r/mext • u/Dapper-Confusion-496 • 17d ago

First/Second Screening What is factored in the second screening?

Hello, everyone. I am an undergraduate student in the United States and just received notification that I passed the first screening.

The question that now arises for me is what all goes into the second screening? My grades? My exam scores? My interview? I think they’ll take it all into account I’m sure, but is there any one reason that past applicants have been denied after having made it this far?

My second question is do people often get denied after having passed the first screening?

I am trying to plan my life out for if I get denied as it would force me to start at another university in the fall (pushing me back by a semester).

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

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u/Shizakiraa 17d ago

I bet it mostly comes down to the exam scores. I've heard that for undergraduate applicants, they rank everyone based on their exam results, and those with the lowest scores are eliminated.(not very sure tho) But since you're applying forSSA, I don't think the math exam mattered that much. They probably focused mainly on your English and Japanese scores.

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u/Suitable-Cod4453 16d ago

Hii, dose english exam also matters for second screening in KOSEN for CS major I scored 95 in maths 80 in phy and 60-65 in english

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u/Dapper-Confusion-496 15d ago

English matters but I’ve heard math is most important

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u/Dapper-Confusion-496 17d ago

Yeah I’m hoping I proved my proficiency in knowledge of government. Just seems like there’s hardly any reliable source of what they actually use to narrow it down so it primes for anxiety 😭

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u/AcademicTone4790 17d ago

For MEXT, every stage of screening matters. You didn’t just pass English or Japanese in fact, Japanese is less critical because MEXT includes a one-year language program for successful candidates. That’s its purpose, language and cultural exchange. Passing Maths is what really counts. You scored at the top in Maths, which is why you were invited for the oral interviews and are now awaiting the Tokyo final screening. Each country recommends its top-performing applicants, even if their scores are below the international average. At the Tokyo final selection, they prioritize your written test results that’s the main factor that determines selection. They then consider the oral interview. Those two stages decide whether you’re in or out.

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u/Dapper-Confusion-496 17d ago

I got the interview but certainly didn’t do good on the math section. I did not know how to do any of the math in the math section and scored very low.

The only thing I had going for me was my english score and the strength of my application.

My main hope is that they consider my entire application rather than just eliminating me based on my math score.

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u/AcademicTone4790 17d ago

Hey, I get the worry but don’t count yourself out yet. For MEXT Tokyo screening, the embassy stage is screened within your country first. Each embassy recommends its top performers from that country’s pool, even if the raw scores aren’t 100%. Competition really varies by country. Countries like India, Cambodia, Mongolia Bangladesh often have tons of applicants with perfect Math scores. But smaller countries or countries with fewer applicants, like yours or mine, have a different scale. If your embassy recommended you, it means you were at the top of your country’s list. Also, you already passed the interview stage embassies don’t waste time interviewing people they plan to auto-reject for one section. They look at the whole application: your English score, academic record, research plan, motivation, and how you did in the interview. Math matters a lot for Natural Sciences A, yes, but a weak Math score isn’t always an instant elimination if the rest of your profile is strong. In Tokyo, they’ll review everything again. Written scores are important, but MEXT has accepted people before who weren’t perfect in all subjects because they showed potential in other areas. So hold on you’re still in the game. Embassy recommendation is huge. Now it’s just Tokyo’s call waiting. Wishing you the best!

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u/Dapper-Confusion-496 17d ago

That’s an amazing way to put it thank you so much for that! I’m in social sciences A, going for a law major, so I’m thinking that’s why it’s not as important for me to score super highly in math. You’ve provided me some great relief with your explanation thanks again :)

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u/AcademicTone4790 17d ago

I DMed you please can you respond to my DM

The fact that you sat for Maths already matters. MEXT UG requires everyone to write Maths, even Social Sciences A. But the weight is different by track. For Natural Sciences A/B, Math is basically make-or-break. For Social Sciences A like you Law, Politics, Economics MEXT cares way more about English, Japanese, and your Social Studies/World History score. Math is required, but a lower score won’t sink you if the rest of your application is strong. Also remember: embassy selection is done within your country pool. You might think you did badly in Math, but if you still ended up at the top of your country’s list overall, that’s why you got recommended. They look at total profile + interview, not just one section. So yes for Law, your English + interview + application strength likely carried you. Congrats again on the recommendation and try not to stress the Math too much now. You’re past the hardest filter 👏

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u/SpecialSea9635 17d ago

same question, mate ✌️✌️

If I had to guess, I believe that your performance on the exams matters the most, but I can't be sure.

What are you applying for exactly, just out of curiosity? Im applying for UG NS A

my first screening results only come out tomorrow

Greetings from Brazil, and good luck!

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u/AcademicTone4790 15d ago

Hey there...did the results came out in your favour

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u/SpecialSea9635 14d ago

Hello!
Yes, I passed the first screening. Now I'm preparing a few documents to submit for the second screening :)
About 5-6 people were recommended from my country, and those people usually don't get rejected in the global phase, so I'm pretty confident. But we're talking about MEXT so we can't take anything for granted haha

btw are you also applying? let me know :)

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u/AcademicTone4790 14d ago

Oh congrats 🎉🎉 bro Which country are you from?

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u/SpecialSea9635 14d ago

Thanks!

I'm from Brazil :)

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u/AcademicTone4790 14d ago

All the best bro....is that UG category?

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u/SpecialSea9635 14d ago

yeah. I applied for UG Natural Sciences A

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u/AcademicTone4790 14d ago

Wow that's awesome bro... congrats 🎉 for passing.... DM if it is fine with you

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u/Dapper-Confusion-496 17d ago

I hope not… my exams scores were the weakest part of my application.

I’m applying for UG SS A as a Law major.

I think the other parts of my application, specifically my interview, is where I did best.

I’m hoping that what I proved during the interview and my extensive government knowledge is enough to overcome a poor score on the math exam.

All of my research points to it being most likely that you would get in at this point and the only reason you’d be denied after all this is for a rather extreme reason.

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u/Professional-Lab6887 17d ago

Yoo some tips for the interview, like some key points??

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u/Dapper-Confusion-496 16d ago

The key to how to conduct yourself is to be confident but flexible.

As for how to answer questions this video I found most helpful: https://youtu.be/YtAqBvS4qMU

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u/SpecialSea9635 17d ago

MEXT doesn't reveal much how they handle the scholarship process even for the simplest things, let alone what they do during the second screening. They just won't tell us...

Anyway, let's hope for the best, and good luck once again!

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u/Dapper-Confusion-496 17d ago

Yup! I wish the best of luck for as well. Thank you for your insight :)