18-year history
of our activities
1990 Mar. Invited pilot schools to complete Mathematics Test at Takada's private residence. 1 junior high school and 7 prep schools applied.
Nov. Conducted a tentative exam for "Mathematics Ability Test" for 260 examinees in 5 grades.
1991 Jul. Changed the name to "Proficiency Test in Practical Mathematics" and conducted a tentative exam for 580 examinees in 6 grades.
Nov. Studied the Test structure and established Section 1 and Section 2 test
1992 Apr. Applied for trademark registration of "Proficiency Test in Practical Mathematics (Suken)".
The Mathematics Certification Institute of Japan inaugurated.
Jul. Conducted the 1st National mathematics test "Suken" for 5,500 examinees.
1993 Apr. Completed preparing the standard for the test, its execution, and the evaluation for honor.
Nov. Board of Directors decided to make the Mathematics Certification Institute of Japan an incorporated foundation.
1994 Feb. Conducted a structural study of Practical Mathematics Proficiency Test as well as investigation and research on mathematical skills.
Nov. Activity promoting lifelong study of mathematics begins, generating an increase in the number of math fans.
1995 Aug. Moved the office to 2-17-16, Higashi-kanemachi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo (current address)
Oct. Completed preparing Practical Mathematics Proficiency Test (10 grades) and standard on the questions.
1996 Mar. Issued "Suken" information magazine Jma, and published collections of Suken problems (2 kinds).
Jul. Conducted tentative "Suken" test in Indonesia.
Participated in ICME|8 .
1997 Jan. Set up a "Suken" homepage.
Began a study on "International Suken"
Nov. Conducted Feb. test.
Established a system to conduct the test three times a year (Feb., June/July, and Oct./Nov.).
1998 Apr. "GMC" and "International Mathematics Test" registered as trademark. 6 high schools decided to give math credits for "Suken" qualification.
Nov. Conducted the 30th National Mathematics Test.
86,000 examinees took the test in 1998.
1999 Apr. The Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture authorized to exempt Grade 2 qualifiers and above in "Suken" from "College Entrance Qualification Test (Mathematics I)".
Jul. The Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture authorized the inauguration of the Mathematics Certification Institute of Japan.
Nov. Conducted the 36th National Mathematics Test.
94,000 examinees took the test in 1999.
2000 May The mathematical examination association was established in Korea, Director Takada and two others were invited to the opening ceremony.
October Examinees who passed the First Grade and Pre-First Grade expected to be hired by companies. Completing the honors ceremony helps identify preferred candidates.
2001 August Suken is proved suitable for learning mathematics as part of life-long study and shown as the core of science and engineering studies for everyone.
December Annual number of Suken examinees exceeds 140,000. A total of 4,300 junior and high schools and 49 universities use Suken as a recommended reference for school entry. Suken applied to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for international registration.
2002 March The top 10 schools and individuals received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Two international students from Indonesia who passed Suken received first and second places in the information technology course. One received a presidentfs award and the other received a department head award
April A two-day weekend, with Saturday and Sunday off, was enacted in the Japanfs public schools. In response to this system, the Suken foundation started to accept students on Saturdays and Sundays and conducted mathematical seminars more often than before.
2003 July Director Takada gave a lecture about the importance of life-long study at the Pelita Harapan University, Republic of Indonesia. An institute of learning mathematics as part of life-long study was established within Suken.
November Over 8,000 schools offering Suken and families of examinees significantly increased. As a result, the number of annual examinees reached 220,000. The mathematical magazine MathMath began publication to expand the culture of mathematics.
2004 August An advanced marking evaluation system for the complete descriptive mathematics test was developed. This system reinforces privacy protection.
October Seeking Safety and Security, a proposal for the purpose of mathematical education, was published to promote the life-long study of mathematics. This enables the promotion of participating corporations.
2005 March Suken Grand Prix honor ceremony was expanded and Sukenfs successful candidates received awards. Ten individuals and 7 organizations, including universities, received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award. 25 families received the Suken Grand Prix Chair Award. A 58 year old man who operates a patent office passed the First Grade for five consecutive years. He was received Sukenfs special prize, the Ichimatsu Award.
December How to deal with credit was examined as part of research on learning mathematics. Paying more attention to credit issues is considered important from a scientific education viewpoint.
2006 May Mathematical Coach system was developed to produce instructors for the life-long study of mathematics. Coachesf mathematical level is tested by Suken and selected people attend lectures and receive training every year. In the first year, 30 people were certified as Coaches. They received an Intellectual Passport and suggested the creation of a Knowledge Passport that could be accepted worldwide. Corporate partners are needed for this idea to succeed.
December Suken USA was opened in Rye, New York to develop an international mathematical examination award system. We are actively seeking world cooperation partners. We seek teams of enterprisers, university professors or school managers who are interested in mathematics and mathematical education.
2007 Suken Contact: U. S. A NY e-mail suken-usa@suken.com
January The concept of lifelong learning was stated in Japanfs Revised Education Law.
Suken is becoming widely recognized as the means of lifelong learning in mathematics.
March The Suken Grand prix presentation ceremony was held. Honorees included 132 individuals who achieved outstanding examination results as well as 81 schools and teams and 145 teachers who received distinguished achievement prizes in the field of lifelong learning in mathematics.
May A mathematics coach training seminar for lifelong learning professionals attracted 62 participants.
The boards of education of 47 nationwide administrative divisions across Japan decided to support Suken
July Suken examinations recorded a total of 40,816 participants in July.
The campaign of Letfs Accumulate Knowledge Assets was organized to encourage both children and adults to learn mathematics.
September The second time this year, the Suken Grand Prix was awarded in the nation-wide education field. The number of teachers who have received lifelong learning distinguished achievement prizes reached 324.
Upon Sukenfs recommendation, 10 individuals, along with 5 schools and organizations that had held Suken examinations, received the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award.
November Mathematics coaches started their programs at mathematics seminars with 238 participants.
Suken participated in the lifelong learning festival at Manabi Pier Okayama held by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. As part of the festival, Suken promoted experiential learning for audiences. 6,900 fliers were distributed.
December The Boys and Girls Robotech Workshop was held in New York on December 26 and 27. Two Suken Staff participated in and supported the Workshop.

In 2007 328,482 people took Suken examinations with 4.7% of the First grade candidates successful and an average overall success rate of 61%.