The Tokutei Ginou Taxi exam (特定技能タクシー): format and pass mark

Updated October 7, 2026

To work as a taxi driver in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能 1号) status, you must pass the 自動車運送業分野特定技能1号評価試験 (Automobile Transportation Industry, Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 evaluation test) in the taxi category. This page explains who runs the exam, what the test contains, how it is scored, and what you still need after passing.

50questions in one sitting
80minutes for both parts
60%minimum in each part (18/30 and 12/20)
17+minimum age on exam day

Who runs the exam?

According to the implementation guidelines published by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the exam is run by ClassNK (the Nippon Kaiji Kyokai). Candidates register through the ClassNK portal, and the content follows the scope set by MLIT and the National Hire-Taxi Association (全タク連, Zentakuren) for the taxi trade: operations, customer service, and safety and hygiene. For the registration steps, see our step-by-step registration guide.

What is in the test?

One sitting has 50 questions and lasts 80 minutes in total. There is no separate clock for each part. The test has two parts:

Part	Questions	Format	Needed to pass
学科試験 (gakka shiken) Theory	30	True/false (○×)	60% or more (18 of 30)
実技試験 (jitsugi shiken) Practical / judgment	20	Three choices A/B/C, usually a situation or diagram	60% or more (12 of 20)

The key rule is that you need at least 60% in each part. The two parts are not added together. For example, 25/30 in theory with 10/20 in practical is still a fail. Do not neglect the practical part just because theory goes well.

How should you split the 80 minutes?

80 minutes for 50 questions is about 96 seconds per question. A common split used in the app is about 1 minute per true/false question (around 30 minutes), about 2 minutes per practical question (around 40 minutes), and roughly 10 minutes at the end to review marked questions. According to the official guidelines the test is given either as a computer-based test (CBT) or on paper depending on the session. In a CBT you can flag hard questions, answer the easy ones first and come back.

Try a full 50-question Tokutei Taxi practice test and see which answers you missed and why.

Try free exams on the web Download on the App Store

Exams 1 to 3 are free with furigana and translations, right in your browser. VIP is bought inside the app (App Store).

What do the practical questions ask?

Each practical question describes a situation, for example meeting a pedestrian in the crosswalk when turning right, and asks which action is 最も適切 (most appropriate). The correct answer is usually the safe, rule-following action, not the fastest one. The theory part checks the duties of drivers and operators: roll call before and after duty, never driving after drinking, not refusing passengers without a proper reason, helping passengers with disabilities, and what to do after an accident. Common wording traps are collected in our study tips page.

What happens after you pass?

According to the official guidelines, results are announced on a dedicated website within one month after the exam, and the pass certificate is valid for 10 years from the exam date. However, passing the exam does not by itself make you eligible to drive a taxi in Japan. You also need a Class 2 driver's licence (第二種免許), the required Japanese-language level, an employment contract with an accepting organization, and a successful residence-status review. Passing also does not guarantee that Specified Skilled Worker status will be granted.

Exam fees, dates and venues change from session to session and are published only on the ClassNK portal, so this page deliberately gives no figures. Always check the official portal for the latest information.

How to prepare

The most effective practice is to sit mock tests with the same structure as the real one: 30 true/false questions then 20 A/B/C questions in 80 minutes, then review every mistake. Tokutei Taxi offers 20 tests of 50 questions each (1,000 questions in total) and more than 200 2D driving scenes for the practical part. Tests 1 to 3 are free, with furigana and Vietnamese and English translations; see free CBT mock tests for how practice works, and Japanese taxi vocabulary to learn the words that appear in the questions.

You can try the free tests on the web. VIP, which unlocks the remaining 17 tests and the exam tips, is bought inside the iOS app with Apple payment; the price is shown by Apple. Download Tokutei Taxi on the App Store.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the Tokutei Taxi exam and how long is it?

There are 50 questions: 30 true/false theory questions and 20 practical questions with three choices A/B/C. You get 80 minutes for both parts. The test is in Japanese, given as a CBT or on paper depending on the session.

What is the pass mark?

You need at least 60% in each part: 18 of 30 in theory and 12 of 20 in practical. The parts are not added together, so failing one part means failing the exam.

How old do I have to be?

According to the official guidelines, you must be at least 17 years old on the exam day. Taking the exam in Japan also requires a valid residence status.

Can I work as a taxi driver right after passing?

Not automatically. You also need a Class 2 driver's licence, the required Japanese-language level, an employment contract and a residence-status review. Passing does not guarantee Specified Skilled Worker status.