College entrance exams show Japan's economic conditions

Tokyo - The gap between rich and poor families has become apparent among students who took standardized exams as part of the National Center Tests for University Admissions across Japan on Saturday.An 18-year-old female high school student, accompanied by her mother, took the exam at Tokyo University in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. The student, whose first choice is a course at Tokyo University's literature department, will also take exams for 12 other universities."

Some of these university exams will serve as a warm-up exercise for me. It's costly to take so many tests, but it's not a big deal," she said with an air of embarrassment.

A male high school student, also 18, who took the exam at Chiba University in Chiba, submitted applications to 10 faculties at five universities, at a total cost of 300,000 yen ($2,805.60).

However, many students have to reduce the number of exams they take or the number of applications they submit due to financial constraints."My older sisters go to a junior college and a vocational school. Because my father is a security guard, I can only go to a national or public university, in light of my father's financial position," another student said, whose first choice is studying engineering at Muroran Institute of Technology.
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