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100+ Free Saitama Public High School Entrance Examination — Social Studies Practice Questions

Prepare for the Saitama Prefectural Public High School Entrance Examination — Social Studies (埼玉県立高等学校入学者選抜学力検査 社会) exam with instant access — no signup required.

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Key Facts: Saitama Public High School Entrance Examination — Social Studies Exam

Practise for the Saitama Prefectural Public High School Entrance Exam in Social Studies with 100 four-option questions covering geography, history and civics, weighted to the official 100-point paper sat on 26 February 2026. The official paper contains 記述式 and 条件付き作文 items, so this English-language MCQ bank is a study aid, not a format simulation.

Sample Saitama Public High School Entrance Examination — Social Studies Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Saitama Public High School Entrance Examination — Social Studies exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Saitama Prefecture is located in which region of Japan?
A.Kanto
B.Kinki
C.Tohoku
D.Chubu
Explanation: Saitama is one of the prefectures of the Kanto region, lying north of Tokyo.
2Which prefecture lies directly south of Saitama?
A.Tokyo
B.Ibaraki
C.Gunma
D.Nagano
Explanation: Tokyo lies directly south of Saitama; many Saitama residents commute to Tokyo.
3Japan is made up of four main large islands. Which list is correct?
A.Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku
B.Honshu, Hokkaido, Okinawa, Shikoku
C.Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, Sado
D.Hokkaido, Honshu, Tsushima, Kyushu
Explanation: The four main islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku.
4Which is the capital city of Japan?
A.Tokyo
B.Kyoto
C.Osaka
D.Nara
Explanation: Tokyo has been the capital of Japan since the Meiji era and is the seat of government.
5Which mountain is the highest in Japan?
A.Mount Fuji
B.Mount Kitadake
C.Mount Ontake
D.Mount Asama
Explanation: Mount Fuji (3,776 m) is Japan's highest mountain.
6Which river rises in Saitama's Chichibu mountains, runs through the centre of the prefecture and empties into Tokyo Bay?
A.the Ara River (Arakawa)
B.the Shinano River
C.the Tone River
D.the Ishikari River
Explanation: The Arakawa rises in the Chichibu mountains of western Saitama, flows east and south across the prefecture past Kumagaya and Saitama City, and reaches Tokyo Bay. It is the river most associated with Saitama's landscape and flood-control history.
7Japan has four distinct seasons because it lies in which climate zone?
A.the temperate zone
B.the tropical zone
C.the polar zone
D.the arid desert zone
Explanation: Most of Japan lies in the temperate zone, giving it four distinct seasons with rainy summers and dry winters in many areas.
8In early summer (roughly June to mid-July), much of Japan including Saitama experiences a rainy season called:
A.tsuyu (baiu)
B.fubuki
C.taifu
D.yukiguni
Explanation: The summer rainy season is called 'tsuyu' (or 'baiu'), bringing persistent rain before the hot summer.
9Which of these best describes agriculture in Saitama Prefecture?
A.suburban vegetable farming (kinko nogyo) supplying nearby Tokyo, with crops such as spinach, Welsh onion and taro
B.plantation farming of tropical fruit such as mangoes and pineapples
C.large-scale dairy and wheat farming on wide open pasture
D.terraced rice farming as almost the only form of agriculture
Explanation: Saitama practises kinko nogyo (suburban agriculture): being next to the huge Tokyo market, it specialises in perishable vegetables. Spinach, Welsh onion (negi, famously Fukaya negi) and taro are among its leading crops, and vegetables make up around half of the prefecture's agricultural output.
10Japan is poor in which type of resources, making it reliant on imports?
A.mineral resources such as oil and iron
B.fish
C.timber
D.solar energy
Explanation: Japan has few mineral and energy resources and imports most of its oil, coal and iron ore.

