How to Prepare for University Entrance Exams in Japan

Preparing for university entrance exams in Japan as a student from Bangladesh starts with understanding the EJU, the standard assessment used by hundreds of universities to evaluate Japanese language and academic readiness for undergraduate admission, and then structuring a yearlong plan that aligns with the twice‑yearly June and November test windows. The EJU tests Japanese as a Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science or Japan and the World, with subject combinations set by each target program, and scores remain valid for two years which lets candidates sit more than once and submit the strongest result. Because some schools also require a separate university entrance exam or interview after the EJU, planning must include both national testing and campus specific steps found in the Student Guide to Japan and each university’s admissions page.

Begin with target program mapping, list 5 to 8 Japanese universities by major, check whether they require Mathematics Course 1 or Course 2, whether they want Science or Japan and the World, and whether the exam language can be Japanese or English for non language subjects, then lock a test window at least 6 to 9 months ahead for steady preparation. The EJU structure is fixed, Japanese 125 minutes with reading, listening and a writing section scored to 450 points total, Mathematics 80 minutes scored to 200 points across Course 1 or Course 2, Science 80 minutes for two of physics, chemistry, biology to 200 points, and Japan and the World 80 minutes to 200 points, while Science and Japan and the World cannot be taken on the same day. JASSO publishes session schedules and online score delivery dates, so applicants in Dhaka can time applications around the June or November sittings, print the electronic score confirmation after results, and send it to universities according to their intake calendars.

Create a disciplined study plan tied to the EJU syllabus and past question styles, using Japanese language study for daily comprehension and exam tasks, and subject practice for the chosen track to close knowledge gaps efficiently. For Japanese, combine graded readers, EJU past paper listening and reading drills, and weekly timed essays to simulate the writing section while building academic vocabulary that appears in lectures and textbooks, not just JLPT style words. For Mathematics and Science, match the program requirement to the correct math course and science pair, then drill topic lists from the JASSO syllabus with full length 80 minute mocks, reviewing solutions and error logs after every session to convert mistakes into weekly revision targets.

Use official timetables and validity rules to craft a two cycle strategy, take the exam in June for a baseline score, refine weak sections, and retake in November to maximize results before application season, since many universities accept the best score from the last two years and some enable pre arrival screening with EJU only. Keep university selection aligned to requirements, liberal arts programs often request Japan and the World with Math Course 1 whereas engineering usually needs Math Course 2 with Physics and Chemistry, which affects daily study balance and mock exam sequencing. The Student Guide to Japan outlines typical admissions flows from document screening to entrance exams and interviews, so factor in time for translation, notarization, and application fee payment while preparing for possible second stage tests after the EJU.

Registration logistics matter, register during the JASSO window for the preferred session, track voucher and result dates, and confirm the overseas representative process for test centers outside Japan when necessary, since deadlines are strict and late changes are rarely permitted. Starting from 2025, paper score reports are discontinued, results are checked online and printed by examinees, so update document submission plans and verify whether each university accepts the EJU online score confirmation printout or requests direct verification through JASSO’s portal. For extra practice, supplement official resources with reputable guides and university pages that explain EJU combinations and preparation approaches, while prioritizing official JASSO materials for exam rules and formats to avoid outdated advice.

Finally, add application readiness steps that matter to Bangladeshi candidates, maintain a study calendar around HSC or bachelor timelines, prepare English test scores if required by the program, and build a checklist for ID, photos, fee receipts, and venue rules before exam day to reduce stress and mistakes. On test week, run two timed full mocks, sleep and nutrition routines, and commute checks to the venue, then after results, use the two year validity to target rolling and spring intakes strategically across universities that publish clear EJU thresholds and subject expectations. With a clear plan anchored to JASSO’s syllabus, session dates, and score handling, applicants from Bangladesh can approach Japan’s entrance process confidently, balancing language growth with subject mastery and on time applications for the desired intake.