Applicants for Japanese universities have begun sitting the standardized entrance examinations. Special arrangements are available for those affected by the earthquake on New Year's Day.

The two-day annual exams began on Saturday at 668 venues across the country. More than 490,000 applicants can use their results for screening processes at 864 academic institutions.

Quake-hit applicants who cannot sit for the tests in Ishikawa Prefecture are eligible for makeup exams later this month.

Such students can take the current or makeup tests even if they have lost their exam admission cards in the quake. They are also exempted from requirements to provide identifying documents and facial photographs to obtain temporary admission cards.

This year's exams are the first since the government last May downgraded COVID-19 to the same category as seasonal influenza.

Test-takers can also choose whether to wear masks. The masks were a requirement last year.

Exam organizers introduced revised test formats in 2021. These aim for results that better reflect a student's ability to think and reach decisions.