Japan - Graduation Proof and Grading Scale

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Anda

Japan academic certification reference focusing on high school graduation proof requirements and eligibility. Details acceptable credentials including upper secondary graduation certificates, special training school upper secondary diplomas, completion certificates from five-year technical college programs, and GED-style general education diplomas with conditions. Clarifies non-acceptable lower secondary completion certificates and adult education general course certificates. Also provides grading scale mapping numeric grades to U.S. equivalents and quality points, plus course title usage guidance for less commonly known titles.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Academic Calendar

High School Timeline and Year Nine

Acceptable Forms of Proof of High School Graduation

Upper Secondary School Graduation Certificate

Special Training School Upper Secondary Course Diploma

Certificate of Completion (Five-Year Technical College Program)

General Education Diploma (GED Equivalent)

Not Acceptable Forms of Proof of High School Graduation

Lower Secondary School Certificate of Completion

Special Training School General Course Certificate of Completion

Grading Scale

Numeric Grades, U.S. Equivalents, Quality Points

Important Course Title Rules

Less Commonly Known Course Titles

Handling "Basic" in Course Titles

Reference Documents

Japan | Background | | | --- | --- | | Academic Calendar | April-March | | What is year nine called? | Year 3, year 9 | | Where is year nine typically located? | Last year of lower secondary school | | Native Language(s) | Japanese | | Graduation Timeline | | | 6 + 3 + 3 = 12 | 12 years total: six years primary, three years lower secondary and three years upper secondary | ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION 1. Upper Secondary School Graduation Certificate | Expected Timeline of Completion | 12 years (four years or eight semesters from the initial start of year nine) | | --- | --- | 2. Special Training School Upper Secondary Course Diploma | Expected Timeline of Completion | 12 years (four years or eight semesters from the initial start of year nine) | | --- | --- | 3. Certificate of Completion (Awarded after successful completion of the first three years of a five-year technical college program) | Expected Timeline of Completion | 12 years (four years or eight semesters from the initial start of year nine) | | --- | --- | 4. General Education Diploma (This is a GED-style credential. Click here to review additional information on GED policies found in the International Guide) . | Expected Timeline of Completion | This is a GED equivalent credential with no expected timeline of completion.
Note: Confirmation of year nine start date is required to determine if credential can be used to satisfy proof of graduation requirements. | | --- | --- | NOT ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION 1. Lower Secondary School Certificate of Completion | Expected Timeline of Completion | Nine years (one year or two semesters from the initial start of year nine) | | --- | --- | 2. Special Training School General Course Certificate of Completion – Adult Education 1 NCAA is a trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2 GRADING SCALE | Numeric Grade | U.S. Grade
Equivalent | Quality Points | | Numeric Grade | U.S. Grade
Equivalent | Quality Points | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 5 | A | 4 | | 2 | D | 1 | | 4 | B | 3 | | 1 | F (Failure) | 0 | | 3 | C | 2 | | | | | IMPORTANT INFORMATION » The following are less commonly known course titles approved for use in an academic certification: | English/ Native Language | Math | Science | Social
Science | Additional Courses | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Classics (may be listed as Classics A or Classics B) | | | | | » For courses with “Basic” in the title, that term should be disregarded and the remainder of the title should be used to determine if the course is core and eligible for use in the academic certification. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS » Course Title Usage guide. » Determination of Credit resource.» International initial-eligibility flyer. » NCAA Guide of International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility. » International Resources. » How to Submit Your Academic Records. 2 NCAA is a trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. September 2026

FAQs

What timeline does Japan's education path use for 12 years total?

The reference states 12 years total: six years primary, three years lower secondary, and three years upper secondary.

Which documents are acceptable proof of high school graduation?

Acceptable forms include an upper secondary graduation certificate, a special training school upper secondary course diploma, a completion certificate from the first three years of a five-year technical college program, and a general education diploma as a GED-style credential.

What is not acceptable as proof of high school graduation?

A lower secondary school certificate of completion and a special training school general course certificate of completion for adult education are listed as not acceptable.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Anda