Overview
- The University Admissions Selection Council, which met Monday, signaled that interviews will become effectively mandatory in comprehensive (sogo-gata) and school‑recommendation admissions.
- MEXT is expected to issue formal guidance in June, with reports split on the start date, citing either 2027 spring entrants or the 2028 admissions cycle.
- The plan would allow online interviews and targets a loophole where some universities gave essays or interviews minimal weight so year‑end academic tests determined results.
- A transition of about two years is under consideration to ease the change for students and schools already using year‑end academic tests.
- MEXT data show 53.6% of entrants now use these tracks and most already include interviews, yet some schools leaned on tests with heavy scoring, such as Toyo University and Kinki University, drawing concern from high school leaders and raising staffing and scoring challenges for universities.