The IT Passport is an introductory qualification for information processing engineers, which has been attracting attention in recent years. In the 10 years since the test began, the number of test takers has exceeded 1.1 million. It is also being introduced into companies and universities. Here, we will tell you about the outline and benefits of IT Passport, the pass rate, the scope of questions, and the process to take the exam.
table of contents
- 1 What is an IT Passport?
- 1One of the information processing engineer exams
- 2Why IT Passport was newly established
- 2Benefits of obtaining an IT passport
- 1Learn basic knowledge as an IT user
- 2You can acquire a wide range of knowledge, not just IT.
- 3Credits may be recognized for passing the exam while enrolled in school.
- FourImproving evaluation within the company and appealing when hiring
- FiveCareer advancement is possible with a systematic qualification structure
- 3IT Passport question range and exam content
- 1Question range list
- 2Strategy system
- 3Management system
- FourTechnology
- FourIT Passport pass rate and difficulty level
- 1Number of examinees and successful candidates
- 2Different pass rates for working adults and students
- FiveProcedures for applying and taking the IT Passport exam
- 1Flow from application to examination
- 2If you use a voucher, your score will be visible.
- 3About the certificate of passing
- FourEstimated study time
- FiveIT Passport Exam Overview
- 6summary
What is IT Passport?
IT Passport is a national qualification in information processing technology implemented by IPA (Information-technology Promotion Agency) and certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. It is also known for being the first national qualification to introduce the CBT exam, which is completed using a computer. This is a popular qualification that has seen an increase in the number of test takers in recent years, and there is no need to renew it if you pass.
The unique feature is that you can not only learn basic IT knowledge, but also about management. The subject of study is not the specialized content of traditional information processing engineers, but the basics of information technology that everyone who uses IT should master.
One of the information processing engineer exams
The IT Passport is one of more than 10 qualifications for information processing engineers. The qualification of information processing engineer has been added and integrated from time to time with the development of information technology. Currently, there are qualification exams for applications, databases, system development, networks, information security, etc.
The information processing engineer examination is systematized and covers a wide range of subjects, from those who use IT to the basics, applications, and specialized fields of information processing technology. Among them, the IT Passport is the most user-friendly national qualification and is relatively easy to obtain.
Why IT Passport was newly established
IT Passport is a relatively new qualification that started in 2009. It was newly established because in the future society, the ability to use IT will be required in all industries and occupations. Nowadays, IT usage is no longer limited to information technology specialists, but is also required by ordinary company employees.
In response to these changes in needs, when the examination system was revised in 2009, the entry-level system administrator (system administrator) qualification was abolished, but a new qualification was created: the IT passport. Opportunities for this qualification to be used as a practical qualification are increasing, such as in in-house training and when people are required to fill out an entry sheet when hiring.
Benefits of obtaining an IT passport
Next, let’s take a look at the situations in which IT Passport is useful. There are five main benefits.
- Learn basic knowledge as an IT user
- You can acquire a wide range of knowledge, not just IT.
- Credits may be recognized for passing the exam while enrolled in school.
- Improve your internal evaluation and meet promotion requirements
- Career advancement is possible with a systematic qualification structure
Learn basic knowledge as an IT user
Nowadays, it can be said that it is more difficult to live a life that is completely unrelated to IT. As an IT user, the benefit is that you can learn basic IT knowledge. You will be able to understand the meanings of IT terms you see and hear on a daily basis, what IT technologies are used in the applications and systems you casually use, and what they can do.
You will also deepen your understanding of IT devices (equipment) and services. You can also learn about security. If you know what to be careful about when using the Internet and what to do in case of an emergency, you will be able to use the Internet more comfortably.
You can acquire a wide range of knowledge, not just IT.
In addition to IT, you can also learn about management and management jobs. If you know how to formulate business strategies and how to manage operations, your IT knowledge will be immediately useful.
Information ethics, such as copyright, handling of personal information, and unauthorized access, are important knowledge to have, especially since the use of IT has become commonplace.
You can also learn about logical thinking, which is necessary to understand the world of IT technology, which is made up of numbers and theories.
Credits may be recognized for passing the exam while enrolled in school.
In recent years, an increasing number of schools are recognizing students as credits if they pass the exam while enrolled. This is probably because it is judged to be beneficial for students who are about to enter the workforce.
Not only do we encourage students to take the exam while they are still in school, such as by offering IT Passport exam preparation courses, but we also certify credits for passing the exam and subsidize a portion of the exam fee for those who take the exam and those who pass. There is also a school. Some schools give preferential treatment to those who have obtained qualifications through AO entrance examinations or recommendation entrance examinations.