About the Saitama Public High School Entrance Examination — Social Studies Exam

The Saitama Prefectural Public High School Entrance Examination in Social Studies (社会) tests lower-secondary graduates on geography, history and civics. In the 令和8年度 (2026) cycle the general academic test (学力検査) covers five subjects (国語, 社会, 数学, 理科, 英語), each worth 100 points (total 500), sat on a single day, 26 February 2026. The paper is aligned to the MEXT junior-high Course of Study (平成29年 中学校学習指導要領 社会編) and tests 知識・技能 plus 思考力・判断力・表現力, with constructed-response items such as 記述式 short answers and 条件付き作文. Saitama holds one 学力検査 and each school ranks candidates in a 第1次選抜 (学力検査:調査書 between 4:6 and 6:4) and a 第2次選抜 (between 3:7 and 7:3), with some schools adding a 第3次選抜.

Assessment

100-point paper aligned to the MEXT 社会 Course of Study covering 地理, 歴史 and 公民, with constructed-response items such as 記述式 short answers and 条件付き作文. The five academic-test subjects (国語, 社会, 数学, 理科, 英語) each carry 100 points for a maximum of 500 points, sat on a single day (26 February 2026). The paper tests 知識・技能 plus 思考力・判断力・表現力.

Time Limit

Sat on 26 February 2026 as part of the single-day five-subject 学力検査: each subject is a 100-point paper of 50 minutes, 500 points in total; the 社会 paper covers geography, history and civics.

Passing Score

No fixed prefecture-wide pass mark. The social studies (社会) paper is scored out of 100 points (500 across the five academic-test subjects, each 100 points). Saitama holds one application and one 学力検査; there is no 推薦選抜 and no 特色化選抜 in 令和8年度. Each school then ranks candidates in a 第1次選抜 and a 第2次選抜, and some schools add a 第3次選抜. The 学力検査:調査書 ratio is set by each school within 4:6 to 6:4 in the 第1次選抜 and within 3:7 to 7:3 in the 第2次選抜. The 調査書 records 中1・中2・中3, 9教科 × 5段階評定, weighted by year at 1:1:1, 1:1:2 or 1:1:3 at the school's choice, plus 特別活動等の記録 and その他の項目; attendance is not scored. There is no single prefecture-wide pass line. Source: 令和8年度入試についてのQ&A and 選抜基準, 埼玉県教育委員会.

Exam Fee

入学者選抜手数料 is ¥2,200 for the 全日制 (full-time) course and ¥950 for the 定時制 (part-time) course, paid once for the whole five-subject 学力検査 by 電子収納 (credit card or convenience store). Source: 令和8年度入試についてのQ&A and 選抜基準, 埼玉県教育委員会. (Saitama Prefectural Board of Education (埼玉県教育委員会))

Saitama Public High School Entrance Examination — Social Studies Exam Content Outline

35%

Geography (地理)

Japan's regions and prefectures (including Saitama), climate, rivers, mountains, population, industry sectors, agriculture, resources, natural disasters, map reading, transport and trade.

35%

History (歴史)

Japanese history from the Jomon, Yayoi and Kofun periods through ancient, Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi, Sengoku, Azuchi-Momoyama, Edo, Meiji, modern and postwar eras, including world-history touchpoints.

30%

Civics (公民)

The constitution (popular sovereignty, human rights, Article 9), the three branches of government, the Diet, local government, elections, taxes, social security, law, international relations, the UN, globalization and information ethics.

