A 30-day study plan for the Japanese driving licence written test

Updated 8 October 2026

Thirty days is enough to go from zero to a confident written test if you study steadily every day. The plan below follows the real structure of the two tests: stage 1 for Karimen, stage 2 for Honmen, then the final days for mock exams and mistake review. Treat it as a frame and adjust it to your own calendar.

30days in 4 weeks
14 + 17lesson units in stage 1 + stage 2
20-30practice questions a day is plenty

Before you begin

Two decisions come first. The first is which test you are preparing for. If you take Karimen and then Honmen, there is usually a gap between them, and this plan merges the two for people who want to study in one run. If the gap is several weeks, do only the first two weeks before Karimen and return to the later weeks once you hold the provisional licence. If you are taking the licence conversion test, stage 1 is all you need.

The second is how much time you have each day. Around 45 to 60 minutes works well: 15 minutes of lesson, 20 to 30 minutes of questions and 10 minutes of mistake review. In the app you can set a daily goal of 10, 20, 30 or 50 questions, a planned exam date and a study reminder. The entry test has 20 questions mixed from every topic and gives you a predicted score and your weak topics so that you know where to start.

Week 1 (days 1 to 7): foundations and signs

Day 1: the entry test, then unit 1 (what every driver should know) and unit 2 (obeying signals).
Days 2 to 4: unit 3, signs and road markings. It is the biggest unit, with over 280 questions, so it needs several days. Each day, study one group of signs and do a few minutes of sign quiz. See Japanese road signs.
Days 5 and 6: unit 4 (where vehicles may and may not go) and unit 5 (priority for emergency vehicles and route buses).
Day 7: a light day. Review only the week’s mistakes and take a 60-second sign challenge.

Week 2 (days 8 to 14): finish stage 1

Days 8 and 9: unit 6 (intersections and railway crossings) and unit 7 (speed and following distance). Group the numbers in one place to compare them.
Days 10 and 11: unit 8 (pedestrians), unit 9 (safety checks, signalling and the horn) and unit 10 (lane changes, U-turns and cutting in).
Days 12 and 13: unit 11 (overtaking), unit 12 (meeting oncoming vehicles), unit 13 (licences, points and tickets) and unit 14 (automatics and safety systems).
Day 14: a timed Karimen exam. Note your score and the topics that cost you the most.

Take the 20-question entry test to see which topics to start with.

Study and take a free mock test

5 free mock exams for every test type. Opens in your browser, nothing to install.

Week 3 (days 15 to 21): stage 2 for Honmen

Day 15: review the week 2 mistakes and take another Karimen exam. If you are only taking Karimen and you are near 48/50 on consecutive exams, you may be close to ready.
Days 16 to 18: hazard prediction, blind spots, using aptitude test results, human ability, natural forces and adverse conditions. This part feeds directly into the hazard illustration questions.
Days 19 and 20: typical crashes, vehicle maintenance, parking and stopping. Learn the no stopping and no parking rules carefully, because they carry many numbers.
Day 21: mistake review and 10 to 20 questions on your weakest topic.

Week 4 (days 22 to 30): mock exams and polish

Days 22 to 24: the remaining units: riding and loading, towing, when a traffic accident happens, registration, inspection and insurance, route planning and expressway driving. If you also ride a motorcycle or moped, there are two extra units for them.
Day 25: read Japan traffic law updates 2026 so you do not study an outdated rule.
Days 26 to 29: one full 95-question timed Honmen exam a day, mixed with mistake review. Aim for several points above 90/100. How to run an exam is on Japan driving mock tests.
Day 30: only a light look at your mistake list and the signs you mix up. Sleep early.

Three rules to keep the plan from falling apart

If you miss a day, do not double up. Pick up where you stopped instead of cramming twice as much the next day.
Review mistakes every day. A wrong answer comes back after 1, 3 and 7 days and counts as fixed only after two correct answers in a row. It is the most valuable habit in the whole plan.
Understand first, memorise second. Read the explanation for every wrong answer, because tests change a number or a word far more often than they repeat a question word for word.

Frequently asked questions

Is 30 days enough to pass the written test?

If you study steadily for about 45 to 60 minutes a day, it is enough time to cover the whole syllabus and take many mock exams. How it goes depends on your reading level and your starting point, so nothing is guaranteed.

How many questions should I do a day?

About 20 to 30 practice questions plus your mistake review is a good level. The app lets you set a daily goal of 10, 20, 30 or 50 questions.

I only need the licence conversion test. How should I study?

You need stage 1 only (14 units) and the 50-question, 30-minute conversion exams. You can shrink this plan to the first two weeks and spend the remaining time on mock exams.

Do I need to revise stage 1 while studying for Honmen?

Yes. Honmen still asks the stage 1 basics, so keep reviewing mistakes and mix in Karimen exams during week 3.