Japan's Secretary Skills Test (Hisho Kentei) Level 3 is a surprisingly useful first step for job seekers in Japan with autism, ADHD or other developmental disabilities. It turns the office rules people "just know" into clear answers with reasons. The computer-based version costs ¥3,600, takes 90 minutes, and gives you your result the same day. Here is what the test covers, how it helps with disability employment in Japan, a five-week study plan, common sticking points, how to ask for exam support, and what a certificate can't do.
What the test is
It is run by the Japan Business Skill Examination Association, a public-interest foundation. Despite the name, it is not only for secretaries. It covers the basics of how anyone behaves at work in a Japanese company.
- Five areas: work attitude, job knowledge, general knowledge, polite language and customer handling, and practical skills such as phone calls and documents
- Pass mark: at least 60% in both halves of the test (knowledge, and practical handling)
- Paper test: ¥3,800, 11:50 to 13:50 including a 10-minute briefing, multiple choice plus short written answers
- Computer-based test (CBT): ¥3,600 including an ¥800 fee, 33 questions (31 multiple choice, 2 written) in 90 minutes, at test centers across Japan on a day you choose, with same-day results
- Paper test dates in fiscal 2026: November 15, 2026 (applications closed October 13) and February 7, 2027 for Levels 2 and 3 only, with applications from December 7, 2026 to January 12, 2027
- Pass rate: in the June 21, 2026 sitting, 3,553 of 4,750 Level 3 candidates passed, or 74.8%
Three out of four people pass, so it works well as a first certificate for someone who has never studied for one.
Why it suits people who struggle with unwritten rules
The official sample questions for Level 3 look like this:
- A client asks for your boss's private mobile number. What do you say?
- You pick up the phone and nobody speaks. How long do you wait, and how do you end the call?
- What should go in the subject line of an internal email?
- Which wording is correct when you talk about your boss to a visitor?
At work, these are the moments where people say "you should just know" and nobody explains why. The test's study books give the right answer and the reason behind it. If reading the room is hard for you, you can learn these as rules and use them with confidence.
The answers are also concrete. "Be polite" is vague. "Don't give out your boss's number; offer to have your boss call them back" is an action you can remember and repeat.
How it helps in disability employment in Japan
From July 2026, Japanese private companies with 37.5 or more employees must have at least 2.7% of their staff be people with disabilities. Office jobs are a common route, and interviewers often check whether you can handle basic reporting, phone calls and polite language.
Level 3 helps because:
- It goes on your résumé: it is backed by Japan's education ministry and widely understood for office jobs
- It gives you something to talk about: "I learned to give the conclusion first when reporting" is a concrete point for an interview
- It matches job-readiness training: Japan's transition-to-work support programs (usually up to two years) practice greetings and reporting, and the study book covers the same situations
- It builds confidence: a pass is a visible result at the start of a job search
A five-week study plan
Plan on about 30 minutes a day. On tiring days, 15 minutes still beats skipping.
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read the official sample questions and one Level 2/3 textbook. Skim all five areas and mark words you don't know |
| 2 | Work through past papers by area. For each mistake, write one card: situation, correct action, reason |
| 3 | Make your own table of polite forms (talking to coworkers vs. talking about your boss to outsiders). Read your cards out loud |
| 4 | Practice the written questions: phone message notes, a thank-you line, subject lines. Learn three or four templates |
| 5 | Do one or two timed mock tests. If you take the computer version, practice answering on a screen |
Ask a support worker or family member to play a visitor and act out your cards. That way the practice sticks for real work, not just the test.
Common sticking points
- Mixing up "most appropriate" and "least appropriate": circle that word in the question before reading the choices
- Losing track in long questions: underline who asked whom to do what
- Talking about your boss to outsiders: in Japanese business manners you drop your boss's title and use humble forms. A table is the fastest way to learn this
- Freezing on written questions: learn the templates first so on the day you only fill them in
- Noise and crowds at the venue: the computer version lets you pick the date and place. Walking the route beforehand also helps
How to ask for exam support
The association's exam guide says it handles special needs, such as wheelchair use, case by case after hearing your situation, and asks you to contact it before applying. For the computer version, the test operator's support center is the contact point.
The official pages do not list specific support for developmental disabilities. So write down exactly what you need, such as a separate room, earplugs or earmuffs, or breaks, and ask whether it is possible before you apply. Since April 2024, Japan's revised Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities requires businesses and organizations to provide reasonable support unless it is an excessive burden. Asking is completely fine.
What a certificate can't do
To be honest, passing Level 3 won't get you hired on its own. Employers look at whether you can commute steadily, actually report and ask questions, and explain what you find hard and how you cope. The test also checks what you know; finding the right words in the middle of a live phone call takes separate practice.
Some model answers assume a traditional secretary who adapts to the boss's every mood. You don't need to copy all of that in a modern workplace. The reasons are the useful part.
Still, as a way to put office rules into words and show a real pass, Level 3 is a solid first step in job preparation. Try one official sample question and see whether it clicks.
References (8)
- https://jitsumu-ginou-kentei.jp/HS/guide
- https://jitsumu-ginou-kentei.jp/HS/example
- https://jitsumu-ginou-kentei.jp/HS/schedule
- https://jitsumu-ginou-kentei.jp/HS/totalize/3050
- https://jitsumu-ginou-kentei.jp/HS/cbt
- https://cbt-s.com/examinee/examination/hisyokentei.html
- https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/koyou_roudou/koyou/jigyounushi/page10.html
- https://www.gov-online.go.jp/article/202402/entry-5611.html
