School system in Japan

In Japan, compulsory education starts when you are 6 years old. Before that, many children go to nursery school or kindergarten. Children go to elementary school which has six grades. At elementary school, children learn basic skills. For example, Japanese, math, science, social studies, music, PE, and so on.

After elementary school, children go to junior high school which has three grades. At junior high school, English classes start. Club activities also start. Until junior high school is compulsory education. Children finish it when they are 15 years old. But most junior high school students go to high school.

To enter high school, students must pass exams. There are five examination subjects (Japanese, math, science, social studies, and English). High school has three grades. There, we can choose subjects which students want to learn.

After high school, some students go to university. To enter university, students must pass exams, too. Students take the national center test for university admission. It has seven or eight examination subjects. University has four grades and students graduate when they are 22 years old. At high school and university, if a student doesn't have a good record, student must do same grade again.