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Takken exam trap analysis and legal terms

Every option of the past papers analysed: which traps the exam uses, how they shift by sitting and topic, and the legal terms behind them, in Japanese and English.

What the exam actually traps you with

We analysed every option of 2,050 past-exam questions — 8,200 options across 41 exam sittings — and recorded the trap each wrong option relies on. The figures below are counts from those papers, not estimates.

questions analysed
2,050
options analysed
8,200
exam sittings
41
most common trap
Real-world intuition trap

Share of each trap across all exams

Each wrong option is tagged with the trap it relies on. The share is that trap's part of all tags.

  1. Real-world intuition trap17.3%1,803

    Uses common sense that feels right but misses the legal rule.

  2. Partial truth trap17.3%1,801

    States a true fragment while omitting the deciding condition.

  3. Exception inversion12.6%1,308

    Turns an exception into the rule or the rule into an exception.

  4. Similar term confusion10.1%1,053

    Confuses related legal or market terms.

  5. Numerical threshold8%833

    Changes a number, percentage, period, or threshold.

  6. Scope shift6.7%693

    Moves the fact pattern outside the target property, usual common area, or transaction type.

  7. Absolute wording6.3%654

    Treats all, never, or always as if no condition or exception exists.

  8. Timing error4.9%514

    Moves a deadline, elapsed-time rule, or effective-date rule.

  9. Actor substitution4.3%447

    Swaps broker, seller, buyer, government office, or manager duties.

  10. Document role confusion2.3%236

    Confuses disclosure documents, Important Matters Explanation, contracts, and informal answers.

  11. Permission-notification confusion2%210

    Confuses permission, notification, explanation, and report duties.

  12. Administrative authority1.9%202

    Names the wrong agency, permission route, or official source.

  13. Right-duty confusion1.7%174

    Confuses a buyer right, seller duty, broker duty, or professional caution.

  14. Old-law current-law mismatch1.5%151

    Uses a historical answer without checking current legal status.

  15. Rental-sale confusion1.4%141

    Applies a rental-specific benchmark to sale or a sale rule to rental.

  16. Registration ownership confusion1.1%112

    Confuses registry status with ownership or disclosure duties.

  17. National-local rule confusion0.4%42

    Confuses national law, ministry guidance, local practice, and brokerage policy.

  18. Eligibility-practice confusion0.2%18

    Confuses legal eligibility with common screening or market practice.

