Let's be real: nobody actually goes into Persona 5 or Persona 5 Royal wanting to sit through a history lecture or a math quiz. You're there to steal hearts and summon cool demons. But then Mr. Ushimaru lobs a piece of chalk at your head because you don't know who defined the "male factor" in the progress of the human race. It's annoying. It's also kinda vital.
Getting your Persona 5 classroom answers right isn't just about avoiding embarrassment in front of Ann or Ryuji. It’s the single most efficient way to boost your Knowledge stat without burning precious time slots. If you want to max out your social stats and finish every Confidant in one run, you basically have to treat these pop quizzes like a holy text.
Why You Actually Need These Answers
In the world of Joker and the Phantom Thieves, time is your most valuable currency. Every afternoon or evening you spend studying at the diner is a time slot you aren't spending hanging out with a doctor who sells you "medicine" or a shady politician in Shibuya.
💡 You might also like: Excavator-9 in Throne and Liberty: Why This World Boss is a Total Gear Check
- Free Knowledge Points: Answering a question correctly in class gives you a +1 boost to Knowledge. It costs zero time.
- The Exam Payoff: Doing well on exams boosts your Charm. High Charm is required for some of the best social links (like Makoto).
- The "Ann" Factor: In Royal, you sometimes have to help Ann Takamaki with her questions. Nailing these gives her a boost and saves you a hangout session later.
If you’re playing the original Persona 5, the answers are one thing. If you’re playing Persona 5 Royal, Atlus went and changed almost all of them. It's a classic "director's cut" move that trips up returning players every single time.
April: Setting the Pace
The game starts slow, but the questions hit fast. Early on, your Knowledge rank is likely "Oblivious." You need every point you can get.
4/12: The answer is Villains.
This is based on The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. A bit dark for a first day, but that’s Shujin Academy for you.
4/19: They’re the same.
It’s a visual trick. Don't let the lines fool you.
4/23: Nero actually won all of them.
He was a bit of a glory hog, participation trophies and all that.
4/25: You need to help Ann here. First, tell her You unquestionably support it, then follow up with You have a duty to correct it.
4/27: It’s the Four color theorem.
Basically, you only need four colors to map out any territory without two colors touching. Useful if you're a cartographer, I guess.
4/30: This is a multi-parter. Pick Wonder, then Child, then A prodigy.
May: The First Big Hurdle
May is when the pressure mounts because the Midterms arrive. If you haven't been answering the daily questions, you’ll feel the sting here.
Midterm Exam Answers (5/11 - 5/13)
Exams in Persona 5 are basically "Greatest Hits" of the questions you've already been asked.
- 5/11: Pick Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Then, for the second part, choose The weak.
- 5/12: The answer is Cognition, followed by Both.
- 5/13: Choose The Devil’s Dictionary and then Femme Fatale.
Honestly, the "Femme Fatale" question is ironic considering you're about to spend the rest of the year dealing with exactly that archetype.
June and July: Summer Heat and Weird Trivia
By now, you've probably realized that Shujin teachers love weirdly specific trivia.
📖 Related: Why Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch 2 Port Rumors Won't Stop
6/4: The halo effect.
It’s why we think attractive people are smarter. Cruel, but true.
6/7: The number of legs.
Crabs have ten, but King Crabs (related to hermit crabs) only look like they have eight.
6/13: Green.
This is about copper turning green when it oxidizes. Think Statue of Liberty vibes.
6/15: Coins.
Paper money is issued by the Bank of Japan, but the government does the coins.
6/23: A pope.
The legend of Pope Joan. It's a recurring theme in the series, so pay attention.
July Finals (7/13 - 7/15)
- 7/13: 64 degrees, Zhuge Liang, Barbarians' heads, and To offer them instead of heads.
- 7/14: Red King Crab (Paralithodes) and It caused confusion in the economy.
- 7/15: Raining cats and dogs and Demon Guts.
"Demon Guts" sounds like a metal band name, but it’s actually just a weird name for noodles.
The Autumn Slump (September - October)
School keeps going even while you're taking down major corporate villains.
9/3: Prosperity.
9/6: Chronostasis.
This is that weird feeling where a clock's second hand seems to stop for a second when you first look at it.
9/14: Money loans for collateral.
9/17: Cats eating human tongues.
Grim. Thanks, history class.
9/21: Central Europe.
9/24: 20 white, 12 black.
If you’ve ever actually looked at a soccer ball, this is easy. If not, now you know.
💡 You might also like: Twilight Masquerade Booster Box: What Most Collectors Get Wrong About Pull Rates
9/28: This is the PVS question. Phantom, Vibration, Syndrome.
October Midterms (10/17 - 10/19)
- 10/17: 32 surfaces, It used to be one color, and Black and white picture.
- 10/18: Charles-Henri Sanson and It’s a hereditary profession.
- 10/19: Slave labor and 3 bees in all of Europe.
The "3 bees" thing is a way to visualize how empty space actually is. It's terrifyingly vast. Sorta like the time you'll spend grinding in Mementos.
The Home Stretch (November - January)
In the original game, things start wrapping up here. In Royal, you've still got a whole extra semester if you played your cards right with Maruki.
11/2: A share of stolen goods.
11/4: A sword.
This is about the symbolism of card suits. Spades = Swords.
11/10: Crow eyes are hard to see.
11/12: Because the voice is synthetic.
11/17: Cochleoid.
11/18: The summit of Mt. Fuji.
The Third Semester (Royal Only)
If you unlocked the true ending, you'll have a few more questions in January.
1/11: How numerous they are and The Eight Million Gods.
1/14: Iwate.
1/19: 1 hectare.
1/21: Exposed.
1/24: Kind-hearted, Negative, and Resentful.
How to Handle Exams if You Forget the Answers
If you’re playing online, there’s a "Network" button (the Touchpad on PlayStation). Pressing this shows you what other players chose. 99% of the time, the top answer is the right one because someone else already looked it up.
But remember: the network feature is disabled during exams. You’re on your own there. That's why keeping a list handy is basically mandatory if you want those top-tier exam rewards, like the Sojiro's praise (which actually matters for your relationship) or the Charm boost.
Actionable Insights for Your Playthrough
Don't just mindlessly click through these. Use them to your advantage:
- Prioritize Knowledge Early: Aim for Knowledge Rank 3 before the first exams. It’s a tight window, but getting the right classroom answers makes it possible.
- Equip a Knowledge-Boosting Persona? Nope. Unlike social links, there's no Persona that boosts stat gains from school. You just have to get the answer right.
- Check the Calendar: Exams always happen on the same dates. Don't plan a big Palace infiltration the day before a week-long test. You'll lose your momentum.
- Visit the Library on Rainy Days: If you're still behind on Knowledge despite getting every answer right, the Shujin library gives an extra boost when it's raining outside.
To stay on track, save your game every morning before heading to school. If you mess up a question, just reload. It’s a bit of a "save scum" move, but in a game where every single day counts, it's the difference between a perfect run and a "good enough" one.