astronomy

National Center Test for University Admissions

National Center Test for University Admissions is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand National Center Test for University Admissions rather than just read about it. In short: The National Center Test for University Admissions (大学入試センター試験, Daigaku Nyūshi Sentā Shiken) was a type of standardized test used by public and some private universities in Japan. It was held annually during a weekend in mid-January over a period of two days.

Key takeaways

National Center Test for University Admissions belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect National Center Test for University Admissions to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of National Center Test for University Admissions from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The National Center Test for University Admissions (大学入試センター試験, Daigaku Nyūshi Sentā Shiken) was a type of standardized test used by public and some private universities in Japan. It was held annually during a weekend in mid-January over a period of two days. Since the test was held in the middle of winter, snow delayed the exam in some regions, but typically the test started and ended near the same exact time throughout the entire nation. The Center Test became something of a national phenomenon in Japan, with television coverage and newspapers publishing test questions. To many test-takers in Japan, the test was the difference between college entrance and one year's study for the next year's exams as a rōnin. Since the test was only administered annually and entrance to top-ranked universities and colleges is so competitive in Japan, the test had become the subject of scrutiny by many. In addition, rules for tardiness and absences were extremely strict and always resulted in the forfeit of the right to take the exams, as there were no "makeup" sessions or re-takes offered except in certain cases such as train delays. The test was administered by National Center for University Entrance Examinations, an Independent Administrative Institution (IAI). The National Center Test superseded the Common First-Stage Examination (共通一次, kyōtsū ichiji), which was administered from 1979 to 1989, letting private universities use the test scores as a criterion for admissions decisions. In 2012, the test was held on 14 and 15 January, with around 555,500 students participating (down by 3,400 students from 2011). The test was held at 709 locations across the country and will be used by 835 public universities, private universities and junior colleges to grade applicants. In 2014, on 18 and 19 January, 560,672 students participated at 693 centers.

"As in previous years, there were a few glitches. Heavy snow made some students late in the Hokuriku region, while a disruption to the JR Tokaido shinkansen caused some students to miss the tests in Shizuoka, TBS reported. Trouble was also reported with audio-visual devices for English exam takers in some centers." The final Center Test was conducted in 2020 and was replaced by the Common Test for University Admissions in 2021.

Designation The official name in Japanese is Daigaku Nyugakusha Senbatsu Daigaku Nyushi Center Shiken (大学入学者選抜大学入試センター試験, Daigaku Nyūgakusha Senbatsu Daigaku Nyūshi Sentā Shiken; literally "University Candidate Selection University Admissions Center Test"), but this designation is rarely used. It is often called Center Shiken (センター試験, Sentā Shiken), or simply Center (センター, Sentā) by test-takers and teachers.

Function Some universities decided on successful candidates using only the National Center Test, but most prestigious universities required the candidate to take another, institution-specific exam, which was often more difficult than the National Center Test. The function of the Center Test depended on the institution, but most could be categorized into the following three types:

Center Test only: Universities that require only the Center Test results and use only them for admissions decisions. Mostly used by private universities alongside normal (using institution-specific exams) admission. Center Test and secondary exam: Universities using the Center Test and a secondary exam (their own test, or an essay or interview) for their decisions. Used by most national universities. Center Test as primary decision: Universities using the Center Test as a primary decision, after which the successful candidates are placed on an even plane and are given a secondary, institution-specific exam that decides admission. Used by the most prestigious universities such as the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, but not seen much elsewhere.

Checking scores Because candidates did not know their Center Test scores before applying to universities, most wrote their answers on the question sheets (which can be taken home) and checked their answers using rubrics published by cram schools. A number of cram schools and other companies have services to which candidates can send their scores and learn their overall position relative to other users of the service, called Center Research (センターリサーチ, Sentā Risāchi). Candidates can use this information to see how they fared as compared with other test-takers and make their final application decisions. (In Japan, candidates may be unable to apply to all their desired universities, as in countries such as the United States, mainly because the secondary exams are scheduled on or near the same day.)

Tests

There are separate tests for each subject, and each is multiple choice. The tests follow the curriculum guidelines published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. There are a total of 30 tests in six subjects. Candidates take the subjects specified by their university. As an exception, however, candidates for the English (written) exam must take the English (listening).

First day In 2020, the first day of exams was held on Saturday, January 18.

Geography, History and Civics: Candidates select 2 or 1 tests, not including the same name. 100 points each, 60 minutes each World History A (世界史A) World History B (世界史B) Japanese History A (日本史A) Japanese History B (日本史B) Geography A (地理A) Geography B (地理B) Contemporary Social Studies (現代社会) Ethics (倫理) Politics and Economics (政治・経済) Ethics, Politics and Economics (倫理、政治・経済) Japanese Literature: 200 points (Passages written in and after modern period 100 points, Classical Japanese 50 points, Kanbun 50 points), 80 minutes Japanese Literature (国語) Foreign Languages (written): 200 points each, 80 minutes English　(英語) German　(ドイツ語) French (フランス語) Chinese (中国語) Korean (韓国語) Foreign Languages (listening): 50 points, 60 minutes (Explanation of process and equipment 30 minutes, testing time 30 minutes). This test is available only for English.

Second day In 2020, the second day of exams was held on Sunday, January 19. In the Science(1)and(2), candidates have to select and register from the following four types: A: 2 tests of Science(1). B: 1 test of Science(2). C: 2 tests of Science(1) + 1 test of Science(2). D: 2 tests of Science(2). Most humanities science departments require to take type A, and natural science departments require to take type D.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with National Center Test for University Admissions

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what National Center Test for University Admissions claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to National Center Test for University Admissions before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about National Center Test for University Admissions ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of National Center Test for University Admissions

In research: National Center Test for University Admissions appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses National Center Test for University Admissions in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: National Center Test for University Admissions is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1990 establishments in Japan, 2020 disestablishments in Japan, Academic pressure in East Asian culture, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for National Center Test for University Admissions outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study National Center Test for University Admissions in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what National Center Test for University Admissions means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
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Frequently asked questions

What is National Center Test for University Admissions in simple terms?

Why does National Center Test for University Admissions matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study National Center Test for University Admissions?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on National Center Test for University Admissions.