IT Passport: A Deep Analysis of 29 Past Exams — Rankings by Field and by Term

Introduction — The Big Picture of 29 Exams, Seen Through Data

Since the IT Passport exam began in fiscal year 2009 (Heisei 21), the questions have been made public every year. In this article, I have independently compiled and analyzed the data from all 29 exams — from the FY2009 spring session through FY2026 (Reiwa 8), a total of 2,900 questions — and lay out the question trends in numbers.

"How many questions come from each field?" "What are the most frequent terms?" "How often do recent AI and DX topics appear?" — I answer these questions with data.

How the Ratio of Questions by Field Has Shifted

The IT Passport exam draws its questions from three fields: Strategy, Management, and Technology. Using the data from 29 exams, let's look at how the number of questions in each field has changed over time.

Questions by Field Over the Last 6 Exams

Ratio by Field (the Current Stable Distribution)

Changes Over Time

In the early years (FY2009–2011 / Heisei 21–23), the ratio between fields varied. For example, in the FY2010 (Heisei 22) autumn session there were 38 Strategy, 25 Management, and 37 Technology questions — a session where Management was more heavily weighted.

However, after the shift to the CBT format (FY2020 / Reiwa 2 onward), the ratio has been almost fixed at 35 Strategy, 20 Management, and 45 Technology questions. That said, FY2026 (Reiwa 8) varied slightly, with 34 Strategy and 46 Technology questions.

Ranking of the Most Frequently Appearing Terms

Across all questions from 29 exams, I tallied the terms that appear in the question text and answer choices. Below is a ranking of the terms that appeared most often across all the past exams. Click any term name to jump to its detailed explanation page in the dictionary.

Most Frequent Terms — TOP 27

Trends by Field

Of the TOP 27 most frequent terms, Technology accounts for 12 terms, Strategy for 8, and Management for 7. The Technology terms cluster around security (Log File, Encryption, Information Security, Intrusion Detection) and computer systems, which shows just how important these areas are.

In Strategy, many of the frequently tested terms — such as "Risk," "Operating Revenue," "Profit," and "Improvement" — touch on both business management and information strategy.

Know It and You Solve It! Ranking of Terms Tied Directly to the Answer — TOP 20

This is a ranking that tallies only the terms contained directly in the correct answer choice. Whereas the earlier ranking counted appearances across all text, including the question statements, this ranking represents the number of questions you can score on "just by knowing that term." Use it as a reference when deciding your study priorities.

Terms Tied Directly to the Answer — TOP 20

Trending Themes to Watch in Recent Years

The IT Passport exam increasingly features questions that reflect social conditions and trends in the IT industry. Using data from the last 6 exams (FY2021–FY2026 / Reiwa 3–Reiwa 8), I analyzed how these notable themes appear.

Number of Questions by Theme (Total Over the Last 6 Exams)

Information Security

Information security is by far the most frequently tested area of any theme. Questions come every time from a wide range of topics — encryption, authentication, malware, unauthorized access, and more. Firmly grasping the basic concepts of security countermeasures is the shortcut to passing.

AI / Machine Learning

AI-related questions numbered 50 over the last 6 exams, rapidly growing in presence. In FY2026 (Reiwa 8), generative AI and copyright (Question 1) and prompt engineering (Question 98) appeared for the first time, showing that the new terms from Syllabus Ver.6.5 are actually being reflected in the exam.

DX / Digital Transformation

Questions related to DX (Digital Transformation) are also on the rise. They are asked from two angles: technologies such as IoT, RPA, and digital twins, and the business strategy of promoting DX.

Terms That Appeared for the First Time in the Last 6 Exams

The number of terms that appeared in a past exam for the first time from FY2021 (Reiwa 3) onward reaches 103 terms. New terms show up in each exam, so you need to pay attention not just to past exams but also to the latest syllabus developments.

Term Coverage of Syllabus Ver.6.5

Of the 999 terms listed in the current Syllabus Ver.6.5, only 311 terms (31%) have a track record of appearing in past exams. The remaining roughly 70% are "not-yet-tested areas" that are highly likely to appear in the future.

Ratio of Figure/Table Questions vs. Text Questions

The IT Passport exam includes questions that require reading figures and tables (graphs, tables, flowcharts, etc.) and questions that can be solved with text alone. I analyzed the ratio using the data from 29 exams.

Overall Ratio

Number of Figure/Table Questions Over the Last 6 Exams

The share of figure/table questions varies by session, ranging from 9% to 27%. FY2026 (Reiwa 8), at 27%, was the highest ratio in recent times.

Summary — Advice on a Winning Strategy

1. Prioritize Technology Above All

Technology, which makes up 45% of the questions — and especially the security area — is the area where you can score most efficiently. Firmly grasp the basic concepts of encryption, authentication, malware, and the like.

2. Focus on Learning the Frequent Terms

The TOP 27 frequent terms introduced in this article are asked again and again. If you understand these terms and their related concepts, you can handle many of the questions.

3. Keep Up With the AI/DX/Security Trends

In recent years, questions on AI/machine learning and DX have been increasing. The new terms added in Syllabus Ver.6.5 (688 of the 999 terms are not yet tested) are candidates for future questions. In addition to practicing past exams, work the latest terms into your study.

4. Build Your Foundation With the 2,374 Text Questions

Of the 29 past exams, the 2,374 text questions can be solved without figures or tables, so they are efficient to practice. An effective strategy is to first build a foundation of knowledge with the text questions, then use the figure/table questions as practical, exam-like drills.