How the leading traps trend by sitting

How the leading traps trend by sittingLine chart, 4 series, 41 data points from 1988 to 2026. Values run from 6 % to 23.1 %.%05101520251988199219972001200620102015201920222026Real-world intuition trap: 1988 — 14 %Real-world intuition trap: 1989 — 15.8 %Real-world intuition trap: 1990 — 20.4 %Real-world intuition trap: 1991 — 17.5 %Real-world intuition trap: 1992 — 14.7 %Real-world intuition trap: 1993 — 17.7 %Real-world intuition trap: 1994 — 21.3 %Real-world intuition trap: 1995 — 16.8 %Real-world intuition trap: 1996 — 21.1 %Real-world intuition trap: 1997 — 21.6 %Real-world intuition trap: 1998 — 16 %Real-world intuition trap: 1999 — 18.3 %Real-world intuition trap: 2000 — 17.3 %Real-world intuition trap: 2001 — 18.8 %Real-world intuition trap: 2002 — 19.8 %Real-world intuition trap: 2003 — 16.3 %Real-world intuition trap: 2004 — 18.3 %Real-world intuition trap: 2005 — 20.2 %Real-world intuition trap: 2006 — 18 %Real-world intuition trap: 2007 — 17.8 %Real-world intuition trap: 2008 — 15 %Real-world intuition trap: 2009 — 16.5 %Real-world intuition trap: 2010 — 19 %Real-world intuition trap: 2011 — 16.5 %Real-world intuition trap: 2012 — 18.5 %Real-world intuition trap: 2013 — 12.5 %Real-world intuition trap: 2014 — 16.9 %Real-world intuition trap: 2015 — 17.1 %Real-world intuition trap: 2016 — 19 %Real-world intuition trap: 2017 — 19.1 %Real-world intuition trap: 2018 — 15.3 %Real-world intuition trap: 2019 — 15.4 %Real-world intuition trap: 2020/10 — 17.6 %Real-world intuition trap: 2020/12 — 18.4 %Real-world intuition trap: 2021/10 — 16.2 %Real-world intuition trap: 2021/12 — 15.8 %Real-world intuition trap: 2022 — 13.5 %Real-world intuition trap: 2023 — 16.2 %Real-world intuition trap: 2024 — 17.5 %Real-world intuition trap: 2025 — 20.8 %Real-world intuition trap: 2026 — 11 %Partial truth trap: 1988 — 17 %Partial truth trap: 1989 — 14.3 %Partial truth trap: 1990 — 13.8 %Partial truth trap: 1991 — 14.5 %Partial truth trap: 1992 — 22.9 %Partial truth trap: 1993 — 20.6 %Partial truth trap: 1994 — 17.8 %Partial truth trap: 1995 — 18.3 %Partial truth trap: 1996 — 19.1 %Partial truth trap: 1997 — 15.8 %Partial truth trap: 1998 — 16.8 %Partial truth trap: 1999 — 16.3 %Partial truth trap: 2000 — 17.3 %Partial truth trap: 2001 — 15.3 %Partial truth trap: 2002 — 16.3 %Partial truth trap: 2003 — 18.9 %Partial truth trap: 2004 — 18.3 %Partial truth trap: 2005 — 15.9 %Partial truth trap: 2006 — 15.6 %Partial truth trap: 2007 — 17.1 %Partial truth trap: 2008 — 23.1 %Partial truth trap: 2009 — 18 %Partial truth trap: 2010 — 17.3 %Partial truth trap: 2011 — 18.8 %Partial truth trap: 2012 — 15.8 %Partial truth trap: 2013 — 23 %Partial truth trap: 2014 — 16.1 %Partial truth trap: 2015 — 19.1 %Partial truth trap: 2016 — 17.1 %Partial truth trap: 2017 — 14.8 %Partial truth trap: 2018 — 17.2 %Partial truth trap: 2019 — 15.4 %Partial truth trap: 2020/10 — 20.7 %Partial truth trap: 2020/12 — 16.7 %Partial truth trap: 2021/10 — 18.5 %Partial truth trap: 2021/12 — 14.6 %Partial truth trap: 2022 — 20.2 %Partial truth trap: 2023 — 15.8 %Partial truth trap: 2024 — 14.3 %Partial truth trap: 2025 — 18.1 %Partial truth trap: 2026 — 11.6 %Exception inversion: 1988 — 8.3 %Exception inversion: 1989 — 11.2 %Exception inversion: 1990 — 12.3 %Exception inversion: 1991 — 12.6 %Exception inversion: 1992 — 7.9 %Exception inversion: 1993 — 12.1 %Exception inversion: 1994 — 8.9 %Exception inversion: 1995 — 15.3 %Exception inversion: 1996 — 12.4 %Exception inversion: 1997 — 11.2 %Exception inversion: 1998 — 13.6 %Exception inversion: 1999 — 13.9 %Exception inversion: 2000 — 11.8 %Exception inversion: 2001 — 14.1 %Exception inversion: 2002 — 11.1 %Exception inversion: 2003 — 11.7 %Exception inversion: 2004 — 13.1 %Exception inversion: 2005 — 15.9 %Exception inversion: 2006 — 12.7 %Exception inversion: 2007 — 12.4 %Exception inversion: 2008 — 10.4 %Exception inversion: 2009 — 12.5 %Exception inversion: 2010 — 13.9 %Exception inversion: 2011 — 11.5 %Exception inversion: 2012 — 12.4 %Exception inversion: 2013 — 10.2 %Exception inversion: 2014 — 14.5 %Exception inversion: 2015 — 15.6 %Exception inversion: 2016 — 9.7 %Exception inversion: 2017 — 10.5 %Exception inversion: 2018 — 14.1 %Exception inversion: 2019 — 15.4 %Exception inversion: 2020/10 — 11.9 %Exception inversion: 2020/12 — 14.7 %Exception inversion: 2021/10 — 14.3 %Exception inversion: 2021/12 — 15.8 %Exception inversion: 2022 — 9.9 %Exception inversion: 2023 — 13.8 %Exception inversion: 2024 — 17.9 %Exception inversion: 2025 — 12.3 %Exception inversion: 2026 — 13.3 %Similar term confusion: 1988 — 11.7 %Similar term confusion: 1989 — 12.7 %Similar term confusion: 1990 — 11.9 %Similar term confusion: 1991 — 11.9 %Similar term confusion: 1992 — 8.6 %Similar term confusion: 1993 — 9.7 %Similar term confusion: 1994 — 10.5 %Similar term confusion: 1995 — 9.5 %Similar term confusion: 1996 — 6.8 %Similar term confusion: 1997 — 12 %Similar term confusion: 1998 — 10 %Similar term confusion: 1999 — 11.9 %Similar term confusion: 2000 — 12.2 %Similar term confusion: 2001 — 12.9 %Similar term confusion: 2002 — 7.9 %Similar term confusion: 2003 — 11.7 %Similar term confusion: 2004 — 6 %Similar term confusion: 2005 — 9.3 %Similar term confusion: 2006 — 11.1 %Similar term confusion: 2007 — 12.8 %Similar term confusion: 2008 — 6.9 %Similar term confusion: 2009 — 9.8 %Similar term confusion: 2010 — 10.1 %Similar term confusion: 2011 — 13.8 %Similar term confusion: 2012 — 10.8 %Similar term confusion: 2013 — 9.8 %Similar term confusion: 2014 — 10.4 %Similar term confusion: 2015 — 7.8 %Similar term confusion: 2016 — 9.3 %Similar term confusion: 2017 — 7.8 %Similar term confusion: 2018 — 10.3 %Similar term confusion: 2019 — 11.6 %Similar term confusion: 2020/10 — 7.7 %Similar term confusion: 2020/12 — 9.4 %Similar term confusion: 2021/10 — 7.7 %Similar term confusion: 2021/12 — 8.3 %Similar term confusion: 2022 — 11.5 %Similar term confusion: 2023 — 10.9 %Similar term confusion: 2024 — 11.2 %Similar term confusion: 2025 — 10.4 %Similar term confusion: 2026 — 7.5 %
  • Real-world intuition trap
  • Partial truth trap
  • Exception inversion
  • Similar term confusion
How the leading traps trend by sitting — Chart data
CategoryReal-world intuition trapPartial truth trapException inversionSimilar term confusion
198814 %17 %8.3 %11.7 %
198915.8 %14.3 %11.2 %12.7 %
199020.4 %13.8 %12.3 %11.9 %
199117.5 %14.5 %12.6 %11.9 %
199214.7 %22.9 %7.9 %8.6 %
199317.7 %20.6 %12.1 %9.7 %
199421.3 %17.8 %8.9 %10.5 %
199516.8 %18.3 %15.3 %9.5 %
199621.1 %19.1 %12.4 %6.8 %
199721.6 %15.8 %11.2 %12 %
199816 %16.8 %13.6 %10 %
199918.3 %16.3 %13.9 %11.9 %
200017.3 %17.3 %11.8 %12.2 %
200118.8 %15.3 %14.1 %12.9 %
200219.8 %16.3 %11.1 %7.9 %
200316.3 %18.9 %11.7 %11.7 %
200418.3 %18.3 %13.1 %6 %
200520.2 %15.9 %15.9 %9.3 %
200618 %15.6 %12.7 %11.1 %
200717.8 %17.1 %12.4 %12.8 %
200815 %23.1 %10.4 %6.9 %
200916.5 %18 %12.5 %9.8 %
201019 %17.3 %13.9 %10.1 %
201116.5 %18.8 %11.5 %13.8 %
201218.5 %15.8 %12.4 %10.8 %
201312.5 %23 %10.2 %9.8 %
201416.9 %16.1 %14.5 %10.4 %
201517.1 %19.1 %15.6 %7.8 %
201619 %17.1 %9.7 %9.3 %
201719.1 %14.8 %10.5 %7.8 %
201815.3 %17.2 %14.1 %10.3 %
201915.4 %15.4 %15.4 %11.6 %
2020/1017.6 %20.7 %11.9 %7.7 %
2020/1218.4 %16.7 %14.7 %9.4 %
2021/1016.2 %18.5 %14.3 %7.7 %
2021/1215.8 %14.6 %15.8 %8.3 %
202213.5 %20.2 %9.9 %11.5 %
202316.2 %15.8 %13.8 %10.9 %
202417.5 %14.3 %17.9 %11.2 %
202520.8 %18.1 %12.3 %10.4 %
202611 %11.6 %13.3 %7.5 %
Share of each sitting's trap tags. 2020 and 2021 each had two sittings, in October and December, shown separately.

