Driving licence

The theory test pass standard

What Japanese law states about the theory test, and what it deliberately leaves unstated.

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Pass standard

How the theory test is passed

The theory test for an ordinary (Class 1) licence is a written examination of true/false and multiple-choice questions. 道路交通法施行規則 (the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations) art. 25 fixes the pass standard at a flat percentage: 90% or more.

The pass line is 90%, but the article does not state what total the 90% is a share OF, and no instrument governing the exam fixes the paper's question count either.

The question count and the paper total are not fixed by any instrument

Neither the question count nor the paper total is stated anywhere in the Act, the Cabinet Order or the Ministerial Regulations. A commonly-repeated figure ("about 95 questions") is a matter of prefectural police practice, not something any of those three instruments states — this site does not print a number it cannot cite.

the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations (Ministerial Ordinance), art. 25
the Road Traffic Act, art. 97(3)

No time limit is stated by any instrument

Art. 25 fixes the examination method (written, or by electronic device) and the pass standard, and states nothing about a time limit.

the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations (Ministerial Ordinance), art. 25

Retaking the test

Retakes, and how long a pass lasts

No waiting period or attempt cap is stated

Neither the Act nor the Regulations sets a minimum wait before a retake, or a maximum number of attempts.

the Road Traffic Act, art. 97
the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations (Ministerial Ordinance), arts. 24, 25

How long a pass lasts before the practical must follow is not stated either

How long a theory pass remains valid before the practical must be taken was not located within the provisions this build could reach.

the Road Traffic Act, art. 97
the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations (Ministerial Ordinance), arts. 24, 25