Improving evaluation within the company and appealing when hiring
One of the benefits of obtaining an IT passport is that you can use it in your work and appeal when changing jobs. At work, applying the knowledge you have learned to your work can improve your reputation with those around you, improve your performance in personnel evaluations, and provide you with qualification allowances. Some organizations and companies make it one of the requirements for promotion.
More and more companies are asking new graduates to fill out entry forms, and mid-career hires will get noticed if they fill out their resumes and job history. It is directly linked to evaluation, promotion, and salary within the company, so if you obtain it at the time of recruitment, it should be a positive effect.
Career advancement is possible with a systematic qualification structure
Information processing engineer exams range from those for students to businessmen, such as the IT passport, to specialized exams, which require advanced knowledge and skills, such as introductory IT engineers and system audit engineers. It is structured systematically.
The certification system for information processing engineers was established in 1969, and its history spans more than half a century. Initially, it started with 5 types of qualification exams for engineers, but the current system has 13 types in total, 2 types for users and 11 types for engineers.
If you want to step up as an IT user, take the IT Passport, which is the basics of IT, and then proceed to the Information Security Management Exam, which is essential for safe IT use.
If you want to become an information processing engineer specialist, first take the basic information engineer exam and the applied information engineer exam. Furthermore, you can advance your career by acquiring qualifications that are useful in system operation and maintenance, system development, network construction, system auditing, IT consulting, etc.
IT Passport question range and exam content
Here, we will take a look at the IT Passport question range and exam content. Questions are from three areas: strategy, management, and technology.
Question range list
| Strategy system | Corporate and legal affairs | Corporate activities |
| legal affairs | ||
| Management strategy | Business strategy management | |
| Technology strategy management | ||
| business industry | ||
| system strategy | system strategy | |
| system planning | ||
| Management system | Development technology | System development technology |
| Software development management technology | ||
| Project Management | Project Management | |
| service management | service management | |
| system audit | ||
| Technology | basic theory | basic theory |
| algorithms and programming | ||
| computer system | computer components | |
| System components | ||
| software | ||
| hardware | ||
| technical elements | information design | |
| information media | ||
| database | ||
| network | ||
| Security |
Strategy system
Strategy questions cover general management. Strategy means strategy in English. It can be said that this is the part where you are asked about the basics of business, such as what corporate activities and management are.
Corporate activities and legal affairs
“Corporate Activities and Legal Affairs” covers topics such as trends in IT usage, methods of solving business problems, methods of analysis and business improvement using data, and basic knowledge and ways of thinking about accounting and finance. This includes intellectual property, security, and labor laws. This also includes whether you understand information ethics such as compliance and the concepts and characteristics of software licenses.
Management strategy
What is asked in “Management Strategy” is whether you understand the basic concept of strategy planning, planning methods, and the necessity of strategy from the perspective of managing business strategy and technology strategy. In Business Industry, questions are also asked about commonly used systems, AI, IoT, etc.
system strategy
What “system strategy” requires is an understanding of system strategy and planning. You will be asked about the purpose and significance of information system strategy, efficient communication, business automation, and the concept of solution business. Defining requirements during system planning is also essential.
Management system
The scope of management-related questions is management work. You will be asked about system development and management, including development technology, project management, and service management.
Development technology
System development begins with interviews with customers about what kind of system they want, and includes a series of steps including design, programming, testing, and operation and maintenance. “Development technology” questions how to develop and manage such systems and software.
Project management/Service management
“Project management” and “service management” test your understanding of the job of management, including the purpose, significance, way of thinking, and process of each management. In addition, service management also covers service desk (help desk) and system auditing.
Technology
For technology candidates, questions are asked about IT technology. Specifically, it refers to the mechanisms of computers, software, networks, etc.
basic theory
In “Basic Theory”, in addition to basic concepts such as binary numbers and arithmetic, questions are also asked about probability and statistics. The same goes for basics such as how to represent the amount of information such as bits and bytes, algorithms, and the roles, types, and characteristics of programming languages.
computer system
A “computer system” consists of four items: computer components, system components, software, and hardware. The question is what kind of elements (parts/equipment) and functions a computer or system has, and how it works.
technical elements
The “technical elements” consist of five elements: information design, information media, database, network, and security. In information design, we are asked about the ease of viewing and finding information, and in information media, we are asked about the mechanisms and characteristics of audio, still images, videos, AR, and VR. The scope also covers the structure and basic concepts of databases.
