Background: this decision must come as an unpleasant surprise to the National Center for University Entrance Examinations (NCUEE), since the trend had been for more and more private universities to use the unified entrance exam that the NCUEE administers. However, it's probably more lucrative for Keio to require only its in-house entrance exams. First, there will be no revenue sharing with other entities. Second, it might make it easier and cheaper for an ever larger number of high school seniors and cram school attendees to apply for Keio, even if only a small number will gain admission. Look at it the way a potential applicant might: if enrollment to Keio is the dream, it will allow them to concentrate without the distraction or expense of the National Center Test to worry about.
The Yomiuri story is at the link below:
Keio Univ. to stop using standardized entrance exam
Key excerpt 1:
Starting next year, Keio University will no longer use the National Center Test, a unified college entrance exam, to screen those seeking admission to the prestigious private university....Keio's move is expected to spur other universities to take similar steps, finding their own ways to screen examinees....Center test organizers said they were shocked to hear of Keio's withdrawal.
Key excerpt 2:
"We'll give an original, distinctive test to enroll smart students," said a Keio faculty member.
A member of a cram school staff said, "The National Center Test only reveals slight differences in abilities among examinees who apply for top-notch universities."
Showing posts with label National Center Test for University Admissions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Center Test for University Admissions. Show all posts
28 January 2011
16 January 2011
Japan's National Center Test, 15-16 January 2011
Japan's National Center Exams, 15-16 January 2011
by Charles Jannuzi
University of Fukui, Japan
The National Center Exams are being held over 15-16 January at 706 test centers nationwide (the test centers are usually located at universities and colleges with large enough lecture halls to accomodate test takers). The number of applicants rose again from last year to almost 560,000. This is because more and more universities and colleges are requiring these test scores of their applicants. (Many institutions still hold their own in-house exams as well.) About 80% of the applicants are high school seniors who will graduate this March and proceed on to university in April (April is the start of the school year in Japan).
According to the Ministry of Education (MEXT), the number of universities and colleges using the Center Exam results as part of their admissions requirements is also at a record high of 828 national, prefectural/metropolitan and private institutions. Based on the tests applicants have registered to take, many are aiming to get into teacher certification and nursing programs. Also enjoying a rise in popularity are traditional and new departments in science and technology. This is because more and more high school graduates are worried about the scarcity of jobs and the difficult employment environment that awaits them even after 4-6 years of higher education. Young people want tangible qualifications that will help them find career employment for all the trouble of spending tens of thousands of dollars and years of their time on higher education.
The first day of the exams covers history, geography, Japanese language (Japanese native language arts), and EFL reading/grammar/vocabulary and listening. Other foreign languages, science and maths are covered on the second day. There is a make-up set of exams held on 22-23 January for those examinees who have legitimate excuses for not being able to attend the regularly scheduled tests.
In addition to the usual colds and flus of the season, students on the Japan-Sea side of Honshu (the largest of the main islands of Japan) had to brave winter storm conditions to get to the test sites.
See also last year's article on the exams, as much of what is explained about the exams still applies to this year's.
by Charles Jannuzi
University of Fukui, Japan
The National Center Exams are being held over 15-16 January at 706 test centers nationwide (the test centers are usually located at universities and colleges with large enough lecture halls to accomodate test takers). The number of applicants rose again from last year to almost 560,000. This is because more and more universities and colleges are requiring these test scores of their applicants. (Many institutions still hold their own in-house exams as well.) About 80% of the applicants are high school seniors who will graduate this March and proceed on to university in April (April is the start of the school year in Japan).
According to the Ministry of Education (MEXT), the number of universities and colleges using the Center Exam results as part of their admissions requirements is also at a record high of 828 national, prefectural/metropolitan and private institutions. Based on the tests applicants have registered to take, many are aiming to get into teacher certification and nursing programs. Also enjoying a rise in popularity are traditional and new departments in science and technology. This is because more and more high school graduates are worried about the scarcity of jobs and the difficult employment environment that awaits them even after 4-6 years of higher education. Young people want tangible qualifications that will help them find career employment for all the trouble of spending tens of thousands of dollars and years of their time on higher education.
