Translation guide
A nationally recognized exam in Japan that certifies academic ability equivalent to a high school diploma, primarily for those who did not graduate from high school.
高等学校卒業程度認定試験
Japanese high-school equivalency examination
Commonly abbreviated as 高認 (こうにん). Formerly known as 大検 (だいけん).
The official full name of the examination.
This is the official name. Use in formal contexts, documents, or when precision is required.
This year's Japanese high-school equivalency examination will be held in August.
The everyday term used in conversation and most informal writing.
The standard abbreviation. Widely understood and used in daily life, news, and educational settings.
高認を取得して大学に進学しました。
I passed the high-school equivalency exam and went on to university.
高認の勉強をしています。
I'm studying for the high-school equivalency exam.
The previous name of the exam, still occasionally used or encountered in older texts.
Short for 大学入学資格検定 (だいがくにゅうがくしかくけんてい). Replaced by 高認 in 2005. Some older people may still use this term, but it is outdated.
昔は大検と呼ばれていました。
It used to be called the 'daiken'.
How to describe the exam to someone unfamiliar with it, using a phrase rather than a name.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'an exam that gives you the same qualification as graduating from high school'. Useful when the listener may not know the term 高認.
高認は、高校卒業と同じ資格が取れる試験です。
The kounin is an exam that gives you the same qualification as graduating from high school.
In most casual or semi-formal situations, 高認 (こうにん) is the best choice. The full official name is mainly for documents or formal announcements. Avoid 大検 unless referring to the pre-2005 system.