EJU Score Needed for Japanese Universities: National vs Private and a 12-Week Plan

The most common myth: "EJU has one fixed passing mark, and once you cross it, admission is guaranteed."

It doesn't work that way. There's no universal pass mark. Every university and every department sets its own requirement. Some want only Japanese, some want Japanese plus maths, and some add their own exam or an interview. So pick your targets first, then do the score arithmetic. Here are the other myths I hear most.

Myth: National universities need near-perfect scores in everything

Not quite, but national and public universities do ask for more. As a rough guide I tell students to aim for about 260–300 out of 400 in Japanese and 60–80 out of 100 in maths or science. That keeps many national universities in reach, though the very top schools like Tokyo and Kyoto sit higher. Treat these as approximate. Always check each university's current application guidelines (募集要項) before you decide.

Myth: Private universities don't care much about the score

Private cut-offs are usually lower, but they aren't zero. Many private schools look for roughly 200–240 in Japanese and around 50 in maths. Famous names like Waseda, Keio and Sophia ask for a lot more. Some privates also accept JLPT N2 instead of EJU. Build a list of three to five schools rather than betting on one, and start with our university list.

Myth: Maths Course 2 is too hard, so everyone should take Course 1

Course 1 is for humanities, economics, business and many social sciences. Course 2 is for engineering, science and medicine, with calculus and matrices. Your department decides, not your comfort. If you sit Course 1 and apply to engineering, your application simply won't be accepted. If your HSC maths is strong, Course 2 is very doable. The real hurdle is learning the maths vocabulary in Japanese.

Myth: June and November are the same, take whichever

They do different jobs. June gives you a first attempt and leaves November as a retake. Most universities accept either session, and some take your higher score. But November results arrive around January, when application windows are tight. My advice: sit June at least once. It also teaches you how registration works. For EJU registration in Bangladesh, dates and fees change every year, so confirm on the JASSO site.

Myth: Good Japanese alone will carry your score

Language is the foundation, and a sensible target is N2-level reading and listening at minimum. But EJU has a writing section and tight timing, so JLPT-style prep isn't enough. Read our JLPT guide to understand the format, then work through EJU past papers under timed conditions. One caution: many "model tests" floating online are outdated, so start with JASSO's official samples.

Myth: Twelve weeks isn't enough

If you already have N3 to N2 Japanese, it's realistic. From zero, it isn't. Here's the plan I give students:

1. Weeks 1–3: learn the exam structure, fix your target universities and courses, take one full diagnostic test.
2. Weeks 4–6: attack your weakest subject for two hours a day, building Japanese vocabulary and maths terms.
3. Weeks 7–9: two timed sections a week, and keep an error notebook.
4. Weeks 10–11: full mock tests and writing practice.
5. Week 12: light revision, sleep, and double-check your venue and admit card.

Three things you can do this week: download the guidelines for your target department, time yourself on one official sample paper, and check your eligibility. Your student visa and COE timeline also depend on when EJU results arrive, so skim the visa requirements guide early. If you're comparing the cost of studying abroad, national university tuition (about ¥535,800 a year, approximate) is usually lower than private, and scholarships for study abroad often lean on EJU scores, so see our scholarships page.

I counsel students at the Inochi Global Education Institute North Badda, Pragati Sarani office in Dhaka, about 13 minutes from the Japan Embassy. If you'd like help turning your scores and goals into a real plan, our study in Japan counselling service is there for you.