At a Glance
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| テスト | tesuto | test (casual/school) |
| 試験 | shiken | exam (formal) |
| 検定 | kentei | certification exam |
| 合格 | goukaku | pass |
| 不合格 | fugoukaku | fail |
Whether you’re studying for the JLPT, a university entrance exam, or just a school quiz, Japanese has a rich vocabulary around tests and exams. Knowing the difference between テスト, 試験（しけん）, and 検定（けんてい） — and all the phrases around them — will help you talk about your studies naturally.
Yuka来週、試験があって緊張しています。
Raishuu, shiken ga atte kinchou shite imasu.
I’m nervous because I have an exam next week.
Reiどんな試験ですか？
Donna shiken desu ka?
What kind of exam is it?
テスト vs 試験 vs 検定 — What’s the Difference?
These three words all translate loosely as “test” or “exam,” but they carry different nuances and are used in different contexts.
| Word | Nuance | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| テスト | Casual, everyday | School quizzes, pop tests, software testing |
| 試験（しけん） | Formal, high-stakes | University entrance, JLPT, driver’s license, job exams |
| 検定（けんてい） | Certification-focused | JLPT, Kanji Kentei, cooking/IT certifications |
テスト comes from English and feels light and informal. You’d hear a teacher say “明日テストがあります” (There’s a test tomorrow) for a regular classroom quiz.
試験（しけん） carries more weight. University entrance exams (大学入試), the JLPT, and professional licensing exams all use 試験. It implies something official and consequential.
検定（けんてい） specifically refers to proficiency or certification tests. The full name of the JLPT is 日本語能力試験（にほんごのうりょくしけん）, but the Kanji Proficiency Test is 漢字検定（かんじけんてい）, often called 漢検（かんけん）.
Key Exam Phrases: Pass, Fail, and Results
These are the phrases every Japanese learner needs to know when talking about exams and their outcomes.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 試験を受ける | shiken wo ukeru | to take an exam |
| 試験に合格する | shiken ni goukaku suru | to pass an exam |
| 試験に落ちる | shiken ni ochiru | to fail an exam |
| 追試 | tsuishi | make-up exam |
| 赤点 | akaten | failing grade (red mark) |
| 満点 | manten | perfect score |
| 平均点 | heikinten | average score |
| 合格点 | goukakuten | passing score |
A: JLPTの試験に合格しました！
A: JLPT no shiken ni goukaku shimashita!
A: I passed the JLPT!
B: 数学で赤点を取ってしまった。
B: Suugaku de akaten wo totte shimatta.
B: I ended up getting a failing grade in math.
Yuka試験に落ちてしまった…
Shiken ni ochite shimatta…
I failed the exam…
Rei大丈夫！次は合格できるよ。
Daijoubu! Tsugi wa goukaku dekiru yo.
It’s okay! You’ll pass next time.
Study and Exam Culture Vocabulary
Japanese exam culture has its own vocabulary. These words reflect the intensity — and sometimes desperation — of student life.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 試験勉強 | shiken benkyou | studying for an exam |
| 一夜漬け | ichiyazuke | cramming overnight |
| カンニング | kanningu | cheating (from English “cunning”) |
| 受験生 | jukensei | exam candidate/student |
| 受験勉強 | juken benkyou | exam prep study |
| 模擬試験 | mogi shiken | mock exam / practice test |
A: 一夜漬けで試験を乗り切った。
A: Ichiyazuke de shiken wo norikirtta.
A: I got through the exam by cramming overnight.
B: 来月の模擬試験に向けて準備しています。
B: Raigetsu no mogi shiken ni mukete junbi shite imasu.
B: I’m preparing for next month’s practice test.
Real-Life Exam Contexts
Let’s look at how these words appear across different real-life situations: school, JLPT, driver’s license, and job qualification exams.
School context: 期末テストまで一週間しかない。(Kimatsu tesuto made isshuukan shika nai.) There’s only one week until the finals.
JLPT context: N2の試験を12月に受けます。(N2 no shiken wo juunigatsu ni ukemasu.) I’m taking the N2 exam in December.
Driver’s license context: 運転免許の試験に3回落ちた。(Unten menkyo no shiken ni san-kai ochita.) I failed the driver’s license exam three times.
Certification context: 漢字検定2級に挑戦する。(Kanji kentei ni-kyuu ni chousen suru.) I’m going to challenge the Kanji Kentei Level 2.
Quick Quiz
1. Which word is more casual — テスト or 試験？
Answer: テスト
2. How do you say “to pass an exam” in Japanese?
Answer: 試験に合格する（しけんにごうかくする）
3. What does 一夜漬け mean?
Answer: Cramming overnight
4. What is the Japanese word for a “mock exam”?
Answer: 模擬試験（もぎしけん）
5. How do you say “I failed the exam” in Japanese?
Answer: 試験に落ちた（しけんにおちた）
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