Printed from Kezuriba (kezuriba.net/en/maintenance/kentei/)
Machine Maintenance Skill Test (Japan)
Grades and tasks of the national skills test "Machine Maintenance" (Japan), exam format and subjects, practical experience required to take the exam, and passing criteria.
Questions and answers
from the past 3 exams
are on the official site!
Administered by
One of the national skills tests (Japan), administered by the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance (JIPM), a public interest incorporated association designated as an examination body by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.[1][2](1 source, for reference)
Grades and tasks
| Grade | works |
|---|---|
| Special grade | No task categories |
| Grade 1 | Mechanical maintenance, electrical maintenance, equipment diagnosis |
| Grade 2 | Mechanical maintenance, electrical maintenance, equipment diagnosis |
| Grade 3 | Mechanical maintenance, electrical maintenance |
There are also basic grades and others for foreign technical intern trainees.[1][3](1 source, for reference)
Level of each grade
| Grade | level |
|---|---|
| Special grade | Skills and knowledge normally expected of managers and supervisors |
| Grade 1 | Senior-level skilled worker |
| Grade 2 | Intermediate-level skilled worker |
| Grade 3 | Entry-level skilled worker |
| Basic grade | Basic skills and knowledge to carry out fundamental work |
[4](1 source, for reference)
Practical experience required to take the exam
| Grade | years |
|---|---|
| Special grade | 5 years or more after passing Grade 1 |
| Grade 1 | 7 years or more |
| Grade 2 | 2 years or more |
| Grade 3 | None required |
Years of experience in work related to machine maintenance (maintenance planning, detecting defects, responding to abnormalities, collecting and analyzing measurement data, deciding maintenance methods, etc.). No proof documents need to be submitted. There are provisions that shorten the requirement.[3](1 source, for reference)
Written exam format
| Grade | format | time |
|---|---|---|
| Special grade | 50 five-choice questions | 120 minutes |
| Grade 1 | 25 true/false questions + 25 four-choice questions | 100 minutes |
| Grade 2 | 25 true/false questions + 25 four-choice questions | 100 minutes |
| Grade 3 | 30 true/false questions | 60 minutes |
Practical exam format
| Grade | work | format | time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special grade | - | Planning task exam (10 tasks) | 150 minutes |
| Grade 1 | Mechanical maintenance | Judgment exam (8 tasks) | 80 minutes |
| Grade 1 | Electrical maintenance | Fabrication task exam (2 tasks) | 110 minutes |
| Grade 1 | Equipment diagnosis | Judgment exam (10 tasks) | 100 minutes |
| Grade 2 | Mechanical maintenance | Judgment exam (8 tasks) | 80 minutes |
| Grade 2 | Electrical maintenance | Fabrication task exam (2 tasks) | 110 minutes |
| Grade 2 | Equipment diagnosis | Judgment exam (8 tasks) | 80 minutes |
| Grade 3 | Mechanical maintenance | Judgment exam (7 tasks) | 70 minutes |
| Grade 3 | Electrical maintenance | Fabrication task exam (2 tasks) | 110 minutes |
The practical problems for electrical maintenance are published in advance on the official site. The number of tasks is as given in the Official Guide.[1][2](1 source, for reference)
Passing criteria
Written: 65 points or more on an additive 100-point scale. Practical: a deduction system, and deductions must not reach 41 points or more (all grades).[2](1 source, for reference)
Exam subjects (headings only)
| Grade | written | practical |
|---|---|---|
| Special grade | Process control, work control, quality control, cost control, safety and health management and environmental protection, work instruction, equipment management | Process control, work control, quality control, cost control, safety and health management, work instruction, equipment management |
| Grades 1 and 2 | General machinery, general electricity, general machine maintenance methods, general materials, safety and health, + an elective (one of mechanical maintenance methods / electrical maintenance methods / equipment diagnosis methods) | Choose from mechanical maintenance / electrical maintenance / equipment diagnosis |
| Grade 3 | General machinery, general electricity, general machine maintenance methods, general materials, safety and health, + an elective (mechanical maintenance methods / electrical maintenance methods) | Choose from mechanical maintenance / electrical maintenance |
| Basic grade | Types of machines, types of main machine components, main machine maintenance methods, basic knowledge of safety and health, etc. | Mechanical maintenance |
Only the headings were extracted from JIPM's "Examination Subjects, Their Scope and Details". The details (specific items in the scope of questions) and the text of past exam questions have not been copied.[4](1 source, for reference)
Publication of past exams and answers
Questions and answers from the past 3 exams are posted on the official site. For both written and practical exams, candidates may take the questions home, and sample answers are published after the exam (for the practical exam, after the end of the test period).[3](1 source, for reference)
Exam fees (fiscal 2026)
| Grade | written | practical |
|---|---|---|
| Special grade, Grade 1 and Grade 2 | ¥4,600 | ¥15,400 |
| Grade 3 (general) | ¥4,600 | ¥15,400 (reductions for those under 23, students and employed workers) |
A separate handling fee applies depending on the payment method. Fees may change by year, so check the latest announcement of the exam.[1][3](1 source, for reference)
📚Sources
Items without a mark are those on which two or more materials from different publishers agree. For product values, each manufacturer's documentation takes precedence. The text is summarized in Kezuriba's own words.
- Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance, "Outline of the Fiscal 2026 Machine Maintenance Skills Test (announcement of the exam, 2026-03-02)"
- Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance, "Machine Maintenance Official Guide"
- Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance, "Machine Maintenance Skills Test Guidelines (eligibility, exam subjects, fees)"
- Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance, "Machine Maintenance Skills Test: Examination Subjects, Their Scope and Details (all grades)"