What You'll Learn in This Article

  • 3 core principles for using generative AI (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) in your secondary exam prep, plus copy-paste-ready editing prompt examples
  • How to grasp the passing standard through a 3-way comparison: yourself, AI, and Fuzoroi no Goukaku Tōan (a real-exam answer collection)
  • The "2-draft method" for conquering word-count limits, and a 14-week study roadmap

In Part 1 we looked at "where to focus your effort," and in Part 2 we covered "what tools to use." In this final installment, we get into how to actually practice—a 5-step study method that combines generative AI with real passing answers from Fuzoroi.

The study flow explained in this article (STEPs 2–4) can be put into practice directly with the iPad app "Jirei Drill" that I developed. Each STEP includes a "📱 With Jirei Drill" note, but everything here can also be done with paper and Word.

First: 3 Principles That Run Through Every Step

Before we get into the specifics, here are three non-negotiable pillars that apply to every single step.

Principle 1: Always Write Your Own Answer Before Showing It to AI

Looking at AI's answer first is strictly forbidden. You must write your own answer in full before showing it to AI. Break this rule and you'll end up just memorizing AI responses—leaving you with nothing to write when you see a fresh question.

Principle 2: Any Answer Without Evidence from the Case Text Is Worth Zero

This is a repeat of the cardinal rule from Part 1. Constantly asking yourself "which part of the case text supports this sentence?" is the only way to earn points.

Principle 3: Don't Obsess Over One Question—Keep Moving

AI feedback per question: 3 rounds maximum. If you feel like you've stopped improving, move on to the next question. Getting to "passing level" on many questions beats perfecting one.

The Big Picture: 5 Steps

The design gradually shifts you from "AI-dependent" to "fully independent."

STEP 1 (Weeks 1–2):  Input key terms × frameworks
      ↓
STEP 2 (Weeks 3–4):  Practice writing answers using templates + AI (most recent year)
      ↓
STEP 3 (Weeks 5–6):  Complete templates on your own
      ↓
STEP 4 (Weeks 7–14): Past-exam practice + 3-way comparison (you / AI / Fuzoroi)
      ↓
STEP 5 (1 month before exam): 80-minute mock exams + human feedback

You start by learning from AI-generated frameworks, then steadily expand what you can do on your own. The goal is to reach a state where you can build a framework from scratch on a question you've never seen before.

STEP 1 (Weeks 1–2): Input Key Terms × Frameworks

This is the map-drawing phase. Based on the data analysis from Part 1, the most efficient approach is to lock down the highest-priority terms first.

  • Case IV (Finance) top priorities: fixed costs, variable costs, depreciation, cash flow, tax rate, financial ratios
  • Cases I–III top priorities: customers, strategy, new business, strengths

The 100-Character Training Drill

The goal: be able to explain each term in your own words, in 100 characters or fewer.

  1. Look at the term and write your own definition first (no dictionary, no AI)
  2. Compare with a model definition and note the gaps
  3. Ask AI to edit it into exam-ready phrasing

Sample AI editing prompt:

Here is my explanation of the term "competitive advantage":
"A state in which a company maintains market superiority through unique strengths that are hard for competitors to imitate."
Please review this from the perspective of the SME Diagnostic Consultant secondary exam and tell me:
① Any missing perspectives ② More accurate phrasing
③ An exam-ready explanation in 100 characters or fewer

At the same time, use the framework quick-reference sheet from Part 2 to internalize "which framework goes with which case." Training yourself to make the mental leap of "this term → this framework column → this question in this case" is the foundation for the next step.

📱 With Jirei Drill: The built-in "100-Character Training" feature (with a bundled high-frequency term list) lets you record a full cycle: ① write your initial explanation → ② auto-generate an evaluation prompt and copy it → ③ paste in AI's feedback and save → ④ write an improved version. Your original explanation is preserved, so you can actually see how much you've grown.

STEP 2 (Weeks 3–4): Practice Writing Answers Using Templates + AI

Use the most recent year's exam (2025) to train the skill of actually writing answers. Fill in the answer template from Part 2 with keywords from the case text, then write your answer and have AI give feedback.

