Ten Days Left Until the CSAT, but Entrance Exam Academies Are Closing... Japan's University Admissions in a Low Birthrate Society [Sunday Culture]

A University Entrance Common Test Similar to Korea...
Additional University-Specific Exams Required
Declining University Enrollment Due to Population Decrease...
Cram School Bankruptcies in Central Tokyo

My cousin took the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) and became a university student this year. Seeing their relieved expression made me reminisce a lot about my own college entrance exams.

In Korea, the CSAT is held in November, and by January, the admission process is usually wrapping up. In Japan, however, the University Entrance Common Test is held in January. This year, the exam is scheduled for the 18th and 19th, and there is a tense atmosphere similar to Korea’s November right now.

Students taking the College Scholastic Ability Test. Photo by NHK.

Meanwhile, in Japan, as the test date approaches, various news related to the exam are being reported, such as cram schools closing due to financial difficulties. So this week, we bring you a story about university admissions in Japan.

The exam similar to Korea’s CSAT in Japan is the University Entrance Common Test. It is taken when applying to national, public, or some private universities. Famous private universities known in Korea, such as Waseda and Meiji, require scores from this test. It used to be called the University Entrance Center Test, but the name changed to the University Entrance Common Test starting in 2020.

The test date is the first weekend after January 13 every year. So this year, the exam will be held on Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th. The subjects are similar to those in Korea. For language, math, and foreign language, there are Japanese (national language), English, Mathematics 1, and Mathematics 2. English includes both reading comprehension and listening tests. For humanities students, the social studies section is divided into geography/history and civics. Geography/history includes world history, Japanese history, and geography. Civics covers the other subjects excluding history, such as contemporary society, ethics, and politics/economics. Science students take physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science.

One difference is the second foreign language. In Korea, there is a wide variety including German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Vietnamese, and Classical Chinese. In Japan, students can choose from four subjects: German, French, Chinese, and Korean. It feels somewhat proud that Korean is included. Looking at last year’s questions, they ranged from “Which of the following has a different final consonant sound?” to sentence order arrangement, showing quite a variety.

Last year's Korean subject questions from the Japanese University Common Test. University Entrance Examination Center.

Anyway, many top universities require additional university-specific exams on top of the University Entrance Common Test. These include writing short essays or interviews, among other selection methods.

However, in Japan, where low birth rates and aging populations have progressed earlier than in Korea, the entrance exam industry is also undergoing changes. Recently, a famous cram school called “Nichigaku” located in Shinjuku went bankrupt and closed, causing major confusion among students preparing for the exam. The cram school had about 130 students, and its sudden closure sparked controversy.

Japanese media pointed out that the background of this situation is the population decline caused by low birth rates. In June last year, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology estimated that due to the low birth rate, the number of university and junior college entrants in Japan will decrease by about 23,000 annually by 2040. This corresponds to the capacity of approximately 86.5 universities.

Ahead of the university entrance common test, the cram school 'Nichigaku' in Shinjuku has closed down. NHK.

The impact of the decline in university entrants is directly affecting cram schools in Japan. In 2024, the number of cram school bankruptcies in Japan reached 53, a 17.7% increase from the previous year, marking the highest level since 2000. Competition among cram schools to attract students is becoming increasingly fierce. Additionally, with the rise of internet lectures via smartphones and other devices, the cram school industry is facing a harsh environment.

For now, other companies have temporarily stepped in to provide relief support for affected students and instructors. First- and second-year high school students will receive up to eight free classes until the end of March, and third-year students and repeaters preparing for exams will be offered up to four free classes until the exam day. Various measures, such as opening study rooms, are also being implemented. Instructors will be introduced to new job opportunities as well.

In Korea, recent mergers and closures of local universities are also occurring. Japan is experiencing this a bit earlier. The Japanese Ministry of Education is currently considering various measures, such as increasing the number of international students and accepting working students. It seems Korea should also prepare various strategies for the future.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.