On this page, I’ll share some tips on how to score higher in the entrance exam. In general, the entrance exam for the Applied Physics program is divided into two parts: a written exam and an interview. The total score is 1000 points, consisting of:

• 500 points – Written test
• 200 points – English proficiency
• 300 points – Interview

Let’s go through each part one by one.

The written exam consists of six categories, covering topics from basic mathematics to advanced physics. Here are the subjects included:

• Mathematics
• Fundamental physics
  • Mechanics
  • Electromagnetism
• Advanced physics
  • Quantum mechanics
  • Optics
  • Semiconductor physics

During the exam, you must answer four out of the six categories, with the following conditions:

• Mathematics is mandatory.
• You may choose any additional three categories, as long as one of them is either Mechanics or Electromagnetics.

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I chose to answer the following:

• Mathematics
• Mechanics
• Electromagnetics
• Quantum Mechanics

Initially, I planned to take Mathematics, Mechanics, Electromagnetics, and Optics. But when I looked at the Optics questions, I realized I wouldn’t be able to solve them. Fortunately, the Quantum Mechanics questions were similar to the ones I had encountered in my undergraduate quantum physics exams.

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I picked Mechanics and Electromagnetics because they are part of fundamental physics and are generally easier to handle. Advanced physics topics like Quantum Mechanics and Optics often require deeper understanding and can be more challenging.

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The Math problems change every year, so I recommend reviewing any topics you feel less confident about.

There is no direct English exam. Instead, your score is taken from the English test results you submit during the application. This makes it very easy to get the maximum score.

You will automatically receive full marks (200 points) if your English test score exceeds the minimum standard shown below:

TOEIC	TOEFL iBT	IELTS
860	98	7.0

I took the TOEIC for the first time in 2019 with a very short preparation period. I simply bought a set of TOEIC practice tests and studied using those. Surprisingly, I scored above 900, which automatically gave me the maximum English score for University of Tsukuba’s entrance exam.

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If you plan to study in Japan, consider yourself lucky—many Japanese universities still accept TOEIC scores. TOEIC is generally easier and cheaper than TOEFL or IELTS. So, I highly recommend taking TOEIC and aiming for the highest score possible.

For the interview, there’s no need to be nervous. It’s actually quite relaxed. The whole process is short—less than 5 minutes (maybe around 3 minutes)—including your self-introduction.

Although I don’t know exactly how they evaluate applicants, the important thing is to show that you are worthy of being accepted (maybe?). To be honest, the exam committee has probably already decided whether you will pass or not based on your written and English scores. The interview is mostly to confirm that you are a suitable candidate.

These are the questions I was asked:

1. Please introduce yourself.
2. Have you already contacted your potential supervisor? If yes, who?
3. How will you cover your tuition and living expenses?

To be honest, I had no information about the interview beforehand. I thought it would be a simple Q&A about my previous research. But the questions turned out to be very straightforward.

At first, I expected only 3 to 5 interviewers. But when I entered the room, I was shocked—there were about 20 professors in front of me. Despite the surprise, I stayed calm, smiled, and sat where the host instructed me.

The first question was self-introduction. I mentioned my name, exam number, country of origin, and gave a short summary of my academic background.

The second question was about my potential supervisor. Since I had already contacted the professor beforehand, I quickly mentioned his name. He raised his hand and confirmed that we had communicated prior to the interview.

The last question was about funding. I answered that if admitted, I would be supported by NIMS through the NIMS-GRA program. But if I wasn’t accepted, I would withdraw my application. After answering these questions, the interview was over before I realized it, and I was asked to leave.