The central theme in the examination topics is to look at the contemporary world and Japan from the perspective of multicultural understanding. The aims are to determine that international students have basic knowledge of contemporary Japan deemed necessary in order to study at a higher education institution in Japan, and to evaluate how students are capable of thinking logically and critically about basic problems in modern international society.

Topics in the examination have been chosen from three fields, primarily from Politics, Economy and Society, but also from Geography and History. The entire scope of the topics is shown below under headings followed by related main terms in each category:

1. Contemporary Society
   Information Society, Aging society with fewer children, Multicultural understanding, Bio-ethics, Social Welfare, Compensation for inequality
2. Economy
   Economic system, Price and market, Economic fluctuation, Economic growth, Government and economic policy, National and international economy
3. Politics
   Principle of democracy, Parliament and government, Elections and political participation, Constitution and human rights, Centralization and localization
4. International Society
   Globalization, Regional integration, United Nations and other international organizations, North-South problem, Ethnic problems, Global environment issues, International peace and international cooperation

1. Geographical skills and geographical environment in the world
   Globes and maps, Distance and direction, Aerial photography and satellite picture, Standard time and time difference, Geographical information, Climate, Natural features, Vegetation
2. Land and people of Japan
   Land and environment, Resources and industries, Population, Traffic and communication

1. Development of modern society and interdependence of the world
   Industrial revolution, The American Revolution, The French Revolution, Formation of the nation-state, Imperialism and colonialization, Modernization of Japan and Asia
2. Japan and the world in the 20th century
   World War I and the Russian Revolution, The Great Depression,
   World War II and Cold War, Independence in Asia and Africa,
   Oil crisis, Collapse of Cold War