January is already in its second half, and exam season has officially begun in Nishinomiya! Junior high school entrance exams in particular have become even more popular over the past few years, so knowing when entrance exams are usually held each year and planning out an exam schedule strategically has become really important.
So once again, we asked Tani-san from the exam prep pros at “Juku Sherpa” to explain junior high school entrance exams in detail! Over to you, Tani-san.
Entrance Exam Season Is in Full Swing Again This Year
On Saturday, January 18, the Common Test for University Admissions and junior high school entrance exams in the Kansai area were held. This time, I’d like to explain junior high school entrance exams.
As a general rule, entrance exams for private junior high schools in the Kansai area, including Nishinomiya, begin on the third Saturday of January. This year, that was Saturday, January 18.
It varies by school, but exam dates are often scheduled for the morning and afternoon of the third Saturday, and the morning and afternoon of the following Sunday. Among these, students often take the exam for their first-choice school on the morning of the third Saturday, and then take exams for so-called backup schools and others on the later dates.
Each school has its own characteristics in terms of exam subjects, content, and difficulty, so adjusting the exam schedule is also an important factor.
As one example, I put together an exam schedule assuming a student is applying to junior high schools around Nishinomiya.
This schedule is a combination where the student takes the exam for their first-choice junior high school on the morning of January 18, and then takes another exam for the same school again on the afternoon of January 19. In fact, this junior high school announces the results of the first day’s Schedule A exam at around 1:00 p.m. on January 19, so if the student passes at that point, they are planning not to take the Schedule B exam.
When you actually go through it, a schedule of taking exams at four schools over two days is mentally and physically demanding. Building up both motivation and stamina ahead of the exams is also extremely important.
It seems that many families start preparing for junior high school entrance exams around fourth grade. However, it’s necessary to approach exam preparation while considering a variety of factors, such as the target school, academic ability, whether the child has extracurricular lessons, budget, and the child’s personality. Recently, there are also group lessons, private tutoring, online instruction, streaming-style classes, and many other options. Please find an exam prep style that suits you.
If you’re having trouble with exams or choosing a cram school, please use Juku Sherpa’s free consultation service.
In Closing
Wow, junior high school entrance exams can really change depending on how you put together the schedule. I was especially struck by the point that “it’s important to make a plan while considering not only the child’s academic ability, but also their stamina and mental well-being.” Parents and students thinking about junior high school entrance exams should definitely use this as a reference for next year.
