; there is no subjective/descriptive marking. On the evening of each exam day, DNC and other bodies publish the official answer keys, and candidates do their own "self-scoring" (自己採点) against their recorded answers — this self-score is what most candidates use to decide which universities and courses to apply to next, since official scores are issued to universities directly rather than to candidates in time for application decisions.

Important dates

For the test administered in January 2027 (令和9年度 cycle):

• My-page registration window: 1 July 2026 – 2 October 2026

• Application (subject and university-use registration) and fee payment: 15 September 2026 – 2 October 2026

• Application correction window: 9 October 2026 – 16 October 2026

• Main test: 16–17 January 2027

• Make-up test (for candidates with an approved reason): 23–24 January 2027

Fees

For the 2027 (令和9年度) cycle, the application fee is 18,000 yen for candidates sitting three or more subjects, and 12,000 yen for candidates sitting two or fewer subjects.

How to apply

Candidates apply online through the official Common Test application website. Current high-school students generally apply through their school, which handles the registration and fee collection; graduates and other individual candidates register and pay directly online within the application window. After the result of self-scoring, candidates who want to use the score at a national or public university separately apply to that university's admission office, which then runs its own second-stage (individual) examination.

After the exam

For national and public universities, the Common Test is normally the first stage of a two-stage admission process: the Common Test score is combined with (or, at highly competitive departments, first used to screen for) a university-set second-stage examination before a final offer is made. Many private universities instead offer an admission route that uses the Common Test score on its own, with no separate university exam.

Preparation tips

Because every subject is answered on a mark-sheet with no written component, practising full-length timed mock papers under exam conditions helps more than open-ended essay practice. Decide early which optional subjects (mathematics track, science track, foreign language, geography/history/civics combination) match the requirements of the target universities and courses, since subject choice affects both preparation time and which course options stay open later.