The first day of the exams covers history, geography, Japanese language (Japanese native language arts), and EFL reading/grammar/vocabulary and listening. Other foreign languages, science and maths are covered on the second day. There is a make-up set of exams held on 22-23 January for those examinees who have legitimate excuses for not being able to attend the regularly scheduled tests.
In addition to the usual colds and flus of the season, students on the Japan-Sea side of Honshu (the largest of the main islands of Japan) had to brave winter storm conditions to get to the test sites.
See also last year's article on the exams, as much of what is explained about the exams still applies to this year's.
Over half a million take university entrance exams in Japan
http://japanheo.blogspot.com/2010/02/over-half-million-take-university.html02 February 2010
Over half a million take university entrance exams in Japan
Over half a million take university entrance exam in Japan
On the weekend of 16-17 January, the standardized National Center Test for University Admissions was held for this year's 550,000 plus applicants, an increase of around 10,000 from last year (up almost 2%). The most heavily attended session as of the end of 16 January was the foreign language section of the test (usually EFL).
In terms of its importance for university and college admissions, the 'Center Test' (CT) is Japan's counterpart to the US's SAT or ACT.
Some trends and aspects to take note of this year:
1. With the applicant pool increasing by almost 2% (10,000 test applicants), the often predicted collapse in university enrollments has been delayed for another year (2007 was supposed to be the year when it all fell apart).
However, the increase could be due in part to more private universities using the exam to test potential applicants, in addition to the usual national (former national) and public (former public) universities. It could also mean that more applicants (most of them high school seniors or high school graduates attending special cram schools for a year) are choosing to apply for high-ranked national and public universities in order to save costs on tuition and fees, since on average private universities cost almost twice as much. The higher applicant pool could also be due, in part, to students attempting to enter higher-ranked universities because their chances of gaining entrance have increased with the decline in numbers of young people who are university-age. All these could be a factor, so more analysis is needed.
2. These exams are held in the middle of winter, so bad weather and the cold and flu season often affect test takers. This year, because of the swine flu epidemic, participants were given more options in the event of them being taken ill. If they got sick while taking the test but were able to recover, they were given extra time slots to complete the test if they had lost too much time during the regular session. If they got sick before the start of the exam and were unable to attend the first test weekend, there was an alternative test scheduled at the end of January 2010. Around 900 who were ill, injured or otherwise certifiably incapacitated did take advantage of this second test weekend.
3. Universities that use the CT may also give an additional entrance exam, one their own faculty writes, administers and scores. Sometimes institutions and/or departments and/or programs require only certain scores on specified components of the CT. A given institution may allow CT takers at a certain cut-off level to take their own entrance exam (or, if they scored well, to enter through a special recommendation-interview process).
Schools migh combine the two scores, or they might decree that all qualifying applicants to their institution start equally at 'zero' and then use these second exam scores to determine who gets in and who doesn't in. There are more ways to get into universities, four year colleges and their programs than ever before because the competition to get students has indeed increased over the past two decades for the middle-to-lower ranked institutions and programs. Meanwhile, upper-ranked and especially elite universities are enjoying more applicants than ever because of students attempting to take advantage of the better odds for admission. Moreover, around a quarter of a million will enter post-secondary four-year institutions without taking the CT!
To read and learn more about the CT and entrance exams in Japan in general, here is a list of online articles you can read. Links and excerpts are listed below:
1. Japan Times article from last year. Contains solid analysis.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090120i1.html
excerpt:
The tough competition used to be known as "examination hell" as applicants crammed with the goal of getting into the best schools to ensure the best career opportunities.
Now that the population is in decline, the competition is changing. Universities are struggling to survive and they need to ensure they enroll enough students to do so.
Following are some facts about the university entrance exams....
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Center_Test_for_University_Admissions
excerpt
The National Center Test for University Admissions (大学入試センター試験, Daigaku Ny?shi Sent? Shiken?) is a type of standardized test used by public and some private universities in Japan. It is held annually during a weekend in mid-January over a period of two days.
3. http://www.dnc.ac.jp/center_exam/22exam/shigankaku1.html
(JAPANESE LANGUAGE ONLY)
Excerpt on this year's and last year's applicant totals.
