The reason they can't reasonably make ungameable tests is that they have tens of thousands of applicants. The need for an easy to mark test is more important t

The reason they can't reasonably make ungameable tests is that they have tens of thousands of applicants. The need for an easy to mark test is more important than the need for an ungameable test. Otherwise you could simply interview applicants in English. (Todai actually considered this approach, but I understand that they abandoned it as being impractical). In my more cynical periods, I suspect that they don't mind people gaming the exams. After all, most Todai students don't actually need to speak English (or know crazy details of history, or write thousands of kanji, or whatever). They are more interested in clever students who are willing to study like insane people and practice boring stuff over and over again. That's what you need to do to game the exams. In a twisted way, it works...