Notice on Revised Syllabuses for the EJU’s Basic Academic Abilities Tests (Science, Japan and the World, Mathematics)(To be applied to the questions of the 2026 EJU 1st Session)

Notice on Revised Syllabuses for the EJU’s Basic Academic Abilities Tests (Science, Japan and the World, Mathematics)

February 2025
Testing Division, Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)

Notice on Revised Syllabuses for the EJU’s Basic Academic Abilities Tests (Science, Japan and the World, Mathematics)

The Course of Study (curriculum guidelines) for high schools in Japan was revised in 2018 by official notice, with the changes going into effect in April 2022. To reflect those changes in the EJU, we have partially revised the Science and Mathematics syllabuses, which have been in effect since the 2015 EJU 1st Session, and the Japan and the World syllabus, in effect since the 2016 EJU 1st Session.
We compiled revision proposals for the Science, Japan and the World, and Mathematics syllabuses in October 2024 and solicited feedback on them from universities, Japanese language schools, and other relevant organizations.
We finalized the revised syllabuses based on a review of the proposed revisions and the feedback received. The revised syllabuses are attached for your reference and go into effect from the 2026 EJU 1st Session.

Revised syllabuses for the EJU’s basic academic abilities tests: Science, Japan and the World, Mathematics.These go into effect from the 2026 EJU 1st Session onward

1. Overview of Syllabus Revisions

〈 Science 〉

Physics
The syllabus is based on Basic Physics and Advanced Physics of the Course of Study for high schools. Minor revisions have been made to it to reflect changes to the Course of Study. What is taught in elementary and junior high schools is regarded to have been already learned and therefore is included in the scope of the test.
Chemistry
The syllabus is based on Basic Chemistry and Advanced Chemistry of the Course of Study for high schools. In order to reflect changes in the Course of Study, the wording of some items in the syllabus has been revised, and the structure of the syllabus and the order of the topics have been modified. What is taught in elementary and junior high schools is regarded to have been already learned and therefore is included in the scope of the test.
Biology
The syllabus is based on Basic Biology and Advanced Biology of the Course of Study for high schools. The structure and order of the syllabus have been modified to reflect changes in the Course of Study. What is taught in elementary and junior high schools is regarded to have been already learned and therefore is included in the scope of the test.

〈 Japan and the World 〉

This test presents a cross-disciplinary selection of topics and questions taken from politics, economics, geography, and history, subjects that are indispensable for a comprehensive understanding of the myriad issues and global problems facing modern society. The topics in the syllabus were revised to reflect changes in the Course of Study for high schools. The wording of some existing topics has been revised, and new categories and subcategories have been added. The “Purpose of the Examination” description has been rewritten for easier understanding, and the topics have been aligned with the actual test content.

〈 Mathematics 〉

The syllabus of both Course 1 and Course 2 is based on the Course of Study for high schools. The scope of questions for Course 1 encompasses Mathematics I and Mathematics A, while that for Course 2 encompasses Mathematics I, Mathematics A, Mathematics II, Mathematics B, Mathematics III, and Mathematics C. What is taught in elementary and junior high schools is regarded to have been already learned and therefore is included in the scope of the test.

2. Changes to Current Syllabuses, and Correspondence with Course of Study

The major changes to the current syllabuses are as indicated below.

		Deleted Items (see current syllabus)	New Items (see revised syllabus)	Correspondence with Course of Study
Science	Physics	None	None
	Chemistry	Thermochemical equation (II 3. (1))	Solubility product (II 2. (3)) Enthalpy (II 3. (1))	Advanced Chemistry
	Biology	None	Ecosystems and human activities (IX 2. (3))	Basic Biology Advanced Biology
Japan and the World*		None	None
Mathematics	Course I	None	Expected value (5. (2) 5))	Mathematics A
Mathematics	Course II	None	Expected value (5. (2) 5)) Probability distributions (13.)	Mathematics A Mathematics I / Mathematics B

*About the revised syllabus for Japan and the World

The actual content of this test is essentially unchanged. However, the terms used in the syllabus have been revised to align them with the revisions made to the Course of Study. The details are as follows.

Ⅰ.Politics, Economy, Society
The topics “Politics,” “Economy,” and “Contemporary Society” in the current syllabus have been restructured into the subcategories “Contemporary Politics,” “The Modern Economy,” and “Contemporary Society,” and “International Society” has been removed as a topic heading. The terms used in the topic examples have been reworded to conform with the terminology used in the Course of Study. Also, the terms that had been placed under “International Society” have been reassigned to “Contemporary Politics,” “The Modern Economy,” and “Contemporary Society.”
No deletions or additions have been made regarding the actual content of the scope of questions.
Ⅱ.Geography
The topic “Regions of the modern world” has been added. Also, the terms used in the examples for the topic “Thinking geographically about the modern world and contemporary issues” have been reworded to conform with the terminology used in the Course of Study.
No deletions or additions have been made regarding the actual content of the scope of questions.
Ⅲ.History
The current two topics have been relabeled as “Modernization and its impact” and “The two world wars and their impact,” and another topic, “The post-Cold War world,” has been added. Also, the terms used in the topic examples have been reworded to conform with the terminology used in the Course of Study.
Although some items that had been categorized under “Politics, Economy, Society” have been reassigned to this category (History), no significant changes have been made to the overall scope of Japan and the World.