志願者数 ５５３，３６８人（５４３，９８１人） 対前年度 ９，３８７人増〔１．７％増〕
4. http://www.dnc.ac.jp/dnc/gaiyou/pdf/youran_english.pdf
The organization that runs the CT offers this .pdf in English to explain about the exam.
excerpt
Our examination, the National Center Test, primarily aims to measure the level of basic academic achievement of students who desire to enter the university. National, local public and private universities use the test results, applying their own criteria to measure the ability and aptitude of each examinee from various aspects. As more and more universities use the National Center Test each year, as well as the increase in the percentage of applicants who are currently high school students and desire to go to the university, the National Center Test is considered to serve an important role. The items have also been highly evaluated. We sincerely appreciate the many years of accumulated cooperation of those on the test planning and assessment committees. The National Center Test is carried out on a co-joint basis with each university. Also, it can be used as a part of the entrance examination for each university, and can aid in university admissions selection along with the individual examination from the university. We appreciate the continued understanding and cooperation of all those involved.
5. http://www.cis.doshisha.ac.jp/kkitao/library/handout/2008/worldcall/exam.pdf
An Analysis of Japanese University Entrance
Exams Using Corpus-Based Tools
S. Kathleen Kitao* and Kenji Kitao**
* Department of English
Doshisha Women's College, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0395, Japan
kkitao@dwc.doshisha.ac.jp
** Faculty of Culture and Information Science
Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0394, Japan
kkitao@mail.doshisha.ac.jp
While many factors go into a valid and reliable test, the foundation for a test is the level of difficulty of the vocabulary used and the readability of the passages used for reading comprehension. In Japan, the majority of students enter universities through written exams which include an English section which primarily tests reading comprehension and knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. Individual universities write exams, and in addition, there is an exam offered throughout Japan by The National Center for University Admissions (Center Exam). In a previous study, we looked at vocabulary frequency and readability of the entrance exams of tests of four major private universities in the Kansai region of Japan as well as the Center Exam. We found that the difficulty of the university entrance exams may have been a problem, although the Center Exam was easier. In this paper, we compared the previous results with those for 2008 exams for the same universities, and found that this continues to be a problem.
6. http://jalt.org/test/gue_1.htm
Abstract
One can easily find criticisms of Japan's university entrance English exams. Claims of a lack of reliability and/or validity are legion, leading to a widespread view that poorly-designed or ill-considered university entrance exams are to blame for outdated and unproductive pedagogical practices in high schools (McVeigh, 2001; Gorsuch, 1998; Chujo, 2006). Most foundational among the critical research is that of Brown and Yamashita (1995), with follow-up research and proposals from Brown (1996, 2000, 2002), Kikuchi (2006), and Ichige (2006). But could it be that some of these viewpoints and interpretations are based upon notions of validity and reliability that do not do justice to the parameters surrounding university entrance exams in Japan? And could some of these criticisms have failed to note the bigger picture? Are some out of date, missing the point, or even be contradictory? This two-part paper seeks to further re-address the validity and reliability of Japanese university entrance exams by introducing some considerations and variables hitherto unnoted or underappreciated in the critical literature.
Keywords: language testing, test reliability, validity, entrance examinations, Japanese universities
7. http://mainichi.jp/select/today/news/20100117k0000m040079000c.html
The original Mainichi Shimbun (online) article on the CT as it was held this year.
It reports the total number of applicants. As of the evening of the 16th January 2010, the Mainichi reported that 426 were absent due to influenza (that could be seasonal flu or swine flu). It also commented that on the first day 92.8% of the total applicants had taken the foreign language part of the test (this is usually EFL for most applicants), making this session the most heavily attended.
