Gakken Opens Pre-orders for 'High School Entrance Exam Critical Thinking Problems' Workbook Series, Addressing New Exam Trends

Launch of 'High School Entrance Exam Critical Thinking Problems' Series

Gakken Co., Ltd. (Tatsuya Nanjo, President) announced the start of pre-orders for its new workbook series, 'High School Entrance Exam Critical Thinking Problems (English, Math, Japanese, Science, Social Studies),' on May 1, 2026.

In recent years, similar to university entrance exams, there has been a growing trend toward emphasizing 'critical thinking' in high school entrance examinations. The tests now require students not only to memorize knowledge but also to interpret information from conversations, data, and graphs, and to combine multiple pieces of knowledge to solve problems. These 'critical thinking problems' are significant differentiators in exam results and are essential for students aiming for top-tier schools.

The newly launched 'High School Entrance Exam Critical Thinking Problems' series is based on a thorough analysis of past public high school entrance exams across Japan, selecting only the most practical and high-quality problems. The learning process is structured into two steps: STEP 1 focuses on learning how to solve the problems, and STEP 2 helps build practical skills. The explanations are provided in full color to promote intuitive understanding.

The series is scheduled to be released on Thursday, July 9, 2026, with a retail price of 1,650 yen (tax included) each. Pre-orders are currently being accepted at bookstores nationwide and online.