Center Shiken

National Center Test for University Admissions (大学入試センター試験) "Daigaku Nyūshi Sentā Shiken" is a type of standardized test used by public and some private universities in Japan. It is held annually during a weekend in mid-January over a period of two days.
Most Japanese high school students prepare one or two whole years only for this test. Term test at schools are far less important and usualy contain similar questions to the Center Shiken at lower levels.