excerpt:
センター試験：インフルで欠席 初日は全国４２６人
2010年1月16日 22時0分 更新：1月16日 22時30分
１０年度の大学入試センター試験は１６日夜、初日の日程を終えた。最も受験者が多い外国語（筆記）には、志願者（５５万３３６８人）の９２．８％に当たる５１万３２６７人が挑んだ。最終日の１７日は理科と数学が行われる。
新型インフルエンザの影響が懸念された今年、大学入試センターは最大５万人強が受験できない事態も想定していたが、１６日までに病気やけがなどで追試受験の許可を受けたのは、全国で６８３人（インフルエンザが原因の受験生は４２６人）。２日間で２３１人が許可を受けた昨年を初日で上回ったが、大きな混乱はなかった。
On the weekend of 16-17 January, the standardized National Center Test for University Admissions was held for this year's 550,000 plus applicants, an increase of around 10,000 from last year (up almost 2%). The most heavily attended session as of the end of 16 January was the foreign language section of the test (usually EFL).
In terms of its importance for university and college admissions, the 'Center Test' (CT) is Japan's counterpart to the US's SAT or ACT.
Some trends and aspects to take note of this year:
1. With the applicant pool increasing by almost 2% (10,000 test applicants), the often predicted collapse in university enrollments has been delayed for another year (2007 was supposed to be the year when it all fell apart).
However, the increase could be due in part to more private universities using the exam to test potential applicants, in addition to the usual national (former national) and public (former public) universities. It could also mean that more applicants (most of them high school seniors or high school graduates attending special cram schools for a year) are choosing to apply for high-ranked national and public universities in order to save costs on tuition and fees, since on average private universities cost almost twice as much. The higher applicant pool could also be due, in part, to students attempting to enter higher-ranked universities because their chances of gaining entrance have increased with the decline in numbers of young people who are university-age. All these could be a factor, so more analysis is needed.
2. These exams are held in the middle of winter, so bad weather and the cold and flu season often affect test takers. This year, because of the swine flu epidemic, participants were given more options in the event of them being taken ill. If they got sick while taking the test but were able to recover, they were given extra time slots to complete the test if they had lost too much time during the regular session. If they got sick before the start of the exam and were unable to attend the first test weekend, there was an alternative test scheduled at the end of January 2010. Around 900 who were ill, injured or otherwise certifiably incapacitated did take advantage of this second test weekend.
3. Universities that use the CT may also give an additional entrance exam, one their own faculty writes, administers and scores. Sometimes institutions and/or departments and/or programs require only certain scores on specified components of the CT. A given institution may allow CT takers at a certain cut-off level to take their own entrance exam (or, if they scored well, to enter through a special recommendation-interview process).
Schools migh combine the two scores, or they might decree that all qualifying applicants to their institution start equally at 'zero' and then use these second exam scores to determine who gets in and who doesn't in. There are more ways to get into universities, four year colleges and their programs than ever before because the competition to get students has indeed increased over the past two decades for the middle-to-lower ranked institutions and programs. Meanwhile, upper-ranked and especially elite universities are enjoying more applicants than ever because of students attempting to take advantage of the better odds for admission. Moreover, around a quarter of a million will enter post-secondary four-year institutions without taking the CT!
To read and learn more about the CT and entrance exams in Japan in general, here is a list of online articles you can read. Links and excerpts are listed below:
1. Japan Times article from last year. Contains solid analysis.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090120i1.html
excerpt:
The tough competition used to be known as "examination hell" as applicants crammed with the goal of getting into the best schools to ensure the best career opportunities.
Now that the population is in decline, the competition is changing. Universities are struggling to survive and they need to ensure they enroll enough students to do so.
Following are some facts about the university entrance exams....
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Center_Test_for_University_Admissions
excerpt
The National Center Test for University Admissions (大学入試センター試験, Daigaku Ny?shi Sent? Shiken?) is a type of standardized test used by public and some private universities in Japan. It is held annually during a weekend in mid-January over a period of two days.
3. http://www.dnc.ac.jp/center_exam/22exam/shigankaku1.html
(JAPANESE LANGUAGE ONLY)
Excerpt on this year's and last year's applicant totals.