In networks and security, in addition to the technologies and mechanisms that support current products and services, candidates are required to understand information security mechanisms, cyber attacks, and the risks of information leaks.
IT Passport pass rate and difficulty level
Let’s take a look at the IT Passport pass rate and difficulty level. We will also introduce the differences in the pass rates for working adults and students.
Number of examinees and successful candidates
The IT Passport exam began in the spring of 2009, and as of November 2021, a total of approximately 1.12 million people have taken the exam. The average number of test takers per year is over 100,000. In 2019, the annual number of test takers exceeded 100,000, and the number of test takers is increasing to 130,000 in 2020 and 210,000 in 2021.
The average pass rate is 51.3%, so it can be said that it is a qualification exam that one in two examinees can pass. The pass rate was low at 40.7% when the CBT exam first started, but it has increased to over 50% in recent years. However, the pass rates are different for working adults and students.
Different pass rates for working adults and students
The average pass rate for working adults is 57.3%, and for students it is 39.8%, a difference of 17.5%. This is probably because the IT passport contains many of the basics of business such as corporate activities, management, and management.
Furthermore, when comparing the pass rates for IT and non-IT candidates among working adults, the pass rate for non-IT candidates is 54.3% and 58.0% for non-IT candidates, showing a higher pass rate for non-IT candidates. For this reason, in addition to IT knowledge and skills, this qualification requires a perspective on how to utilize IT in business.
Procedures for applying and taking the IT Passport exam
In addition to the process of applying for and taking the IT Passport exam, we will also provide you with an estimated study time and key points. Please see the table at the end for exam details.
Flow from application to examination
There are three main steps from applying for the exam to taking the exam. These are “User ID Registration”, “Examination Application”, and “Examination”.
- (For first-time users) Register your user ID and password. An
email address is required for registration. Please be aware that your mobile phone carrier’s email address may not be able to receive emails due to spam settings.
- Select the test venue, date, and payment method for the test fee. There
are three payment methods: credit card, payment at a convenience store, and voucher (details will be explained in the next chapter). Once your payment has been confirmed, your confirmation slip will be available for download. You will need it on the day of the exam, so please complete it early. - On the day of the test, prepare a confirmation slip and an identification document with a photo of your face and take the test . Your results will be available within a few hours after taking the test, so download your test result report. The results will be announced in the middle of the month following the exam.
If you use a voucher, your score will be visible.
A voucher is an electronic ticket that can be used to pay the IT Passport exam fee. It can be used by individuals or groups, and you can purchase from 1 ticket. However, in addition to the user ID that is essential for taking the exam, you must create an ID for purchasing vouchers.
If you choose to pay with a voucher, you will see detailed scores for each area. The validity period is 1 year. The average of working adults and students and the scores of test takers (or test takers) are displayed in a list and radar chart, allowing you to compare scores.
About the certificate of passing
With IT Passport, your certificate of completion will be mailed by registered mail. Please check in advance to make sure your name and other details on your certificate are correct. If you need to change the spelling of your name due to reasons such as not being able to register your name in official kanji when registering your user ID, you can request a change by either email or post.
Either way, there is a deadline for applying, so be sure to complete the procedure within the specified period. Please note that the certificate of passing will not be reissued.
Estimated study time
It is estimated that approximately 100 to 150 hours of study is required to pass the IT Passport. The three areas covered by the exam (strategy, management, and technology) include nine items, so each will take approximately 10 hours or more.
If there is an area that you are weak in, try solving problems based on that area. Frequently asked questions are legal affairs, corporate activities, and business strategy management for strategy students, project management for management students, and security related questions for technology students. Past exam questions are available on the official website, so make use of them.
IT Passport Exam Overview
The outline of the IT Passport exam is as follows.
| test time | 120 minutes |
| Number of questions | 100 questions |
| Answer format | Multiple choice using CBT |
| Question field | Strategy type: about 35 questions Management type: about 20 questions Technology type: about 45 questions |
| passing grade | Satisfying conditions 1 and 2 1 Overall evaluation score of 600 points or more / 1,000 points 2 Evaluation points of each field also 300 points or more / 1,000 points |
| Examination fee | 7,500 yen (tax included) |
| held | at any time |
| venue | Nationwide |
For those who are new to CBT, CBT simulation software is available so you can familiarize yourself with it before taking the test.
summary
The IT passport exam is a popular national qualification that is relatively easy to obtain among information processing engineer qualifications. It is attractive that you can use it as proof of your skills at the time of acquisition, and that you can aim to improve your skills by acquiring other information processing engineer qualifications in the future. Get the popular IT Passport and use it for your job or employment.
