80% Start University Exam Prep by 11th Grade! Early Decision-Making Driven by Open Campus Visits [2026 Survey]

DeltaX Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Tsuyoshi Kuroiwa), which operates the cram school selection service 'Jukusen,' has announced the summary of its survey on 'university entrance exam preparation.' When do most families start preparing for university entrance exams in earnest? The Jukusen Journal conducted a thorough survey of 100 parents whose children took university entrance exams in the 2026 academic year, covering the timing of exam preparation, when they decided on their target universities, information gathering methods, and attendance at cram schools. Looking back at the 2026 university entrance exams, we report on the trend toward earlier preparation, changes in cram school selection, and how parents should engage to ensure a satisfying exam experience.

80% Start Exam Prep by 11th Grade - The Trend Toward Earlier Starts
82% of families started exam preparation by the second year of high school, an increase from the previous year. When asked when their children began studying for university entrance exams, 82% of respondents in the 2026 survey said they started by the second year of high school. Compared to the previous year, the trend toward earlier preparation is clear. In the 2025 survey, 35% of families started exam preparation in their third year of high school, but this decreased to 18% in the 2026 survey. On the other hand, families who started by the second year of high school increased from 65% in 2025 to 82% in 2026.

Starting in the 2nd or 3rd Term of 11th Grade is the Peak
Looking at the breakdown of when exam study began, 20% started in the second term and 21% in the third term of the second year of high school. Meanwhile, 18% started in the first year of high school and only 5% before entering high school. Although preparation is starting earlier, it is not extremely early. It is likely that many families begin to seriously consider university entrance exams during the second year of high school, when students have become accustomed to high school life and are gradually finding their career direction.

Earlier Decision-Making for Target Universities - Growing Emphasis on Open Campus Visits
59% of families decided on their target university by the second year of high school. When asked when they decided on the university they would take the exam for, 41% said the third year of high school, 41% said the second year, and 18% said the first year in the 2026 survey. Combining the first and second years, the total is 59%. In the previous year's survey, the combined total was 40%, showing that the timing for deciding on target universities is also moving forward.

'School briefings and open campuses' were the most helpful sources for gathering information when choosing a target university. When asked for the most helpful information source, 50% cited 'school briefings and open campuses,' the highest percentage. This is a 17-point increase from 33% in the previous year's survey. On the other hand, 'school websites and social media' decreased from 27% in 2025 to 14% in 2026, and 'exam information websites' decreased from 15% to 4%. It can be said that more families are not just gathering information from official university websites or exam information sites, but are actually visiting campuses to check the atmosphere, the students, and the learning environment.

Should You Go to a Cram School for University Exams? Attendance Rates Up from Last Year
67% of families attended a cram school for university exam preparation - a 19-point increase from the previous year. When asked how their children studied for university entrance exams, 67% said they 'attended a cram school,' which was the most common answer. In the previous year's survey, 48% said they attended a cram school, but in the 2026 survey, this rose to 67%, a 19-point increase. This result shows that more families are utilizing cram schools to advance their exam preparation rather than relying solely on home study or correspondence courses.

Growing Demand for Individual Tutoring and Community-Based Cram Schools
Looking at the types of cram schools attended for university exam preparation, 45% attended 'large-scale exam cram schools' in the 2026 survey. However, there are changes compared to the previous year. While 60% attended 'large-scale exam cram schools' and 32% attended 'mid-sized cram schools' in the previous year, these figures decreased to 45% and 19% respectively in the 2026 survey. On the other hand, 'individual tutoring schools' and 'community-based (privately owned, etc.) cram schools' increased from 4% each in 2025 to 18% in 2026.

'Respecting the Child's Will' and 'Early Information Gathering' Determined Satisfaction
In this survey, 44% said they had 'no regrets at all' about the university entrance exam, and 43% said they had 'not many regrets.' Combined, 87% of families answered that they had few major regrets. The key to reducing regrets is 'respecting the child's will and discussion.' When asked for the reason, 79% said they were able to 'respect the child's will,' followed by 39% who said they 'could talk well as parent and child.'

Summary: 2026 University Entrance Exams Marked by Earlier Preparation
In the 2026 university entrance exams, families moving early were prominent in exam preparation, cram school attendance, target university decision-making, and information gathering. Thinking about the direction from the second year of high school and proceeding with preparation while respecting the child's will will lead to a satisfying university entrance exam.