志願者数 ５５３，３６８人（５４３，９８１人） 対前年度 ９，３８７人増〔１．７％増〕
4. http://www.dnc.ac.jp/dnc/gaiyou/pdf/youran_english.pdf
The organization that runs the CT offers this .pdf in English to explain about the exam.
excerpt
Our examination, the National Center Test, primarily aims to measure the level of basic academic achievement of students who desire to enter the university. National, local public and private universities use the test results, applying their own criteria to measure the ability and aptitude of each examinee from various aspects. As more and more universities use the National Center Test each year, as well as the increase in the percentage of applicants who are currently high school students and desire to go to the university, the National Center Test is considered to serve an important role. The items have also been highly evaluated. We sincerely appreciate the many years of accumulated cooperation of those on the test planning and assessment committees. The National Center Test is carried out on a co-joint basis with each university. Also, it can be used as a part of the entrance examination for each university, and can aid in university admissions selection along with the individual examination from the university. We appreciate the continued understanding and cooperation of all those involved.
5. http://www.cis.doshisha.ac.jp/kkitao/library/handout/2008/worldcall/exam.pdf
An Analysis of Japanese University Entrance
Exams Using Corpus-Based Tools
S. Kathleen Kitao* and Kenji Kitao**
* Department of English
Doshisha Women's College, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0395, Japan
kkitao@dwc.doshisha.ac.jp
** Faculty of Culture and Information Science
Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0394, Japan
kkitao@mail.doshisha.ac.jp
While many factors go into a valid and reliable test, the foundation for a test is the level of difficulty of the vocabulary used and the readability of the passages used for reading comprehension. In Japan, the majority of students enter universities through written exams which include an English section which primarily tests reading comprehension and knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. Individual universities write exams, and in addition, there is an exam offered throughout Japan by The National Center for University Admissions (Center Exam). In a previous study, we looked at vocabulary frequency and readability of the entrance exams of tests of four major private universities in the Kansai region of Japan as well as the Center Exam. We found that the difficulty of the university entrance exams may have been a problem, although the Center Exam was easier. In this paper, we compared the previous results with those for 2008 exams for the same universities, and found that this continues to be a problem.
6. http://jalt.org/test/gue_1.htm
Abstract
One can easily find criticisms of Japan's university entrance English exams. Claims of a lack of reliability and/or validity are legion, leading to a widespread view that poorly-designed or ill-considered university entrance exams are to blame for outdated and unproductive pedagogical practices in high schools (McVeigh, 2001; Gorsuch, 1998; Chujo, 2006). Most foundational among the critical research is that of Brown and Yamashita (1995), with follow-up research and proposals from Brown (1996, 2000, 2002), Kikuchi (2006), and Ichige (2006). But could it be that some of these viewpoints and interpretations are based upon notions of validity and reliability that do not do justice to the parameters surrounding university entrance exams in Japan? And could some of these criticisms have failed to note the bigger picture? Are some out of date, missing the point, or even be contradictory? This two-part paper seeks to further re-address the validity and reliability of Japanese university entrance exams by introducing some considerations and variables hitherto unnoted or underappreciated in the critical literature.
Keywords: language testing, test reliability, validity, entrance examinations, Japanese universities
7. http://mainichi.jp/select/today/news/20100117k0000m040079000c.html
The original Mainichi Shimbun (online) article on the CT as it was held this year.
It reports the total number of applicants. As of the evening of the 16th January 2010, the Mainichi reported that 426 were absent due to influenza (that could be seasonal flu or swine flu). It also commented that on the first day 92.8% of the total applicants had taken the foreign language part of the test (this is usually EFL for most applicants), making this session the most heavily attended.
excerpt:
センター試験：インフルで欠席 初日は全国４２６人
2010年1月16日 22時0分 更新：1月16日 22時30分
１０年度の大学入試センター試験は１６日夜、初日の日程を終えた。最も受験者が多い外国語（筆記）には、志願者（５５万３３６８人）の９２．８％に当たる５１万３２６７人が挑んだ。最終日の１７日は理科と数学が行われる。
新型インフルエンザの影響が懸念された今年、大学入試センターは最大５万人強が受験できない事態も想定していたが、１６日までに病気やけがなどで追試受験の許可を受けたのは、全国で６８３人（インフルエンザが原因の受験生は４２６人）。２日間で２３１人が許可を受けた昨年を初日で上回ったが、大きな混乱はなかった。
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