The Key Technique: The 2-Draft Method

Draft 1: Get all your points down without worrying about word count
   ↓ AI feedback round 1 (logic, evidence, terminology)
Draft 2: Compress and organize while staying within the word limit
   ↓ AI feedback rounds 2–3 (finish in 3 rounds max)

Why two drafts? If you worry about word count from Draft 1, your brain starts thinking about cutting before it's finished generating ideas. Write everything out first, then decide what to keep and what to cut. That compression judgment is the most critical skill tested within the 80-, 100-, and 150-character limits.

Sample AI Editing Prompt

Please evaluate the following answer using the scoring criteria for the SME Diagnostic Consultant secondary exam and point out areas for improvement.
Question: [question text]
My answer: [answer text]
Evidence from case text (quoted): [relevant passage]
Evaluation criteria: ① How clearly case-text evidence is cited ② How well frameworks are applied ③ Accuracy of terminology
④ Logical consistency ⑤ Score out of 20 with reasoning

For Case IV: Don't Ask AI to Solve the Calculations First

For finance calculation problems, never ask AI to "solve it"—always work through the numbers yourself first. Only ask AI to "check my calculation process" and "explain the approach." This rule comes up again in the Case IV section below.

📱 With Jirei Drill: You can display the case text and the fill-in sheet (with hints ON) side by side, sort keywords, and save Draft 1 and Draft 2 separately. The app instantly color-codes whether you're under, within, or over the target word count for each question—so you can focus purely on the compression practice in Draft 2. The feedback prompt is generated in one tap with your answer, question, and evaluation criteria already filled in—just copy and paste it into your AI of choice (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.).

STEP 3 (Weeks 5–6): Complete Templates on Your Own

Now you fill in a blank template with keywords entirely on your own, without any AI assistance.

How to Use Different Exam Years

Year How to Use It Why
2025 "Graduation exam" You can compare against the completed version you made in STEP 2
2024 and earlier "Fresh material" Building a framework from scratch is the closest thing to the real exam

Procedure

  1. Read the case text and fill in a blank template with keywords on your own
  2. Compare with the completed version and log any gaps in a "weak points list"
  3. Ask AI "Is this framework application appropriate? What am I missing?" (1–2 rounds)
  4. Use your improved framework to answer each question (same process as STEP 2)

Sample framework-check prompt:

Here are the keywords I mapped onto a SWOT from the 2025 Company A case text.
Strengths: "thin-plate processing, safe-processing know-how, forestry network"
Weaknesses: "over-reliance on the owner's son, lack of understanding among existing staff"
Opportunities: "wood education (mokiku) demand, demand from educational facilities"
Threats: "many competitors, rapid trend changes"
Please point out any gaps or misclassifications, and tell me what keywords I should add along with where in the case text they come from.

Important: Do NOT look at the completed 2025 version before you've done your own STEP 3 attempt. That would be like peeking at the answers before taking your graduation exam.

📱 With Jirei Drill: Moving from STEP 2 to STEP 3 is as simple as toggling the hint switch OFF. After filling in the blank sheet on your own, open the bundled AI framework answer in the adjacent pane to compare, and log any gaps directly into your weak points list on the spot. Weak points accumulate by case, year, and framework, so you can go back and review specific entries later.

STEP 4 (Weeks 7–14): Past-Exam Practice + 3-Way Comparison

Repeat the STEP 3 cycle (build framework → write answer) using exams from 2023 and earlier. The key to passing here is the 3-way comparison.

Compare All Three Side by Side

Source Role What to Look For
Your answer Your current ability Is case-text evidence clear? Are terms accurate? Is the logic consistent?
AI's answer The logical "ideal" How frameworks are organized, how terms are used (but watch out—it can be too perfect)
Fuzoroi passing answers The reality of "passing level" Keywords common to A-rank answers; the range where imperfect answers still pass

Why You Need Fuzoroi

AI answers tend to be too logically perfect. In the actual exam, you don't need to be flawless to pass. Fuzoroi no Goukaku Tōan (literally "imperfect passing answers") is the only resource that shows you the real-world standard of "this is what it took to pass." The keywords common to A-rank answers are the keywords that examiners will always reward.

Sample 3-Way Comparison Prompt

Please compare my answer below with your answer and evaluate both on:
① Framework usage (which of QCD is applied)
② Accuracy of terminology ③ Logical consistency (how clearly case-text evidence is cited)
Rate each criterion from 0–5 and give specific suggestions for improvement.
My answer: [answer text] / Question: [question text] / Case text (summary): [case text]

Rule: Equal Reps for Framework Building and Answer Writing

Practice building frameworks and practice writing answers using those frameworks the same number of times. Doing only one won't hold up in the real exam. Also, identify which cases tend to land you in B-rank or lower on Fuzoroi, and prioritize shoring up weaknesses over doubling down on strengths.

