Information Processing Test

(tags test, Japan, Japanese)

Yesterday I spent the whole day on the Japanese Information Processing Test, Software Engineer (情報処理試験). The test itself wasn't too hard analytically, but I don't know much SQL so I flunked those parts. I don't think I passed it, but there wasn't as much free writing as I expected. Unfortunately I still goofed and forgot how to write some critical kanji. Oh well, there's always next year. One thing is that I can take the test booklet home. I gotta check the correct answers online somewhere.

What struck me about the experience was the small desks, the young doods with their smoking habits, fast test takers leaving the room. I was probably older than 90% of them. It was held at a technical college in Kobe that I never knew about but is within a couple of blocks from my daily commute.

If I passed the test, I get a money reward from work. I don't know if it's great to put on a resume, but in a certification-happy Japan, I suppose it carries weight.