2-Day Unified Univ. Entrance Exams Begin in Japan

Tokyo, Jan. 18 (Jiji Press)--Japan's two-day unified university entrance examinations started Saturday at 651 venues across the country, with the number of applicants increasing by about 3,200 from the previous year to some 495,100.

The exams on geography and history, civics, and Japanese and foreign languages will be held on the first day, and the science, math and informatics exams on Sunday.

The informatics exam, which asks test-takers questions about programming and other items, is set to be conducted for the first time, following a revision of the country's school curriculum guidelines.

The unified exams were restructured into 21 courses in seven subjects from 30 courses in six subjects this time.

As in the previous year, no special measures against COVID-19 are taken at exam venues, after the classification of the disease was lowered under the infectious disease law in May 2023.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]