Chūgaku juken (中学受験) in Tokyo: the main routes into junior high

In Tokyo most children move from their public elementary school to the local public junior high (公立中学校) with no exam. 中学受験 (chūgaku juken) means sitting an entrance exam in grade 6 to go somewhere else. There are three main routes, and they test different things, so the choice shapes what your child prepares from grade 4.

Route 1: private junior highs (私立中学校)

General pattern — check each school's own guidelines (募集要項):

• Main exams start on 1 February of grade 6 in Tokyo, and many families sit several schools over the first days of February.
• Most exams are 4 subjects (国語 Japanese, 算数 maths, 理科 science, 社会 social studies) or 2 subjects (国語 and 算数). Some schools also run English-based exams (英語入試) or returnee exams (帰国生入試), often earlier, in December or January.
• Schools explain their exams at information sessions (学校説明会) from spring to autumn of grade 6; many need a reservation.
• Juku courses for this route traditionally start in February of grade 3 (the "new grade 4" term).

Route 2: Tokyo public combined schools (都立中高一貫教育校)

Ten six-year public schools run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government:

小石川、白鷗、両国、桜修館、富士、大泉、南多摩、立川国際、武蔵、三鷹

• No subject exam. The main track tests with an aptitude test (適性検査, tekisei kensa) and the elementary school's report (報告書, hōkokusho):

  報告書と、面接、作文、適性検査（共同作成問題及び各校独自問題）及び実技検査のいずれかを適切に組み合わせたものとで実施

• You must live in Tokyo and keep commuting from Tokyo after entry:

  都内に住所を有し、入学後も引き続き都内から通学することが確実な者

• Some schools also run a special-talent track (特別枠).

FY2027 entry (令和9年度) dates:

Track	Apply	Exam	Results
Returnee / foreign-resident (海外帰国・在京外国人生徒枠)	Fri 8 Jan and Tue 12 Jan 2027	Mon 25 Jan 2027	Fri 29 Jan 2027
Special track (特別枠)	online 17 Dec 2026 – 18 Jan 2027 17:00; documents 8–18 Jan 2027	Mon 1 Feb 2027	Tue 2 Feb 2027
General track (一般枠)	online 17 Dec 2026 – 18 Jan 2027 17:00; documents 8–18 Jan 2027	Wed 3 Feb 2027	Tue 9 Feb 2027

Route 3: returnee and foreign-resident entry (帰国生・在京外国人生徒)

For the Tokyo public combined schools' returnee / foreign-resident track:

• Japanese nationals: lived abroad continuously for 2 years or more, and are still abroad or came back no more than 2 years before the entry date (連続して２年以上海外に在住している者).
• Foreign nationals: in principle in Japan for no more than 2 years on the entry date (入学後の在日期間が入学日現在原則として２年以内の者).
• The exam combines the transcript from the last school abroad with an interview, an essay or a practical test.
• Not every school runs this track; check the year's 募集要項.

Private schools that run 帰国生入試 set their own rules on years abroad and years since return. Read each school's guidelines.

Deciding in grade 3

• The private route is a three-year plan with juku from grade 4; the public combined route tests reading, data and writing rather than school subjects; some families prepare for both.
• Nothing here predicts admission. Dates and rules change every year: verify with each school and the Tokyo Board of Education before you apply.