試験に合格する

The grammar here is a common tripping hazard for beginners. You must use the particle に (ni) to connect the exam to the verb. Think of the exam as a target you are hitting or a gate you are entering. You don't 'do' the exam's success; you 'attain' success in the exam. The structure is: [Exam Name] + に + 合格する. For example, JLPTに合格する. If you want to talk about the past (which is usually when we celebrate), you say 合格しました (goukakaku shimashita). It’s polite, clear, and makes you sound like you actually know your grammar. Using を (wo) here is a classic 'newbie' move that will make native speakers tilt their heads like a confused Shiba Inu.

Imagine you’re scrolling through Instagram and see a friend’s post featuring a blurry photo of a certificate and a bunch of 'congratulations' emojis. The caption likely reads: 大学の試験にようやく合格しました！ (I finally passed the university exam!). Or maybe you’re at a job interview on Zoom. The interviewer might ask if you have specific certifications by saying, その試験に合格していますか？ (Have you passed that exam?). In a more modern context, you might see a TikToker crying with joy because they passed their N1. They’ll scream 合格したー！ (I passed!) into their ring light. It’s also used for things like the 'Eiken' English test or even a company entrance exam. Basically, if there’s a 'Pass/Fail' result involved, this phrase is your best friend.

Use this phrase when the context is official or formal. It’s perfect for resumes, announcing results to your parents, or writing a professional email to your boss. If you are talking about the *fact* of passing, this is the correct choice. It’s also the right phrase for 'official' things like government licenses or medical boards. Even if you’re just texting a friend about a math test, 合格した sounds like you’re proud of the achievement. It’s a very safe, versatile phrase that works in 90% of testing scenarios. Just don't say it after passing a ball in a soccer game, or people will think you've spent way too much time in the library and forgotten how sports work.

Despite its popularity, 合格する isn't for every kind of 'passing.' If you pass someone on the street, you use 通り過ぎる (toorisugiru). If you pass a ball in Rocket League, you use パスする (pasu suru). If you 'pass' on a second helping of ramen because you're full, you say 結構です (kekko desu). Crucially, don't use it for things that aren't binary pass/fail situations. You don't 合格 a marathon; you 完走する (kansou suru - finish the race). It’s also a bit too stiff for very minor things. If you passed a tiny five-word spelling quiz in class, saying 合格した might sound a bit like you’re declaring yourself the next Emperor of Japan. Use it for things that actually have a certificate or a 'result' notification.

The absolute biggest mistake is saying 試験を合格する. In English, we 'pass the exam' (direct object), so learners naturally reach for を. But in Japanese, 合格 is a state you enter or a standard you meet, requiring に. Another funny mistake is using it for 'passing away.' In Japanese, that’s 亡くなる (nakunaru). Using 合格する there would suggest the person successfully passed their 'death test,' which is a very dark joke you probably don't want to make at a funeral. Also, avoid using it for 'skipping' an exam. Passing an exam means you took it and won; skipping it is 試験をサボる (shiken wo saboru).

If you want to sound a bit more casual, you can use 受かる (ukaru). It means the same thing but feels less like a document and more like a conversation. 大学に受かった！ is what you’d shout to your friends in the hallway. Then there’s パスする (pasu suru), which is literally 'to pass.' It’s becoming common in casual speech, especially for things like 'I passed the level' in a video game or a quick check-up. For very high-level success, like passing with top honors, you might hear 優秀な成績で合格する (passing with excellent grades). It’s like adding a 'plus ultra' to your achievement.

The opposite is 不合格になる (fugoukaku ni naru), which means to fail. It sounds much more clinical and less personal than 'I failed,' which might be why Japanese students dread seeing those three characters on a screen. You might also hear 一次試験に合格する (passing the first round of exams), common in multi-stage job hunts. Another one is 合格点 (goukakuten), which is the 'passing mark' or 'minimum score.' If you only just made it, you might say 合格点ギリギリだった (I just barely hit the passing mark). It’s the academic equivalent of surviving a boss fight with 1 HP remaining.

Is it okay for a driving test? Yes, 運転免許の試験に合格した is perfectly natural. Can I use it for an interview? For the 'test' portion of a job hunt, yes, but for the interview itself, 面接に通る (mensetsu ni tooru) is more common. Does it sound old-fashioned? Not at all! It’s used every day by everyone from toddlers passing a belt test in Karate to CEOs passing a board certification. It is a timeless, essential piece of the Japanese language that shows you respect the effort of the 'hustle.'