Key Points of This Article
- The practical exam is 25 questions / 40 minutes, passing at 75% (19 correct). Like the written exam, it is 4-choice CBT on a computer, and it tests your judgment on a construction site.
- In the most recent round (held February 2026), the Level 2 Building pass rate was about 63% (it varies by round and is trending upward). Even those who pass the written exam often find the practical exam to be the bottleneck.
- The core of the questions is (1) identifying tools and scaffolding from photos, (2) judging right and wrong in construction procedures, and (3) safety (centered on falls). Source: Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC) https://jac-skill.or.jp/exam/
The Tokutei-Ginou Level 2 construction practical exam is 25 questions / 40 minutes, and the passing standard is 75% (19 or more correct). Unlike the written exam, the practical exam tests your ability to make correct judgments on site.
On the practical exam's photo questions, "trick" questions such as "Which one shows incorrect work?" come up frequently. Get into the habit of looking at the photos with special attention to whether protective equipment is being worn and whether there are restricted/off-limits areas.
In this article, we explain the question patterns of the practical exam and the strategies to clear the 75% passing line.
What is the Practical Exam? Differences from the Written Exam
The practical exam, like the written exam, is also 4-choice CBT — it is not work like swinging a hammer. The difference is that it tests whether you "can make correct judgments on site."
| | Written | Practical | |---|---|---| | Format | 4-choice CBT | 4-choice CBT | | Questions / Time | 40 questions / 60 min | 25 questions / 40 min | | Passing line | 75% (30 questions) | 75% (19 questions) | | What it tests | Whether you remember the knowledge | Judgment on site |
Tokutei-Ginou Level 2 is an exam that measures someone at the team leader / foreman level who directs multiple workers and manages the process. That is why the practical exam tests judgment as a supervisor.
Question Patterns of the Practical Exam
The core of the questions falls into four types: "photo questions identifying tools and scaffolding," "judging right and wrong in construction procedures," "defect assessment," and "safety measures."
Pattern 1: Photo Questions (Identifying Tools, Scaffolding, and Equipment)
These questions show a photo and ask you to name the tool, material, machine, or scaffolding, or to identify its use.
Strategy:
- Learn the names of the tools you frequently use in your own division from photos
- Clarify the differences between similar tools (e.g., ratchet wrench vs. monkey wrench, frame scaffolding vs. wedge-coupling scaffolding)
- Repeatedly practice photo questions with UKARU's questions
Pattern 2: Right and Wrong in Construction Procedures (Choosing the Correct Procedure)
These questions ask you to choose the correct order of work, or to pick the one that is "incorrect" as a construction method.
Strategy:
- Memorize the main construction procedures
- Civil Engineering: excavation → leveling the bottom → foundation → backfilling
- Building: marking out → rebar/formwork → concrete placing (the order of rebar and formwork may switch depending on the part)
- Lifeline: checking the piping route → support fittings → piping → pressure testing
Pattern 3: Defect Assessment
These questions show a photo of construction work and ask whether there is a defect and what the problem is.
Strategy:
- Memorize the patterns of "common defects"
- Honeycombing in concrete, insufficient rebar cover, poor piping gradient, etc.
- Memorize the numerical values of safety standards
Pattern 4: Choosing Safety Measures (Centered on Falls)
These questions ask you to choose the safety measures required for a specific task. The most common fatal accident on construction sites is falls from height, and this comes up frequently.
Strategy:
- Memorize the types of protective equipment and the situations in which they are used
- Work at height: fall arrest equipment (safety harness), helmet, safety net
- Electrical work: insulating gloves, insulating boots, voltage detector
- Dust-generating work: dust mask, protective goggles
※ The proportion of points allocated to photo questions has not been officially disclosed. The above is a summary of question trends.
Latest Pass Rates (February 2026)
In the most recent round (held February 2026), Level 2 Building had 1,844 examinees and a pass rate of about 63%. However, this is one round only; it varies by round and has been trending upward in recent years.
| Division (February 2026 round) | Number of Examinees | Pass Rate | |---|---|---| | Level 2 Building | 1,844 | ~63% | | Level 2 Civil Engineering | 1,059 | ~59% | | Level 2 Lifeline & Utilities | 202 | ~54% |
Source: Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), February 2026 (Reiwa 8) exam results. Pass rates vary by round.
