Pass on the First Try! Color Certification UC Level Strategy Guide [2026 Edition]

Long time no see, I'm N, a designer working at an IT company in Tokyo.
I love cappuccinos~

I wanted to study something this summer, so I took the Color Certification UC Level exam and passed successfully.
The test has a recent pass rate of 76.6% and I heard it's beginner-friendly, but
when I started reading the book, there were so many areas I was weak in that I actually panicked quite a bit.

While preparing for the test, I decided, "If I pass, I'll write a strategy guide for passing even if you're weak in some areas."

🐈‍⬛ I'll explain my background for reference:
・Working as a UI/UX designer at an IT company in Tokyo
・Use Figma as my main tool, and handle graphics with Adobe software

1. Is the UC Level really necessary?

It's not strictly necessary, but it's full of knowledge that you won't regret learning.
The UC Level is the easiest exam within the Color Certification, but the content is solid, practical knowledge, and I think it helped raise my level of thinking for UI/UX design.

I especially recommend taking it if you prioritize universal design.

The following is my personal experience, and I hope it can be of help.


📃 Exam difficulty: Low to Medium
Because it's a Color Certification, I had a preconceived notion that color would be the main focus, butthe UC Level exam contains a large amount of basic questions about biology, history, and medical terms.
(The relationship between eyes and light, history, names of people, etc., were areas I was personally weak in, so I struggled...)

Conversely, if you are strong in biology, history, or memorization, the difficulty of the UC Level is low.
(Since content outside of the textbook has never appeared before)

☑️ I can recommend the Color Certification UC Level to these people!

• Those interested in universal design who want to start by learning the basic knowledge

• Those working in color-related jobs

• Those working at companies that cover exam fees/provide qualification allowances → Salary is important

<Reason>
There is no harm in taking the Color Certification UC Level, but it requires a 6,000 yen exam fee and about a month of preparation time, so if there is no allowance, I thought it would be better in terms of time investment to aim for Level 2 or Level 1 from the start.

In my case, thankfully, my company covers the exam fee if I pass, so I started with the UC Level as a trial.

2. Even if you are bad at exams, I was able to pass by doing this

📗 These are the only study materials I actually used:
❶ Official Textbook UC Level (2022 Revised Edition)
→ Actually, you can manage with just this

❷ Past Problem Collection UC Level
→ I borrowed it from someone around me, so it was the 2024 version, but I think recent ones are fine as long as you get a feel for the atmosphere

If you are weak at memorization, we are in the same boat.
I want to recommend the following plan because it was effective for me.

❶ Make the 2 hours before bed your study time, and don't mix in other high-noise information
(There are individual differences, but I restricted myself because I find moving information like dramas and anime easier to remember)

❷ Handwrite all the knowledge points on paper to memorize them
(According to research datafrom 2021, results showed that memory stability is stronger when learned by handwriting rather than electronic devices. The reason is that typing on electronic devices is too fast, and the brain cannot keep up)

Memorize difficult knowledge points using episodic memory

❸ Every morning when you wake up, first read the knowledge points you are weak in
Strengthening memory, even if it's rough, is fine; the important thing is to keep it up.

There are people who can memorize all the knowledge points in one day, but even if you can't do that, you can manage if you keep at it every day. Others are others, and you are you.

3. Finally

It has already been about 2 months since I took the exam, but perhaps thanks to the rote memorization, I feel that the UC Level knowledge is deeply engraved in my brain. When looking at daily traffic signs and apps, I have naturally started thinking, "Is this a design that is easy for people with disabilities to use?"

I'm glad I took it.
I would be happy if this could serve as a reference for those who are interested! (This is also a way to make memories.)

(Also, actually, I like medical-related content, so I was studying while suffering and enjoying it at the same time when memorizing the knowledge points about symptoms.)