Practical Study Tips for Gaimen Kirikae (License Conversion), Karimen (Provisional License) & Honmen (Final Written Exam)

Are you currently facing the looming threat of taking a written test in Japanese to get your driver’s license? The new rules for license conversion made the written test much harder than it used to be, and the standard provisional and final exam, required by anyone getting a Japanese driver’s license from scratch, is already daunting. However, with solid preparation and good learning materials, you will find that all of the tests above are in fact, very doable. In this article, I will outline some effective methods to study for these written exams using our new study app, Drivey. 

1. Start With Your Base Level: Use Drivey’s Mock Exams or Skill Tests To Find Your Baseline

Many learners jump straight into grinding out lessons one after the other, but it is important to regularly take practice tests in order to gauge your current level and where your weaknesses and strengths are. 

How to use it:

• Open Drivey and take the Skill Check or Mock Test from the Test menu.
  
• The test will automatically highlight areas where you are below passing level: for example, signs, right-of-way, or expressway rules etc.
  

Your learning data and Drivey’s assessments will be visible in the Analytics section. 

For example, if you score well on rules about overtaking but consistently miss questions about priority at narrow roads or crosswalk-related stopping rules, Drivey will mark these as weak points based on your correct rate. You can then focus your study time where it matters most.

2. Build Core Knowledge with Multilingual Lessons

Drivey’s strength is that you can use the app in one of several languages, such as Japanese, English, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesian, and soon Burmese.

How to use it:

• You can change the language of the app by navigating to the settings menu found under your profile.
  
• You can switch languages as often as you want and all materials, including videos will be adjusted accordingly.
  

3. Strengthen Weak Points Using Targeted Drill Practice

Instead of studying everything equally, Drivey lets you drill just your weak areas. Using the analytics-section, Drivey allows you to instantly jump to the sections you want to review, based on the correctness percentage. You can also see an overview of your mock-test performance and easily view the results of your past attempts.

4. Use Mock Exams to Build Stamina and Accuracy

Real tests in Japan require both speed and concentration. Drivey’s mock exams mirror the structure of the actual tests.

How to use it:

• Choose Mock Exam Mode to be tested on 50 questions with a time limit of 50 minutes.
  
• Don’t check answers immediately, focus on finishing the full exam first to simulate real conditions.
  
• Review mistakes carefully using the explanation provided for each question.
  

5. Learn Traffic Signs with Spaced Repetition

Many foreigners fail because they underestimate the number of signs included on the test. Drivey includes all major signs plus detailed explanations.

How to use it:

• Use the Traffic Sign Flashcard Mode daily for 5–10 minutes.
  
• Mark signs you don’t know so Drivey can repeat them more often.
  
• Switch between English and Japanese names when you start memorizing.
  

Real example:

A learner might know “No U-Turn” and “Stop,” but signs like 規制標識, 指示標識, or 補助標識 can be confusing. Drivey breaks these into categories and lets you practice them until recall becomes automatic.

6. Follow a Daily Study Plan Using Drivey’s “Study Streaks”

Consistency matters more than long study sessions. Taking a test with 50-100 questions will seem progressively less overwhelming if you regularly review, even if it is just 10-20 minutes at a time. Drivey aims to make consistency as easy as possible both in short bursts and for longer sessions.

How to use it:

• Aim for at least 10–20 minutes per day using Drivey.
  
• Keep your streak active by completing one lesson or one mock exam each day.
  
• Pair Drivey with a textbook to review and test what you read and really get the most out of your study time.

7. Use Drivey Before and After Real Lessons

Many driving schools don’t offer actual classes in languages other than Japanese. This is where Drivey can really help you out, by allowing you to easily review what was covered during lessons.

How to use it:

• Before your lesson, review the same topic inside Drivey so you know the basics.
  
• After the lesson, do a quick quiz to confirm you understood correctly.
  

This method reduces the confusion many foreigners experience when instructors explain rules in rapid Japanese.

Final Tips for Getting the Most Out of Drivey

Here are some habits that consistently help users pass faster:

• Don’t memorize blindly, always read the explanation after each question.
  
• Take at least 5 full mock exams before your real test.
  
• Focus deeply on your weak points instead of trying to study everything equally.
  
• Use Drivey daily, even for short sessions, consistency is the biggest factor in passing.
  

Ready to Boost Your Written Test Score?

Drivey was built for busy people, multilingual learners, and anyone struggling with Japan’s increasingly strict written exams. If you use the app strategically by diagnosing your level, drilling weak points, and practicing mock exams you’ll likely feel a significant increase in confidence by the time you step into the exam room.

If you want to get started with Drivey, you can sign up for the free trial or buy access straight away from here!

Additionally, if you would like to test yourself with some review questions updated for the new October rule update, check out one of our review articles here!