Trap × topic heatmap

Tagged options for each topic and trap. Darker cells mean the trap appears more often in that topic.
TrapRights and Legal RelationsLegal Restrictions on Land UseTaxation and ValuationReal Estate Transaction Business ActRelated Knowledge
Real-world intuition trap668191103620221
Partial truth trap447265140765184
Exception inversion4812775240791
Similar term confusion40718610528075
Numerical threshold13617790320110
Scope shift1081724931846
Absolute wording24412146129114
Timing error13953352789
Actor substitution111702122916
Document role confusion35671853
Permission-notification confusion81202728
Administrative authority461181145
Right-duty confusion343616844
Old-law current-law mismatch932310205
Rental-sale confusion6011304
Registration ownership confusion8814370
National-local rule confusion3221133
Eligibility-practice confusion132120
Total3,0131,7977013,983898

Top traps by topic

How the analysis is made

A primary model analyses each question from its text, the official answer key and the published explanation. An independent reviewer model checks every option adversarially, and deterministic validators confirm that each trap type exists, that the answer option carries no trap, that statute citations are well formed, and that the English and Japanese are complete. A third model adjudicates any disagreement before the analysis is published.

Review past papers option by option

Legal terms

事故物件

jiko bukken / stigmatized property

Exam relevance: medium

A practical term for property affected by an event that can influence comfort or market value.

告知義務

kokuchi gimu / disclosure duty

Exam relevance: high

A duty to tell the other party a material fact.

Exam trap patterns

Takken questions reuse 18 trap patterns — an absolute word, a swapped actor, a changed threshold, an exception turned into the rule. The free readiness check shows which ones catch you, question by question.

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Educational information for exam preparation. Not individual legal, tax, or real-estate advice.