How to Pass the Saitama Public High School Entrance Examination — Social Studies Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No fixed prefecture-wide pass mark. The social studies (社会) paper is scored out of 100 points (500 across the five academic-test subjects, each 100 points). Saitama holds one application and one 学力検査; there is no 推薦選抜 and no 特色化選抜 in 令和8年度. Each school then ranks candidates in a 第1次選抜 and a 第2次選抜, and some schools add a 第3次選抜. The 学力検査:調査書 ratio is set by each school within 4:6 to 6:4 in the 第1次選抜 and within 3:7 to 7:3 in the 第2次選抜. The 調査書 records 中1・中2・中3, 9教科 × 5段階評定, weighted by year at 1:1:1, 1:1:2 or 1:1:3 at the school's choice, plus 特別活動等の記録 and その他の項目; attendance is not scored. There is no single prefecture-wide pass line. Source: 令和8年度入試についてのQ&A and 選抜基準, 埼玉県教育委員会.
  • Assessment: 100-point paper aligned to the MEXT 社会 Course of Study covering 地理, 歴史 and 公民, with constructed-response items such as 記述式 short answers and 条件付き作文. The five academic-test subjects (国語, 社会, 数学, 理科, 英語) each carry 100 points for a maximum of 500 points, sat on a single day (26 February 2026). The paper tests 知識・技能 plus 思考力・判断力・表現力.
  • Time limit: Sat on 26 February 2026 as part of the single-day five-subject 学力検査: each subject is a 100-point paper of 50 minutes, 500 points in total; the 社会 paper covers geography, history and civics.
  • Exam fee: 入学者選抜手数料 is ¥2,200 for the 全日制 (full-time) course and ¥950 for the 定時制 (part-time) course, paid once for the whole five-subject 学力検査 by 電子収納 (credit card or convenience store). Source: 令和8年度入試についてのQ&A and 選抜基準, 埼玉県教育委員会.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Saitama Public High School Entrance Examination — Social Studies Study Tips from Top Performers

1Draw a timeline of Japanese history from Jomon to the postwar era with key dates (645 Taika, 1185 Kamakura, 1603 Edo, 1868 Meiji, 1947 Constitution) so that sequencing items become automatic.
2For geography, learn Japan's regions and their characteristic industries/climate together (e.g. Hokkaido dairy, Kanto plains, Kansai culture), and place Saitama within the Kanto region and Greater Tokyo area.
3For civics, memorise the structure of the constitution (popular sovereignty, fundamental human rights, peace) and the three branches, because knowledge items test these directly.
4Practise 記述式 answers by linking cause and effect in one sentence (e.g. 'because the working-age population is shrinking, social security is strained'), since constructed-response items reward clear reasoning.
5Connect historical events to their consequences ( Perry → opening → Meiji Restoration → industrialization), because 融合 items test causal chains rather than isolated facts.
6Time your practice and attempt the knowledge items first, leaving the longer 記述式 and 条件付き作文 items for last.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this question bank the same as the real Saitama 社会 exam?

No. The official paper is written in Japanese with constructed-response items such as 記述式 short answers and 条件付き作文. This bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation of the same syllabus content (geography, history and civics) and cannot replace writing out your own answers in Japanese under timed conditions.

How long is the Saitama 社会 paper and what is it worth?

It is scored out of 100 points, one of five subjects that together total 500 points (each subject 100 points). The five-subject 学力検査 is sat on a single day, 26 February 2026, each paper 50 minutes in the order 国語, 数学, 社会, 理科, 英語. 実技検査・面接 follow on 27 February at schools that set them, the 追検査 is on 3 March and results are announced on 6 March 2026. Within that day, the 社会 paper covers geography, history and civics.

How is the selection structured in 2026?

Saitama holds one application and one 学力検査; there is no 推薦選抜 and no 特色化選抜 in 令和8年度. Each school then ranks candidates in a 第1次選抜 and a 第2次選抜, and some schools add a 第3次選抜. The 学力検査:調査書 ratio is set by each school within 4:6 to 6:4 in the 第1次選抜 and within 3:7 to 7:3 in the 第2次選抜. The 調査書 records 中1・中2・中3, 9教科 × 5段階評定, weighted by year at 1:1:1, 1:1:2 or 1:1:3 at the school's choice, plus 特別活動等の記録 and その他の項目; attendance is not scored. There is no prefecture-wide pass line.

Does the 社会 paper include Saitama-specific geography?

The prefectural paper is set prefecture-wide and aligns to the MEXT 社会 Course of Study, which includes the local region. Geography items cover Japan's regions and prefectures, including Saitama's location, climate and industries.

How much is the examination fee?

The 入学者選抜手数料 (entrance examination fee) for a Saitama prefectural public high school is ¥2,200 for the 全日制 course. It is paid once for the whole five-subject 学力検査, not per subject paper.

When was the 2026 paper sat?

The 令和8年度 学力検査 was held on a single day, 26 February 2026, covering 国語, 社会, 数学, 理科 and 英語 (each 100 points, 500 total).