Current issues in large-scale educational assessment in Japan: focus on national assessment of academic ability and university entrance examinations

Abstract

Currently, large-scale testing in Japan faces conflicting requirements derived from principles of education on the one hand, and measurement, on the other. Issues of affective ambivalence towards tests (i.e. test aversion and dependence) are also observed. The seemingly conflicting government discussions regarding the national assessment of academic achievement at primary and middle schools, and reforms to university entrance examinations, are discussed here in terms of these issues.