Overview
The Comprehensive Service examination (総合職試験, Sōgōshoku) is run by the National Personnel Authority (人事院) to recruit staff for work in policy planning and in research and investigation in national ministries and agencies. The Authority's pages and guides are in Japanese. The General Service exam is a separate exam for clerical and technical staff.
The 2026 round has three exams: the graduate-school exam (院卒者試験), the university-level exam (大卒程度試験), and the university-level general-education category (教養区分), which is held in spring and again in autumn.
Who can apply
Graduate-school exam: born on or after 2 April 1996, and has completed (or will complete by March 2027) a master's or professional graduate course, or is judged equivalent. The Authority recommends that eligible people take this exam rather than the university-level one, and says someone who passes but then fails to complete the course may not be hired.
University-level exam: born between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2005, or later with a university degree (or expected by March 2027). Junior college graduates do not qualify on that basis.
General-education category: born between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2007, or later with a university degree (or expected by March 2027).
Non-Japanese nationals and people barred from civil service under the National Public Service Act cannot apply.
Exam pattern
Categories. Graduate-school: administration, human science, digital, engineering, mathematical science/physics/earth science, chemistry/biology/pharmacy, agricultural science/fisheries, agricultural engineering, forestry and natural environment. University-level: politics/international/humanities, law, economics, human science, digital, engineering, mathematical science/physics/earth science, chemistry/biology/pharmacy, agricultural science/fisheries, agricultural engineering, forestry and natural environment, and general education.
Graduate-school and university-level exams (not general education)
| Stage | Test | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| First | Basic ability (multiple choice) | 30 questions, 2 hours 20 minutes |
| First | Specialised subjects (multiple choice) | 40 questions, 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Second | Specialised subjects (written) | 2 questions, 3 hours (engineering may have 1 or 2) |
| Second | Policy essay (university level) | 1 question, 2 hours |
| Second | Policy discussion (graduate-school level) | Group discussion, about 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Second | Individual interview | Personality test also given as a reference |
| Extra | English | Scores from TOEFL iBT, TOEIC Listening and Reading, IELTS or Eiken add 15 or 25 points to the total |
General-education category
| Stage | Test | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| First | Basic ability (multiple choice) | Part 1: 30 questions, 2 hours 20 minutes; Part 2: 20 questions, 1 hour |
| First | Comprehensive essay | 1 question, 2 hours 30 minutes; marked only for those who pass the multiple-choice paper |
| Second | Planning proposal | Part 1: a presentation sheet prepared in 1 hour 30 minutes from a set task and materials; Part 2: a presentation and questions, about 30 minutes |
| Second | Policy discussion | Group discussion, about 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Second | Individual interview | Personality test also given as a reference |
| Extra | English | Same score additions as above |
There is no specialised paper in the general-education category.
Marking and results
Final successful candidates are listed in score order on a recruitment list, valid for five years for the graduate-school and university-level exams (other than general education) and seven years for the general-education category. Ministries then interview people on the list and decide who to hire, and candidates must visit ministries (官庁訪問) to be considered.
Important dates
For the 2026 spring round, applications ran from 2 to 24 February 2026, the first stage was on 15 March, first-stage results on 30 March, the second-stage written test on 12 April, interviews from 20 April to 15 May, and final results on 29 May (general-education category: planning proposal, discussion and interview on 27 and 28 April or 30 April and 1 May).
For the autumn general-education category in 2026, applications ran from 31 July to 24 August, the first stage was on 4 October, first-stage results on 21 October, the second stage on two consecutive days among 24 to 27 November, and final results on 17 December.
How to apply
Applications are made on the Authority's online system, with an internet connection (normally a PC) and a printer. After passing the first stage, you download your pass notice and interview card from your personal record.
Preparation tips
The planning proposal in the general-education category uses reference materials that the Authority posts in advance, so read them before the test. The Authority also publishes English-test certificate rules, past papers and pass marks on its exam pages.
Does passing the Comprehensive Service exam guarantee a job?
No. You are placed on a recruitment list, and ministries choose from it after their own interviews.
Is there an English requirement?
Not a pass mark. External English test scores can add 15 or 25 points to your total.