On June 22, 2026, IPA (the Information-technology Promotion Agency) began releasing sample questions for the new exam system. Under the new framework, which starts in FY2027 (Reiwa 9), the long-standing structure of exam categories will change significantly: a new Data Management Exam, a restructuring of the IT Passport's subject areas, the consolidation of the Applied Information and Advanced exams, and a full move to CBT for every category. In this article, I go through what is changing and how, based on the latest information IPA has published.
Sample questions have started to appear
On June 22, 2026, IPA began posting sample questions for the new exam system that starts in FY2027. As the first batch, sample questions (PDF) for the newly created "Data Management Exam (provisional name)" — both Section A and Section B — have been made available.
The other exam categories are currently marked "in preparation," and IPA says it plans to publish a full set around the summer of FY2026. Draft syllabi are also expected to be released category by category, starting from provisional versions. In other words, the shape of the new system is finally starting to come into concrete view.
Background: This reform builds on the "Report of the Study Group on Developing Digital Talent for the Society 5.0 Era" (published May 2025) prepared by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and IPA. The state of deliberations was published on March 31, 2026. This release of sample questions is one step toward making that concrete.
Five key points of the reform
The points IPA highlights for this reform fall broadly into the following five.
An exam that assesses the data preparation and management skills required for AI use, aimed mainly at people in business roles. It targets a wide range of business professionals and is positioned as the "next step" after the IT Passport exam.
The subject areas are being reorganized from the conventional "Strategy / Management / Technology" into "Business," "Technology," and "Security and Ethics." A DX mindset and stance, along with the basics of data management, are being added, and security and ethics for the AI era are being strengthened.
The current Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination and the Advanced exams are being broadly grouped and restructured. Three categories are established: "Management," "Data and AI," and "Systems." This is the largest structural change in this reform.
A change to the framework of Section A's coverage, and partial changes to Section B's coverage. These are said to be changes to wording and the like reflecting technology trends and environmental shifts; the actual scope of the knowledge and skills being tested is unchanged.
A change to the framework of Section A's coverage, partial changes to Section B's coverage (such as strengthening the management area), and changes to the exam time and the question format of Section B.
The new lineup: eight exam categories in all
Under the new system, the current framework is restructured into eight exam categories. I have laid out the question structure shown so far, along with each category's status of "continuing," "content change," or "new."
| Exam category | Status | Exam time / question count (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| IT Passport Exam | Content change | 120 min / 100 questions |
| Data Management Exam (provisional name) | New | Sections A and B, 120 min combinedSection A 48 questions / Section B 12 questions |
| Information Security Management Exam | Continuing | Sections A and B, 120 min combinedSection A 48 questions / Section B 12 questions |
| Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Exam | Continuing | Section A 90 min / Section B 100 minSection A 60 questions / Section B 20 questions |
| Professional Digital Skills (Management) Exam (provisional name) | New | A-1 90 min / A-2 and B, 120 min combinedA-1 60 questions / A-2 23 questions / B 12 questions |
| Professional Digital Skills (Data and AI) Exam (provisional name) | New | A-1 90 min / A-2 and B, 120 min combinedA-1 60 questions / A-2 23 questions / B 12 questions |
| Professional Digital Skills (Systems) Exam (provisional name) | New | A-1 90 min / A-2 and B, 120 min combinedA-1 60 questions / A-2 23 questions / B 12 questions |
| Registered Information Security Specialist Exam | Partial change | A-1 45 min / A-2 35 min / B 120 minA-1 30 questions / A-2 25 questions / B 12 questions |
The key takeaway: The Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination and the Advanced exams (IT Strategist, System Architect, Project Manager, Network / Database Specialist, and so on), which until now existed as separate categories, are being consolidated into the three areas of the "Professional Digital Skills Examination." This is a major shift, changing how specialization is presented from the "category name" to the "area."
When does it start? The rollout schedule
The transition to the new system begins in FY2027 (Reiwa 9). Start dates vary by category.
- Around spring, FY2027 IT Passport Exam / Information Security Management Exam / Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Exam
- Around summer to autumn, FY2027 Data Management Exam (provisional name) / Professional Digital Skills Examination (each category) / Registered Information Security Specialist Exam
- End of the current system The current exam system is scheduled to end with the FY2026 exam administration.
In other words, FY2026 is the last year you can sit the exams under the current system. For anyone aiming at the current Applied Information or Advanced exams, FY2026 marks a natural cutoff.
Changes to delivery method and frequency
Every category moves to CBT
Under the new system, all exam categories are planned to be delivered by CBT (Computer Based Testing). This means a complete shift from the conventional paper-based written exam to computer-based testing at test centers.
Frequency of administration
- IT Passport, Information Security Management, and Fundamental Information Technology Engineer: as before, planned to be offered year-round.
- The new Data Management Exam and Professional Digital Skills Examination: details of timing and periods are still under consideration.
Exemptions and transitional measures
Whenever a system changes, a common concern is "what happens to my existing passes and subject exemptions?" Here is the policy IPA has indicated so far.
- For the Professional Digital Skills Examination (each category), IPA is considering setting up exemption arrangements equivalent to those of the current Advanced exams.
- As a transitional measure, if you have met the exemption requirements for certain subjects under the current Advanced exams or the Registered Information Security Specialist exam, IPA is considering exempting certain subjects on the new exams for a fixed period as well.
- The Section A exemption for the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Exam and the Section A-2 exemption for the Registered Information Security Specialist Exam are not planned to change under the new FY2027 system.
Exam prep tip: These are policies at the deliberation stage. If you are planning your study around exemptions, be sure to keep following IPA's official announcements.
Practice past questions with a study app
The IT Passport exam continues under the new system as well. The subject areas are being reorganized, but the effort you put into learning the fundamentals and terminology will not go to waste. It is a good idea to solidify your foundations now with past-question practice.
Instant Master IT Passport
A study app that lets you practice around 2,900 questions across 29 past exams.
- 2,374 text questions from 29 past exams
All past questions completely free - A glossary of 2,651 terms (with explanations)
- Jump function from past questions to the glossary
Conclusion: what candidates should do now
The new FY2027 system is the largest restructuring of IPA's exam category framework since 2009 (Heisei 21). Boiled down to three key points, it looks like this.
- Two new tracks: the Data Management Exam, and the Professional Digital Skills Examination (three areas) that consolidates the Applied Information and Advanced exams. AI and data utilization become the central themes of the system.
- All categories move to CBT: paper exams end, and testing moves to computers.
- The current system ends with FY2026: if you want to earn a pass under the current category names, FY2026 is your last chance.
If you are already studying, I recommend deciding early whether to finish off the current system by sitting an exam within FY2026, or prepare in line with the new system. Because the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer, Information Security Management, and IT Passport exams continue under the new system, study in these areas is unlikely to go to waste under either the old or the new framework.
Draft syllabi and sample questions for the new exams will be released one after another going forward. I plan to keep this article updated as new information becomes available.
・About sample questions for the new exam system (published June 22, 2026)
https://www.ipa.go.jp/shiken/syllabus/henkou/2026/20260622.html
・About the state of deliberations on the review of the Information Technology Engineers Examination and the Registered Information Security Specialist Examination (published March 31, 2026 / updated April 28)
https://www.ipa.go.jp/shiken/syllabus/henkou/2025/20260331.html