examination hell; ordeal of entrance exams
Refers to the intense pressure and competition surrounding school entrance examinations in Japan, often used in discussions of the education system.
In Japan, many students experience the ordeal of entrance examinations.
He overcame the examination hell and got into his first-choice university.
Similar in meaning, but 受験戦争 (examination war) emphasizes the competitive aspect, while 受験地獄 focuses on the suffering and hardship.
Compound of 受験 (taking an examination) and 地獄 (hell). The term metaphorically describes the grueling nature of Japan's competitive entrance exam system.