[October 2025 Pass Rate: 68%] Why the Pass Rate Surged — The 'Now' Ends with the December 2025 Major Exam Changes

In the Specified Skilled Worker Level 2 evaluation exam for October 2025, the pass rates for the construction field rose to unprecedented levels.

Civil Engineering: 55.34% (337 out of 609 passed)
Architecture: 67.55% (718 out of 1,063 passed)
Lifelines and Facilities: 56.91% (70 out of 123 passed)

In August, the rate for Architecture was only 31.72%. This is a surge of over 30 points in just two months.

Furthermore, starting from December 2025, JAC (Japan Association for Construction Skill Management) will significantly change the implementation method of the exam.

In this article, we will build on the facts to consider whether you should take the exam now or strengthen your preparations.

Data Source: JAC Official Announcement (Exam conducted on October 17, 2025; published values as of November 2025)

The Surge in Pass Rates — What Happened in Three Months?

Monthly Data (August 2025 – October 2025)

| Exam Date | Civil Engineering | Architecture | Lifelines | |:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:| | August 15, 2025 | 27.37% | 31.72% | 25.23% | | September 19, 2025 | 29.50% | 37.16% | 35.29% | | October 17, 2025 | 55.34% | 67.55% | 56.91% |

Source: JAC Official PDF (October 2025 Exam Results)

The pass rate has nearly doubled in three months. In particular, Architecture reached 68% (rounded) in October, the highest level in the history of this exam.

Comparison with 2024 — It Used to be "Single Digits to 20%"

According to public industry information, the pass rate for the Specified Skilled Worker Level 2 (Construction) has trended as follows:

| Period | Pass Rate Level | Background | |:---|:---:|:---| | Before 2023 | Single digits to around 10% | Exam just started, limited information | | Early 2024 | Around the 10% range | CBT transition begins, venues were limited | | October–December 2024 | 13–31% (varies by category/round) | Effect of JAC official texts and samples being released | | August–September 2025 | 25–37% | Increase in experienced examinees | | October 2025 | 55–68% | Something happened |

The measured values for 2024 can be confirmed on multiple sites such as Nihongo Cafe and MEIKOGLOBAL.

Four Factors Officially Explained as Causes of the Surge

According to explanations by industry experts (note / Mr. Takaki Tojo), the factors for the rising pass rate are the following four:

Expansion of Exam Opportunities — Increase in implementation months and venues.
Transparency of Materials — JAC official texts and sample questions were made public.
Serious Corporate Investment — Companies securing 2 hours of study time per week and providing exam fee subsidies.
Increase in Highly Experienced Examinees — A demographic meeting the criteria of Level 1 for 3 years + N3 + technical training is taking the exam.

However, our frank impression is that it is difficult to explain the jump from "single digits to 68%" with these four factors alone. Study materials have been comprehensive since early 2024, so the timing does not align with the October 2025 surge.

Major Exam Changes from December 2025 — Five Rules Announced by JAC

Around the same time, JAC announced that it would significantly change the implementation method of the exam (JAC Notice, September 17, 2025).

Comparison Table of Changes

| Item | Before Change (Until Nov 2025) | After Change (From Dec 2025) | |:---|:---|:---| | Application Method | JAC Members App | Prometric Site | | Exam Venues | Limited Venues | Approximately 95 Prometric Test Centers Nationwide | | Retake Interval | Once a Month | 30 Days or More Since Previous Exam | | Multiple ID Acquisition | No Clear Ban | Result Invalidation + Loss of Eligibility | | Registration Start | — | From October 3, 2025 |

What These Rule Changes Mean

Looking at the facts, we can see the following strengthening of measures:

Ban on Multiple IDs → Preventing individuals from repeatedly taking exams to memorize questions.
30-Day Interval Rule → Reducing the number of examinees seeing the same question pool in a short period.
Transition to 95 Nationwide Venues → Expanding the question pool and dispersing examinees across venues.

While JAC has not officially termed this "anti-fraud measures," it can be said that these rule changes have a strong character of fraud prevention.

What Will Happen to Pass Rates After December 2025?

Based on past data and these changes, the author proposes the following hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: Possibility of a Question Pool Refresh

If the exam moves to 95 venues nationwide, using the same questions would cause answers to spread quickly. Therefore, it is predicted that JAC will significantly increase the number of questions. If new questions are added, "strategies based on rote memorization of answers" will no longer work.

Hypothesis 2: Pass Rate May Return to 2024 Levels (20% Range)

The 68% figure for October is clearly an anomaly compared to past trends. Assuming the exam content itself has not suddenly become easier, it is highly likely to return to its original difficulty level after December.

A return to the 20–30% range, which was the measured level in late 2024, is entirely possible.

Hypothesis 3: Stricter Identity Verification

Prometric test centers are known for strict identity verification using passports. The Prometric Official Terms and Conditions clearly state the check items upon entry.

Acts such as "someone else taking the exam on your behalf" will be detected immediately on-site.

On October 23, 2025, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Osaka Prefectural Police arrested nine Vietnamese nationals on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in a substitute test-taking incident for the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic). It was also revealed that the Japan Foundation had consulted the police in December 2024, stating there were "about 100 cases of suspected substitute test-taking."

Important Distinction:

JFT-Basic is an exam to measure the Japanese language requirement for Specified Skilled Worker Level 1. It is a different exam from the Specified Skilled Worker Level 2 Evaluation Exam (JAC) for the construction field.
This incident was not fraud in the JAC Construction Level 2 exam itself.
However, given it involves the same examinee community, similar Prometric venues, and coincides with JAC's December 2025 measures such as the "ban on multiple IDs" and the "30-day interval," it is natural to read this as part of a context where anti-fraud measures are being strengthened across the entire Specified Skilled Worker system.

UKARU's Position: Fraud is an individual illegal act, and the majority of Vietnamese workers take exams through legitimate study. Developing true ability through proper preparation is the best way to protect trust in the entire community.

So, What Should You Do Now? — Two Realistic Options

Option A: Take the Exam by November 2025 (Focus on Speed)

Pros: You can compete while the pass rate is currently high.
Cons:
- Risk of failing due to lack of preparation.
- Exam schedules for November are limited.
- If you fail, you will have to take the more difficult exams from December onwards.

Option B: Build Ability Through Understanding to Compete After December (The Standard Path)

Pros:
- You can answer no matter what questions appear.
- Useful for future promotions and your career.
Cons: Preparation takes time.

Whichever you choose, you should be prepared for the fact that a strategy of "passing through rote memorization of answers" is unlikely to work after December 2025.

UKARU's Learning Design — Understanding-Based Problem Exercises

UKARU emphasizes learning to understand the meaning of the questions.

Problems with Explanations — We explain why an answer is correct.
Weakness Analysis — Automatically identify your weak points.
Multi-language Support — Available in 10 languages including Japanese, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.

These materials are designed for acquiring a way of thinking rather than just memorizing answers.

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Summary

The pass rate for October 2025 was 68% for Architecture, 55% for Civil Engineering, and 57% for Lifelines (rounded).
The surge over three months cannot be fully explained by the four official factors alone.
JAC will significantly change the exam method starting December 2025 (95 nationwide venues, ban on multiple IDs, 30-day interval rule).
These changes strongly possess the character of de facto anti-fraud measures.
There is a high possibility that pass rates will return to the 20–30% level after December.
Learning based on "understanding" rather than "memorization of answers" will be necessary from now on.

Do not be complacent; start preparing today to pass with your own true ability.

Start today with UKARU