Gino 1 Seibi › How to answer ○× items

How to answer true/false (○×) items in the maintenance exam

Theory is 30 ○× items and you need 20 right. The items are short but easy to lose points on, because a false item usually keeps a true sentence and changes one detail. This page teaches you to read word by word and spot the change.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

At a glance

30○× items, 20 needed
5steps to read an item
4kinds of swapped detail
1wrong detail makes the item false

How ○× items are built

Each item is a statement about structure, function or inspection, and you choose true (○) or false (×). A false item usually takes a true sentence and changes one detail, so it still sounds natural. One wrong detail makes the whole item ×.

Four kinds of swapped detail

Kind	Example pairs
Part name	サーモスタット ↔ ラジエータ・キャップ, スプリング ↔ ショック・アブソーバ
Opposite pair	吸入 ↔ 排気, 交流 ↔ 直流, 取付け ↔ 取外し, 開く ↔ 閉じる
Direction	高い ↔ 低い, 大きい ↔ 小さい, 増える ↔ 減る
Number	turns per cycle, battery cells, a gauge's resolution

Scope words

必ず・すべて・常に (always, all): absolute claims. More often false, but safety rules such as "never open the radiator cap on a hot engine" are absolute and true.
〜だけ・〜のみ (only): "engine oil only lubricates" is false because oil also cools, seals and cleans.
〜ことがある (sometimes): a mild claim, more often true.

"The more..., the more..." items

The pattern 〜ほど〜 describes the direction of a change. Example: the more a battery discharges, the lower the electrolyte's specific gravity. A false item flips the direction to "the higher". Ask yourself: given what the part does, should this go up or down?

Five steps for one item

Read the whole item once; do not decide from the first half.
Mark the part name: which part is it about?
Mark the verb and the direction of change.
Mark scope words and numbers.
Compare each detail with the function you know. One mismatch means ×.

How to practise

Do mock papers with the timer on. The real theory part gives 60 minutes for 30 items, so there is time to read carefully. When you miss one, note the reason (wrong part, missed scope word, flipped direction) and review after 1, 3 and 7 days. Study the vocabulary to read faster, and revise the engine and chassis.

Sources checked: the JASPA specified skills test page (2024 test summary), the MLIT implementation rules and acceptance handbook (MLIT page) and the Prometric booking page. Rules can change, so check the latest version at these sources.

FAQ

Is an item with an absolute word like 必ず always false?

No. Absolute words make an item more likely to be false, but some absolute statements are true, such as safety rules. Check against what you know.

How many ○× items must I get right?

65%, that is 20 of 30. The practical part is scored separately and needs 60%.

What usually gets changed in a false item?

A part name, the direction of a change (more/less), one word of an opposite pair, or a number.

What if I am unsure?

Flag the item, move on and come back to it. When you return, rule things out using what each part does instead of guessing by feel.

Take a mock exam and see right away which items you missed and why.

Try it free now

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