Juken Season for high schools

After the new year holidays, students in Japan hit the ground running when thousands of them start a grueling test process to enter high schools and universities. At the private six-year high school I teach at, we’re in the midst of 受験シーゾン juken shiizon, entrance testing for junior and senior high school, receiving hundreds of children and their families.

Words of encouragment on Kitkat as the brand name sounds like きっと勝つ kitto katsu - certain victory

On “Juken Eve”, January 9th, NHK television broadcast to coach families on how to interpret all the data on 受験票 jukenhyo, the examination ticket and provided words of encouragement from the announcers. There are many age groups to cheer on - university candidates, junior high school third years competing to get into senior high schools, and elementary 6th years aiming for private high school entrance.

The school side

Although each year, the cohort of school age children shrinks, applications for private high schools in the capital region are up in 2024. Some schools entice families with science or technology enrichment while others have implemented English courses for returnees and accelerated English programs for domestic students. Increasingly, schools in the Kanto region are accepting bicultural and/or bilingual children who are nationals of other countries.

And then there is a lot of preparation for these tests - weeks of effort on the part of the departments with testable subjects. Usually Kokugo, math, social studies and science are tested. A growing number of schools are including English, too, to adapt to the wants and needs of diverse students. The organization of these events requires meticulous planning and all hands on deck. And these are long with most staff doing a 12-hour day and administrators working long into the evening to announce results online or by email. 

The family side

The test regime for prospective junior high school students are demanding as getting a spot provides them with エスカレーター学校, the escalator school experience, a six year combined junior and senior high school education which leads to the university to which the schools are attached. The benefit is that the child doesn’t have to test into each level of school.

The test days at private high schools

On the test days, whole families attend to support their test candidate children. And it’s a commitment - testing starts at around 9 a.m. for multiple subjects and subsequent rounds in the afternoon. Results are announced on school websites (don’t lose that juken card number to log in), often late at night after all the scores have been finalized. It’s tough on the kids, but the outcomes are significant for families and children as success in passing selected exams can earn them subsidies and scholarships. For the long wait, often in a hall or auxiliary classroom, it's best for parents to wear comfortable and warm clothes, bring a blanket, and something to while away the time.

Best of luck to all the children who are taking a shot at private school entrance this testing season.