(a) Where to find past papers (過去問)
How past papers are obtained varies widely by graduate school: some do not publish them, some release them only at a counter or on request (varies by school). Try each typical route below at your target school, and treat obtainability as [要確認].
| Route | Where to look | Note [要確認] |
|---|---|---|
| Official admission / graduate-school page | Look for “過去問題 / 入試案内 / past exam questions” sections | May be PDF, partial, or not public at all |
| University co-op (生協 store) | Some schools sell past papers as a booklet | Availability and sale period vary by school |
| Request from the graduate-school office | Ask whether it's counter, mail, or view-only | May need a return envelope or set procedure |
| University library | May hold past papers / admission materials for viewing | Often view-only on-site with copy limits |
| Lab seniors / peers | Seniors in the same major often have papers or trends | Reference only; confirm the latest scope officially |
Pitfalls / easy-to-miss points
- “Not public” ≠ “impossible to prepare”Even if past papers are not public, you can reverse-engineer the scope from the subjects, weighting, and field descriptions in the admission guide. Read the official text fully first.
- Don't grab the wrong yearAn old paper's scope may no longer apply. Systems and subjects can change, so always overwrite the scope with the latest guide for the relevant year.