The breakdown of who failed the written versus the practical exam is not disclosed, but "even those who pass the written exam often find the practical exam to be the bottleneck" is a commonly seen pattern.
Frequently Tested Themes by Division
Prioritizing the frequently tested themes for your own division is the shortest route to passing.
Civil Engineering
| Rank | Theme | Question Trend | |---|---|---| | 1 | Excavation / earth retaining | Construction procedures, safety measures | | 2 | Concrete work | Placing procedures, curing methods | | 3 | Surveying instruments | Naming the instrument from a photo | | 4 | Construction machinery | Names and uses | | 5 | Formwork | Construction procedures, defect assessment |
Building
| Rank | Theme | Question Trend | |---|---|---| | 1 | Rebar work | Rebar placement, cover, joints | | 2 | Formwork | Assembly procedures, precision control | | 3 | Finishing work | Tiling, painting | | 4 | Waterproofing work | Construction procedures, material selection | | 5 | Scaffolding work | Assembly standards, safety measures |
Lifeline
| Rank | Theme | Question Trend | |---|---|---| | 1 | Pipe connection | Connection methods, tool selection | | 2 | Electrical wiring | Wiring methods, safety distances | | 3 | Air-conditioning equipment | Refrigerant piping, drain gradient | | 4 | Water supply and drainage | Piping gradient, traps | | 5 | Fire protection equipment | Sprinklers, fire extinguishers |
Allocating Your 40 Minutes
25 questions in 40 minutes = about 1 minute 36 seconds per question. The golden rule is to solve the questions you are confident about first.
| Phase | Time | What to do | |---|---|---| | Phase 1 | 20 min | Solve the questions you are confident about first | | Phase 2 | 15 min | Return to the questions you were unsure about | | Phase 3 | 5 min | Review and check for blank answers |
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The three pitfalls are "panicking at photos," "reversing construction procedures," and "overlooking safety values."
- Panicking at photo questions: Even if a tool you've never seen appears, you can solve it by elimination
- Reversing construction procedures: Don't forget the basic flow of "preparation → construction → inspection → cleanup"
- Overlooking safety measures: Always check numerical standards such as "2 m or higher = fall prevention"
What Should I Study With?
The most efficient approach is to use JAC's free official samples and texts (with photos and furigana) as your "map," and to do your daily repetition with a learning app.
The JAC official website provides free practical sample questions and texts for Building, Civil Engineering, and Lifeline (https://jac-skill.or.jp/exam/ ). This becomes your map of the exam scope.
For daily repetition, UKARU is well suited because you can focus your practice on the practical exam alone, and the questions you got wrong come back repeatedly. Note that UKARU's questions are not the actual "past exam questions" but original predicted questions based on the official texts (because the actual exam questions are not disclosed).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Do you actually perform work on the practical exam?
No. The practical exam, like the written exam, is 4-choice CBT on a computer. It is not work where you physically move your body; you are tested on your on-site judgment in a multiple-choice format.
Q. What is the passing score?
19 out of 25 questions (75%) to pass. The written exam is 30 out of 40 questions (75%). You must pass both.
Q. Why can't I solve the real exam even after solving past questions?
The actual exam questions are not disclosed, and the same questions do not appear each time. Rather than rote memorization, it is effective to understand "why each answer is what it is," question by question.
Q. How much Japanese do I need?
The Tokutei-Ginou Level 2 exam has no native-language translation and is in Japanese only. Having Japanese ability around the N3 level is advantageous, and it's important to get used to phrasings such as "choose the one that is incorrect."
※ For details on practical matters such as applying for residency status, please consult the immigration bureau with jurisdiction or a professional.
Summary
The practical exam is an advantage if you have on-site experience. The key is whether you "can answer in Japanese" the knowledge you use in your everyday work. (1) Learn tools from photos, (2) understand construction procedures and the reasons behind safety measures, and (3) repeat in the real exam format — with these three, you can definitely clear the 19-question wall.