The recent mock exam for high school entrance showed a low acceptance rate of 30%.

"Hello, I have a child who is about to take the high school entrance exam. The latest mock exam showed a 30% acceptance rate for their first-choice public high school. I'm surprised because their results have been good up until now. Should we change their first-choice school?"

Thank you for your consultation. It must be a shock for parents when the acceptance rate suddenly drops like that. I think deciding whether or not to change the first-choice school should depend on your child. (Unless you have financial constraints and need to choose a public school, be sure to explain the situation to your child and ask them if they want to change schools.)

① If your child is highly motivated and taking action → It's better not to change their school. Even if they fail, the experience of giving it their all is invaluable, and it would be a shame to deprive them of that opportunity.

② If your child is feeling anxious but still studying → If they're doing what they need to do, even if they're anxious, they're likely to improve significantly at the last minute. It would be better for them to challenge themselves. However, if they give up studying due to anxiety, it might be better to change schools.

③ If they're not taking any action It would be a waste of time and money to aim for a higher-level school. It would be better to aim for a lower-level one."

Thank you. My child was even more surprised than I was. They were so happy with their self-assessment because it was their highest score ever... We're planning to visit a lower-level public high school soon because of financial constraints. We'll make the final decision after seeing the competition ratio next month.

My child has always boasted about definitely getting into their first-choice school, but they're feeling a bit down now and thinking about aiming lower. I think this is a crucial time, so I'll try to support them and have a talk with them. "

"From what you've told me, your child seems motivated, so it might be worth challenging themselves depending on the competition ratio. I hope they do their best for the remaining time until the exam. Please feel free to consult me again if you need any more advice. "