Until 1954, Japan used a single standardized exam to determine whether students went on to a university. From 1954 to 1976, Japan tried various other systems, finally arriving at the current two-stage system. First, students planning to attend a national or local public university in Japan take the Test of the National Center for University Entrance Examination. Some students planning to attend private universities also take the exam. But most universities consider other factors, including grades, along with students' scores on that exam.
Many universities develop their own exam and administer it to applicants.
These second-stage exams usually require students to write short essays on various topics, and the exams may include some items to test students' aptitude. Japanese students face intense competition to gain a place at a public university. In 1990, only one in four students taking the first-stage exam found a place at a university. And Japanese newspapers print the full text of each year's exam, indicating the importance of these exams in the country. This brief overview outlines some of the diversity in the assessment programs of other countries.