Practice Focus Points Based on the Data (Recap from Part 1)

Keeping the past 10 years of trends in mind makes your practice more efficient.

  • Case IV: Investment decision-making (NPV, CF, disposal value) is the biggest focus in recent years. Do plenty of multi-step NPV practice on whether to approve capital investment.
  • Cases I–III: Get comfortable with the pattern of "new business leveraging strengths × organizational response."
  • Case II: Question 1 alternates between SWOT and 3C year to year. Be ready for either.

📱 With Jirei Drill: The 3-way comparison is done in a dedicated comparison view. Your answer, the bundled AI answer example, and a reference answer (you can type in keywords from Fuzoroi or a prep school answer from your own books) are displayed in 3 columns, with a self-scoring checklist for each evaluation criterion. No more flipping back and forth between paper and app. Each practice session is saved as a numbered version, so you can redo the same year's exam as many times as you like.

STEP 5 (1 Month Before the Exam): Mock Exams × Human Feedback

Polish your ability to answer 4 questions in 80 minutes, and supplement AI's blind spots with human feedback that captures the "examiner's perspective."

80-Minute Simulation Schedule

  • Close reading of case text: 15 min
  • Framework sorting: 5 min
  • Answer skeleton (4 min × 4 questions): 16 min
  • Writing (10 min × 4 questions): 40 min
  • Review: 4 min

Use a timer and replicate the pressure of the real exam. Afterward, ask AI to "suggest improvements across all 4 answers with an eye toward time efficiency and maximizing points," and check the priority order for questions that got thin answers due to time pressure.

The real exam is handwritten. At this stage, mix in handwriting practice alongside keyboard work (Jirei Drill supports handwritten answers with Apple Pencil on a grid that looks like manuscript paper, so you can see your character count as you write).

Using Study Communities (Takipro and Ipppatsu Goukaku Dojo)

These are invaluable free resources run by people who've already passed. Join after completing STEP 3 (once you can build frameworks on your own)—that's when you'll absorb the most. Joining before you have that foundation makes it hard to actually apply the feedback you receive.

  • Takipro: Answer explanations and editing from past passers. Most valuable when you bring answers you've already run through the self / AI / Fuzoroi comparison. Run by a large group, so study sessions are held weekly as the secondary exam season approaches.
  • Ipppatsu Goukaku Dojo (First-Try Pass Dojo): Feedback from an examiner's perspective. You'll get angles AI can't evaluate—like "readability" and "overall impression." Run by a smaller, more selective group, so study sessions and seminars are less frequent.

What Only Human Feedback Can Give You

The impression an answer makes when read (a logically sound but hard-to-read answer still gets marked down), what tends to earn bonus points, and natural term usage (an answer that crams in terms awkwardly is obvious to a reader). These are things you can only notice through feedback from passers and fellow test-takers.

Special Strategy for Case IV (Finance & Accounting)

Case IV is the one place where AI cannot substitute for practice volume. A commercial calculation workbook is essential (by the nature of this study method, Jirei Drill doesn't include Case IV either. My recommendation: use a workbook for finance, and the app for the three written cases—keep them separate).

Study Approach

  1. First, drill calculation patterns with a workbook until they're second nature (always solve on your own)
  2. After calculating, use AI to "check your process" and "explain common mistakes"
  3. Repeat past-exam Case IV problems at least 3 times each

How to Use AI (Wrong vs. Right)

"Solve this problem for me."              ← ❌
"Check whether my calculation process is correct."  ← ✅
"Walk me through how to factor in opportunity cost in an NPV calculation." ← ✅

Template for a Passing Answer on Question 1 (Business Analysis)

[Indicator name] is [value], which is [higher/lower] than the industry peer value of [value].
This is due to [evidence from case text], indicating [management issue].

Simply stating whether a value is high or low won't earn points. The scoring key is connecting the number to the company's management situation as described in the case text—explaining why it ended up at that value.

