Overview
In Japan, entrance exams do more than determine which school you attend. They shape friendships, career paths, and family life for years afterward. Whether you're watching a school drama, talking with Japanese students, or just navigating daily life, education vocabulary comes up constantly. This set covers the words students and teachers actually use — from the cram school grind to the morning university results are announced.
Essential Words
Academic Institutions and Settings
大学院
daigakuin
— graduate school
専門学校
senmon gakkō
— vocational school; technical college
図書館
toshokan
— library
教室
kyōshitsu
— classroom
講堂
kōdō
— auditorium; lecture hall
Exams and Tests
試験
shiken
— exam; test
受験
juken
— taking an entrance exam; sitting for a test
合格
gōkaku
— passing an exam; acceptance
不合格
fugōkaku
— failing an exam; rejection
点数
tensū
— score; points
成績
seiseki
— grades; academic results
模擬試験
mogi shiken
— mock exam; practice test
Studying and Learning
予習
yoshū
— preparation; studying in advance
復習
fukushū
— review; studying after class
暗記
anki
— memorization; learning by heart
集中
shūchū
— concentration; focus
締め切り
shimekiri
— deadline
People and Roles
受験生
jukensei
— exam candidate; student preparing for entrance exams
担任
tannin
— homeroom teacher; class teacher
教授
kyōju
— professor
塾
juku
— cram school; private tutoring school
奨学金
shōgakukin
— scholarship; student loan
Key Phrases
来年、大学の入学試験を受けるつもりです。
Rainen, daigaku no nyūgaku shiken wo ukeru tsumori desu.
I plan to take the university entrance exam next year.
試験に合格するために、毎日復習しています。
Shiken ni gōkaku suru tame ni, mainichi fukushū shite imasu.
I review every day in order to pass the exam.
彼女は模擬試験で高い点数を取りました。
Kanojo wa mogi shiken de takai tensū wo torimashita.
She got a high score on the mock exam.
単語を暗記するのは大変ですが、大切です。
Tango wo anki suru no wa taihen desu ga, taisetsu desu.
Memorizing vocabulary is hard, but it matters.
今学期の成績はどうでしたか？
Kongakki no seiseki wa dō deshita ka?
How were your grades this semester?
塾に通っている受験生がたくさんいます。
Juku ni kayotte iru jukensei ga takusan imasu.
There are many exam candidates who attend cram school.
図書館で集中して勉強したいです。
Toshokan de shūchū shite benkyō shitai desu.
I want to study with focus at the library.
奨学金をもらうために申請書を書きました。
Shōgakukin wo morau tame ni shinseisho wo kakimashita.
I wrote an application to receive a scholarship.
担任の先生に進路について相談しました。
Tannin no sensei ni shinro ni tsuite sōdan shimashita.
I consulted my homeroom teacher about my future plans.
締め切りまでにレポートを提出しなければなりません。
Shimekiri made ni repōto wo teishutsu shinakereba narimasen.
I must submit the report by the deadline.
Cultural Notes
Japan's exam culture runs deep. Many students spend their final year of middle or high school focused almost entirely on test prep, attending 塾 after regular classes until 9 or 10 pm. The phrase 受験戦争 (juken sensō — literally "exam war") captures the intensity. A single test score can determine which university you attend. University brand carries significant weight in Japanese hiring culture, so the stakes feel very real.
Students pray for success at shrines like Yushima Tenmangū in Tokyo, leaving ema (wooden wishing tablets) inscribed with school names and target scores. January and February mark peak exam season. Families track results together on announcement day — 合格 brings relief; 不合格 means another year of preparation for some.
Practice Tips
Pair 予習 and 復習 from the start. They're opposites in the same daily routine, so learning them together locks both in place. For 暗記 practice, cover the reading side of a flashcard and recall it before flipping — the same technique Japanese students use for kanji drills.
Write one sentence a day in Japanese about your study routine. Something like: 今日、図書館で復習した。 (I reviewed at the library today.) Short and specific beats long and vague. School dramas like ドラゴン桜 use this vocabulary constantly and show the culture behind the words — worth watching even at an intermediate level.