Passing score and pass rate for written exams
In order to obtain a driver's license, you must pass two exams: a provisional license and a regular license. So, how many points should I get on the written exam to pass? Here we will introduce the passing scores and pass rates for the academic exam.
What score do you need to pass the academic exam?
The written exam is passed with a score of 90 or higher out of 100. The question format of the test is a true/false format that determines whether the answer written in the question is correct or incorrect, and if you have the correct knowledge, the test is not very difficult.
However, if by any chance you fail, you will have to pay the exam fee and retake the exam, so be sure to prepare well before taking the exam.
Proficiency test is a deduction method
You will not pass the written test unless you score 90 points or more, but you will pass the skill test if you have 70 points or more remaining at the end of the test.
The driving skill test is based on a point deduction method, with the examiner who is riding with you taking a point out of 100 points, and points are deducted from the starting point of 100 points by skill checks while driving.
If you are unable to reach a passing score of 70 points due to multiple deductions during the exam, the skill exam will end at that point. If you can reach the end of the skill test with a score of 70 or more, you will pass.
Pass rate of Karimenkyo Written Test examination
The passing rate for the provisional license exam is approximately 80%. According to the National Police Agency's driving license statistics, the provisional license passing rate in 2020 was 80.5%, and in 2019 it was 80.4%.
The academic exam for the provisional license consists of a total of 50 questions based on what you have learned in the academic training up to that point, in a ○✕ format. The score is 2 points each, and the passing score is 90 points, so answering 45 or more questions correctly is the passing line.
Even if you fail Karimenkyo Written Test exam, you can try again as many times as you like, so don't give up. Most driving schools require a retake fee to retake the test, so if you can pass the test in fewer attempts, you will save money.
Source: National Police Agency official "Driver's License Statistics"
Pass rate of this entrance exam
The pass rate for the main license exam in 2020 was 77.7%. The pass rate was 75.1% in 2019 and 75.9% in 2018, which are almost the same.
The actual academic license exam has a total of 95 questions from a wider range of subjects than Karimenkyo Written Test exam. There are 90 ○✕ format questions worth 1 point each and 5 illustration questions worth 2 points each.
Source: National Police Agency official website "Driver's License Statistics" https://www.npa.go.jp/publications/statistics/koutsuu/menkyo.html
Process and costs when failing the written exam
In the unlikely event that I fail the written exam, when can I take the exam next time? We will explain the process and costs for retaking the exam.
When can I take the main license exam next?
In the unlikely event that you fail the Licensure Subject Exam, you will have to pay the exam fee and take the exam again. Generally, you can retake the exam on weekdays after the next day.
In some prefectures, if you fail the morning test, you can retake the afternoon test if you complete the retake procedures in time. However, it is generally not possible to retake the test on the same day, so it is a good idea to check the conditions in your prefecture in advance.
What if I fail Karimenkyo Written Test exam?
Even if you fail Karimenkyo Written Test exam, you can retake it as many times as you like. However, in order to obtain a provisional license, you must pass not only the written exam but also the skills exam.
If you have passed Driving Test Certification, which is a skill test, if you do not pass the written test within three months of passing Driving Test, you will have to take the Completion Driving Test again.
Cost of taking the exam again
The cost of retaking Karimenkyo Written Test Examination and the Main Licensing Examination differs depending on the prefecture. Here we will introduce the costs in Tokyo.
| Retaking the provisional license examination | 1,700 yen (tax exempt) |
| Retaking the main license exam | 1,750 yen (tax exempt) |
Strategies to pass this exam on the first try
We will explain what you need to prepare and keep in mind in order to pass the Honen written exam on the first try.
Beware of trick questions
Although the difficulty of the written exam is not very high, the passing score is 90 points or higher, so missing just one question can have a big impact. Therefore, you need to be careful about trick questions that can lead to pitfalls.
I will give an example and explain some trick questions that you should be especially careful about.
| [Problem] A green light signal always means to proceed. | [Answer]✕ (“You can proceed” is correct, not “You must proceed.”) |
| [Problem] When you see a flashing yellow light, you must be careful of other traffic and drive slowly. | [Answer] ✕ (“Proceed with caution” is correct, not “drive slowly with caution”) |
| [Problem] The height limit for loading onto a large truck is 3.8 meters from the loading platform. | [Answer]✕ (“From the ground” is correct, not from the loading platform) |
As you can see, there are some questions that you can easily get wrong if you rush through them, so it is important to always stay calm and read the questions carefully before answering them.
It is a good idea to read the question while checking to see if there are any hidden points in the text. It is also important to memorize detailed traffic rules and signs that are easy to misunderstand, so that you do not have a vague memory of them.
The best thing to do is to solve the problems prepared by the driving school.
The driving school keeps track of the passing rates for the provisional license and regular license every month, and the questions prepared by the driving school reflect the latest question trends. Therefore, the best solution is to practice by solving problems prepared by the driving school.
Also, some driving schools have computers in their study rooms, so you can practice solving problems while you are waiting or whenever you like. Use the questions and PC tools provided at the driving school to familiarize yourself with exam questions.
only this! 4 things you should know before taking academic training at a driving school
Measuring the effectiveness of the driving school and practicing with past questions
At driving schools, there is a test called "effect measurement." This is a mock exam that is held before the academic exam for the provisional license, and it also serves as a dry run to answer questions in the same true/false format as the actual academic exam. Don't take the test just because it's a mock test, and focus on re-memorizing the parts you made mistakes before taking the test.
Also, if you receive past questions at the driving school or can view past questions on a PC in the study room, it is important to read the past questions repeatedly to get used to the wording of the questions and the content of the questions.
Prepare in advance and aim to pass the written exam on the first try.
In order to obtain a license, you must pass two written exams: a provisional license and a regular license. The questions are not very difficult if you have studied well in advance, but since the passing standard is 90 points or higher, there is a possibility that you will fail if you lose points due to trick questions or questions that are easy to make mistakes. there is.
The pass rate for the written test is approximately 71%, and if you fail, it will cost you extra time and money to retake the test, so keep the points explained here in mind and aim to pass on the first try.
We also recommend these online materials for preparing for the written exam. The curriculum is based on videos, so you can use your free time to study for the written exam efficiently.
