Gradebook · Japan
Japanese High School 単位 Credit System — Tan-i Tracking Software
Senior High School students in Japan must accumulate at least 74 単位 (tan-i, credit units) to graduate. Unlike elementary and junior high, where a student advances by year, SHS progression is credit-based. Each subject carries a defined unit value; passing the subject earns those units. OpenEduCat tracks 单位 accumulation continuously, projects year-end totals, and flags students at risk of missing the graduation threshold before it is too late to intervene.
Subject Categories and Credit Accumulation
The 74-unit graduation total is built from four subject categories, each with MEXT-defined minimum requirements.
| Category | Subject Examples | 典型的な 単位 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 必履修科目 (Required Subjects) | Japanese Language (国語), Mathematics (数学), Science (理科), Geography/History (地歴), Civics (公民), Arts (芸術), Foreign Language (外国語), Health & Physical Education (保健体育), Technology & Home Economics (情報・家庭) | 30–35 単位 minimum | MEXT specifies minimum unit requirements per required subject area. All SHS students must complete the required subjects regardless of their study track (普通科 academic, 専門科 vocational, etc.). |
| 選択科目 (Elective Subjects) | Advanced mathematics, literature, sciences, foreign language extensions, vocational modules, arts, and other electives offered by the individual school | Varies — must total ≥74 単位 with required subjects | Students choose electives to reach the 74-unit graduation minimum. Schools offering specialised courses (e.g., engineering track, international studies track) configure elective credit values accordingly. |
| 特別活動 (Special Activities) | Homeroom (ホームルーム), School Festivals, Excursions, Student Council, and other whole-school activities | 1 単位 (mandatory, non-negotiable) | Special activities carry 1 unit and are compulsory. They appear separately on the transcript and count toward the 74-unit total. Students cannot substitute an elective for this unit. |
| 総合的な探究の時間 (Integrated Studies) | Cross-disciplinary inquiry, project-based learning, community engagement — theme set by individual school | 2–4 単位 (school-defined within MEXT range) | Integrated Studies replaced the previous 総合的な学習の時間 at SHS under the 2022 curriculum revision. The school sets the theme and unit count within MEXT's minimum-maximum range. |
Source: MEXT (文部科学省) — 高等学校学習指導要領 (SHS Curriculum Standards), 2022 revision. Minimum unit requirements by subject area confirmed in official ministerial guidance.
Graduation Credit Thresholds
The 74-unit national minimum, typical completion range, and the at-risk threshold that triggers OpenEduCat intervention alerts.
Absolute Minimum — MEXT National Standard
The national minimum for Senior High School graduation. Any student accumulating fewer than 74 単位 by the end of Year 3 cannot graduate, regardless of their grades. The 74-unit floor is set by MEXT and applies to all SHS institutions nationwide.
Typical Full-Course Load
Most SHS students completing a full three-year curriculum earn 85–90 or more 単位, well above the minimum. The 74-unit threshold is a safety floor — it catches students who have failed subjects or accumulated absences affecting credit award, not an average target.
At-Risk — Cannot Graduate
OpenEduCat flags students whose projected 単位 total at end of Year 3 falls below 74. This alert fires in advance — typically at the start of Year 3 — giving students and advisors time to adjust subject loads, recover failed credits, or plan credit completion before the graduation deadline.
How OpenEduCat Tracks 単位 Accumulation
Credit tracking in OpenEduCat is automatic and continuous — students, advisors, and administrators see real-time 単位 totals at all times.
Subject-Level 単位 Configuration
Each SHS subject record in OpenEduCat includes a tan_i field set by the administrator. Typical values: Japanese Language I = 4 単位, Mathematics I = 3 単位, Special Activities = 1 単位. Subjects are linked to required/elective/special categories for graduation rule checking.
Automatic Credit Award on Pass
When a student's grade for a subject is published and the result is a pass (Grade 1–3 on the 1–5 SHS scale), OpenEduCat automatically adds the subject's tan_i value to the student's accumulation total. Failed subjects (Grade 4–5) do not award credits until retaken and passed.
Projected Graduation Eligibility
At any point in the academic year, OpenEduCat projects each student's end-of-year 単位 total based on currently enrolled subjects. Students projected to fall below 74 are flagged in the academic advisor dashboard — typically mid-Year 3, with time to adjust.
通知表 and Year-End Credit Summary
The 通知表 (school report card) and annual 学年末 report include each student's credit summary: 単位 earned this year, cumulative total, and comparison to graduation minimum. The graduation eligibility status is printed on Year 3 reports for administrative use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Japanese Senior High School 単位 credit system and graduation requirements.
Never miss an at-risk student before graduation
OpenEduCat tracks 単位 accumulation automatically and flags students projected to miss the 74-unit graduation minimum — with enough lead time to intervene.