14-Week Roadmap (Assuming 5–7 Hours per Week)

Period STEP Main Work
Weeks 1–2 1 100-character training on top-priority terms; read through frameworks
Weeks 3–4 2 2-draft answers for all 2025 cases (AI feedback, max 3 rounds)
Weeks 5–6 3 Self-built framework for 2025 (graduation exam) → first-time attempt on 2024
Weeks 7–8 4 3-way comparison for all 2023 cases
Weeks 9–10 4 3-way comparison for all 2022 cases
Weeks 11–12 4 2021 cases; intensive work on weak cases
Weeks 13–14 5 80-minute simulations; join study communities
Final stretch 5 Final review of top-priority terms; create condensed A4 cheat sheet

The primary exam is in early August and the secondary is in late October—if you start after the primary, you have only about 11–12 weeks. If you're compressing this roadmap, minimizing the time spent on setup (gathering materials, creating templates) is the first fork in the road.

Do This / Don't Do This

Do This

  • Always write your own answer before showing it to AI (never reverse the order)
  • Ask yourself "which part of the case text supports this?" for every sentence
  • Get all your points out in Draft 1; compress to fit the word count in Draft 2
  • AI feedback: 3 rounds max. If you've stalled, move on
  • Run the 3-way comparison (you / AI / Fuzoroi) for every practice session
  • Use the most recent year for framework verification; use earlier years for first-time practice
  • Always solve Case IV calculations yourself before checking with AI

Don't Do This

  • Look at AI's answer first and memorize it
  • Ask AI to "write a good answer" without pasting in the case text
  • Have AI solve Case IV calculations for you
  • Adopt AI's response without verifying it
  • Spend a long time obsessing over one question
  • Look at the completed version before your own self-built attempt
  • Treat using a framework as an end in itself

Summary: The 4 Skills You Need to Pass

Because the secondary exam is written-answer format, "memorizing the right answers" doesn't work. What you need are these four skills—and none of them can be built except through repeated practice.

  1. The ability to sort case text using frameworks (STEPs 1–3)
  2. The ability to write logical answers using frameworks (STEPs 2–4)
  3. The ability to compress your points within a word limit (the 2-draft method)
  4. A feel for the keywords examiners reward (Fuzoroi + human feedback)

AI is a powerful tool for improving the quality of your practice, but it can't replace the quantity. Part 1's data told you "where to focus." Part 2's frameworks gave you "the weapons." Part 3's 5 steps give you "the practice." When all three come together, passing becomes a realistic goal.

Sticking to the principle of "write it yourself first, then show it to AI" is the only path to passing.

The App I Built to Run These 5 Steps on a Single iPad

Let me introduce it one more time. To efficiently handle all the back-and-forth between case text PDFs, fill-in sheets, drafts, answers, and comparison materials that this study method requires, I developed the iPad app "SME Diagnostic Consultant Secondary Exam Jirei Drill." Since the person who designed the study method is also the developer of the app, it's optimized specifically for this approach.

How the app maps to each STEP in this article:

Article STEP Jirei Drill Feature
STEP 1 (Term input) 100-Character Training (bundled high-frequency term list; saves initial explanation → AI evaluation → improved version as one set)
STEP 2 (Guided practice) Case text × fill-in sheet side-by-side view; hints ON; 2-draft answers; color-coded word count
STEP 3 (Independent practice) Hints OFF; compare with bundled AI framework answer; weak points list
STEP 4 (3-way comparison) Comparison view (3-column layout: your answer / AI answer / reference answer + self-scoring checklist)
STEP 5 (Real-exam practice) Apple Pencil handwriting (manuscript-paper-style grid); Markdown export of answers (for bringing to study sessions)
  • 10 years of past exams (2016–2025) bundled: case texts, questions, and AI answer examples (Cases I–III)
  • iPad only · one-time purchase (no subscription, no ads) · fully offline
  • Answer data is stored only on your device (nothing sent externally). The feedback feature works by generating a prompt that you copy and paste into your AI of choice—so it works with ChatGPT, Claude, or anything else
  • ※ Case IV is not included (as noted above, I recommend drilling finance with a commercial calculation workbook)

▶ View "Jirei Drill" on the App Store

I hope you'll spend the limited time after the primary exam on actual practice—not on setting up your study environment.

Series Index

The question trend analysis, term lists, and framework materials in this series were created by analyzing 10 years of past exam question data using Claude.