Look, being a Phantom Thief is exhausting. You’re spending your nights trekking through cognitive palaces, fighting literal manifestations of human trauma, and trying not to get killed by a giant golden chalice. Then the sun comes up. Suddenly, you're just Ren Amamiya (or whatever name you picked), sitting in a hard wooden chair at Shujin Academy while Mr. Ushimaru lobs a piece of chalk at your skull because you weren't paying attention to a lecture on the Heian period. It’s a lot. And honestly, nobody wants to fail their midterms when there are social stats on the line. Getting those Persona 5 Royal test answers correct isn't just about bragging rights; it’s about boosting that Knowledge stat so you can actually hang out with Hifumi Togo or Makoto Niijima without them thinking you're a total airhead.
The problem is that Persona 5 Royal changed things from the original 2017 release. If you’re using an old guide from the vanilla game, you’re going to fail. Atlus shuffled the deck. They added new questions, changed dates, and even threw in some curveballs involving the new semester content. You’re sitting there in May, sweating over a question about the "Gallows Hill," and if you get it wrong, you miss out on that sweet, sweet Charm boost that comes from acing the exams. It’s annoying. But it’s also sort of the charm of the game, right? It forces you to actually be a student.
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Why the Classroom Matters More Than You Think
In most JRPGs, school is just flavor text. In Persona 5 Royal, it’s a mechanical engine. Every time you nail a question in class, your Knowledge grows. If you manage to land in the top ten or—heaven forbid—take the number one spot on the school rankings, your teammates look at you differently. You get a massive boost to your Charm. Sojiro Sakura might even give you a reward if you talk to him at Leblanc after the results are posted. It’s all interconnected.
Let’s talk about April. It’s the honeymoon phase. You’re just getting used to Morgana living in your desk. On April 12th, they’ll ask you about the villains in "The Tale of Genji." The answer is Villains. Simple enough. But by the time April 19th rolls around, they’re asking about the line that isn't a straight line. You have to pick C. If you’re not paying attention, you’ll lose those easy stat points.
By May, the pressure ramps up. The first big exams hit from May 11th to May 14th. You need to know that an Optical Illusion is what happens when your brain processes visual info incorrectly. You need to know that Visual Information is the reason for it, followed by the Brain, and then the fact that they Cognitively supplement what we see. If you miss even one of these, you can kiss that "Top of the Class" dream goodbye.
The Tricky Summer and the Shift in Difficulty
June and July are a blur of Kaneshiro’s bank and trying not to melt in the Tokyo heat. On June 4th, the answer is The halo effect. It’s a real psychological phenomenon, and Persona 5 Royal loves its psych 101. Later, on June 15th, they’ll ask about coins. The answer is Geniuses. Don't ask me why; the game’s logic is sometimes a bit lofty, but that’s the one that sticks.
One thing people always mess up is the "bi-metal" question on June 29th. It’s Gold. Just remember gold.
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Then comes July. The heat is oppressive, and the exams are back. From July 13th to July 15th, you’re locked in.
- The first answer is 64 degrees.
- Then you have to talk about Zhuge Liang.
- After that, it's Barbarians' heads.
- To wrap it up, you offer them To offer them instead of heads.
It sounds macabre because it is. But that’s the kind of trivia Shujin Academy thrives on. If you get through this stretch, your Knowledge should be high enough to start making real progress with the more "intellectual" Confidants.
The "Royal" Difference: New Semester Questions
If you’ve played the original game, you might think you have the October and November answers memorized. You don't. Persona 5 Royal tweaked these to keep veterans on their toes. For example, on October 22nd, the answer involves the number of columns in the Parthenon. It’s 15. On October 24th, they ask why a certain color was used in a painting, and the answer is Share a soul. It’s poetic, sure, but also easy to miss if you’re just mashing the X button to get back to the Metaverse.
November is even weirder. You’re dealing with the fallout of the Niijima Palace, and the school is still grilling you.
- November 2nd: The amount of stolen goods.
- November 12th: Because the voice is synthetic.
- November 14th: Because of high altitude.
These aren't just random facts. They often mirror the themes of the game—perception vs. reality, the weight of society, the way we're viewed by others. It’s clever writing, honestly.
Acing the Finals and the Third Semester
If you’ve unlocked the Third Semester by getting Maruki to Rank 9 before mid-November, you’ve got one more round of school to deal with in January. Most people forget this part because they're too busy dealing with the reality-warping nonsense of the new palace. But class is still in session.
On January 11th, you’ll be asked about a certain Shinto deity. The answer is Eight million and then Yaoyorozu. On January 14th, the answer is Iwate. It’s deep-cut Japanese geography and mythology. If you aren't a scholar of Shintoism, you’re basically guessing without a guide.
The finals in December (12/20 - 12/22) are the big ones.
- D
- Not their real voice
- They speak the same
- Supplement
- Hearts
- It includes a number
If you hit all of these and your Knowledge is at "Erudite" (Rank 5), you are guaranteed that number one spot. The reward? A massive Charm boost and a very proud Sojiro.
Practical Tips for the Academic Phantom Thief
Don't just rely on a list. There are ways to make this easier on yourself. First, always check the "Network" function if you're playing online. By hitting the Touchpad (on PlayStation) or the equivalent button on other platforms, you can see what percentage of other players chose which answer. 99% of the time, the most popular answer is the correct one. It’s basically cheating, but hey, you’re a thief.
Secondly, don't ignore the library. Studying there gives you Knowledge, but it also gives you Guts if you do it while people are whispering about you. In the early game, this is the most efficient way to climb the ranks.
Third, read the books. Specifically, the ones that improve your "Speed Reading." You can find this in the Jinbocho book district after reading all the other books from the shop there. Once you can read two chapters in one sitting, you can breeze through the library's collection, which unlocks even more trivia and stat boosts.
What to Do Next
Now that you’ve got a handle on the Persona 5 Royal test answers, you need to focus on your schedule. Getting the answers right is only half the battle. You need to balance those stats with your Confidant ranks.
- Check your Social Stats: If your Knowledge is still at Rank 2 or 3 by July, you need to spend more rainy days at the diner. The diner gives a bonus to Knowledge when it rains.
- Visit the Fortune Teller: Chihaya Mifune in Shinjuku is arguably the most important Confidant for stat grinding. Her "Luck Reading" can temporarily boost the rate at which a specific stat increases. Use this before studying to maximize your gains.
- Buy the TV Quiz: Every now and then, the TV in Leblanc will have a quiz show. Interact with it for a free Knowledge point without passing time. It’s a "free" action, so there’s no reason not to do it.
Don't let the school days stress you out. Use the network, keep a guide handy for the tricky dates in October and January, and focus on building those relationships. After all, what's the point of being the smartest kid in class if you don't have any friends to celebrate with at the beef bowl shop? Once your Knowledge is maxed out, you can stop worrying about the whiteboard and start focusing entirely on the final deadline. Use those extra afternoon slots to brew coffee or prep tools for the next infiltration. Success in Shujin is just a stepping stone to success in the Metaverse.