Tokutei Kaigo study tips: read questions well and pace yourself

Updated 19 October 2026

Many wrong answers come from reading too fast, not from not knowing. Kaigo questions usually ask for the most appropriate action (最も適切なもの), so knowing how care work thinks helps you rule out choices quickly.

~80 saverage per skills question
2 minaverage per Japanese question
27/45skills pass mark
11/15Japanese pass mark

Ways of thinking that rule out answers

Respect the person's own choices (自己決定): an answer that lets the person choose and do what they can is usually better than doing everything for them.
Keep what they can still do (自立支援): wait, help partly, do not rush to take over.
Safety first: when something is wrong, the right answer is usually to check the person, call for help and report, not to act beyond your role.
Speak before you act (声かけ): tell the person first, then start helping.
Protect privacy and confidentiality: do not discuss the person where others can hear.

Common traps in the skills test

Mixing up the affected and unaffected side: put clothes on the affected side first and take them off the unaffected side first; place the wheelchair on the unaffected side. Check whether the question says right or left.
The quick answer is not the right one: choices that save the worker time are usually wrong.
Absolute words such as すべて and 必ず: read carefully, do not rule them out mechanically.

Take a timed Kaigo practice test and see right away which answers were wrong and why.

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Common traps in the Japanese test

Care records: check times, amounts and who is named. The question asks what the record says, not what you guess.
Speaking to the person: choose polite, short, clear words that ask what the person wants.
Similar meanings: 食欲がない (no appetite) is not the same as お腹がいっぱい (full).

Pacing

Skills test: 45 questions in 60 minutes, about 80 seconds each. Do the sure ones first, flag hard ones, keep a few minutes at the end to review.
Japanese test: 15 questions in 30 minutes, about 2 minutes each. Documents take longer, so answer the word questions quickly.
Do not change an answer on a vague feeling. Change it only when you find a detail that contradicts it.

The last days

Redo the questions you got wrong, review common words and reread the exam-day guide. Sleep well and arrive early. See exam day and free mock tests.

No method guarantees a pass. These tips help you read more carefully; your result depends on understanding the material and practising enough. Full topic-by-topic tips are part of VIP in the app.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a quick way to guess answers?

There is no sure way. But answers that respect the person's choices, keep them safe and report problems usually fit better than doing everything for them or ignoring a change.

Which test should I study first?

Try both to see where you are weaker, then spend more time there. The Japanese test has the higher pass mark (73%).

How should I pace myself?

About 80 seconds per skills question and about 2 minutes per Japanese question, with a few minutes left to review.

Will these tips make me pass?

No. Tips only help you avoid losing marks by misreading. Passing depends on your knowledge and practice.