You're sitting in Shujin Academy. Mr. Ushimaru is staring you down, chalk in hand, ready to snidely toss a question your way that seems to have absolutely nothing to do with being a Phantom Thief. It’s stressful. You want to save the world, but you also really need that Knowledge point so you can eventually hang out with Hifumi or pass your midterms without looking like a total slacker. Honestly, the Persona 5 questions and answers are some of the most charming yet frustrating parts of the game. They ground Joker’s life in the mundane reality of a Japanese high school student, even while you’re planning to pull off a heart-stealing heist in a literal subconscious palace later that afternoon.
The truth is, these classroom segments aren't just fluff. They are the backbone of your social stat progression. If you miss a question, you miss out on that tiny chime of musical notes indicating your Knowledge has increased. Over dozens of hours, those misses add up. You end up stuck behind a social stat gate, unable to progress a confidant link because you’re "not smart enough" or "not gutsy enough." It’s a drag.
Why the Shujin Academy Exams Actually Matter
Most players think they can just wing the school stuff. They’re wrong. Passing exams in Persona 5—and the expanded Persona 5 Royal—is about efficiency. When you rank in the top of your class, your Charm stat gets a massive boost. More importantly, your school-based confidants, like Sojiro (who watches your grades like a hawk) or your classmates, will be much easier to level up. You get more "points" toward their next rank just by talking to them if you’ve proven you aren't just a delinquent with crazy hair.
The logic behind the questions is often rooted in real Japanese history, classical literature, or obscure trivia that Atlus writers clearly had a blast researching. For example, did you know why the "diamond" shape on playing cards is actually based on a specific type of currency? Or why the "Honeymoon" is called that? These aren't just random; they reflect the game’s themes of hidden meanings and societal masks.
The Dynamics of Classroom Questions
Every few days, a teacher will call on you. Sometimes, they call on Ann Takamaki, and you have the option to whisper the right answer to her. Do it. It builds your relationship with her and keeps the story moving. The questions range from the 4th-century BCE Greek philosophers to the specific biological traits of bioluminescent squids.
One day you’re talking about the "Gorgonops" and the next you're explaining the "Optical Illusion" of the moon’s size. It’s wild. But the game rewards this breadth of knowledge. If you’re playing the Royal version, there are even more days added to the calendar, meaning even more opportunities to mess up or excel.
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The Most Infamous Persona 5 Questions and Answers
Let’s get into the weeds. There are specific questions that trip everyone up.
Take the "Femme Fatale" question in May. The teacher asks about the origin of the term, specifically referencing the character that is the archetype for it. The answer is "The Phantom of the Opera." Wait, no—that’s a different one. It’s actually "Carmen." It’s a meta-nod to Ann’s own Persona. The game loves doing that. It rewards you for paying attention to the subtext of the characters' identities.
Then there’s the question about the "Silver Ratio." Most people know the Golden Ratio ($$1:1.618$$), but the Silver Ratio? That’s some deep-cut geometry that most Western players wouldn't know off the top of their heads. It’s $$1:1.414$$, by the way. If you’re playing without a guide, these moments feel like a literal pop quiz where the stakes are your free time.
Navigating the Midterms and Finals
Exams in Persona 5 aren't just one-off questions. They are multi-day gauntlets. You don't get to save in between the questions usually, so if you blow the third question on the second day, you're stuck with a "slightly above average" grade instead of the "top of the class" honors you need for that sweet, sweet trophy.
During the July finals, you'll be asked about "Thou art Lessing." It’s a reference to a specific translation of a philosophical concept. If you haven't been paying attention to the flavor text in the library or the previous classroom dialogues, you're cooked. The game expects you to be a student. It demands that you embody the role of Ren Amamiya (or whatever you named him) in full.
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Beyond the Classroom: Crossword Puzzles and TV Quizzes
If you think the Persona 5 questions and answers stop at the school gates, you’ve clearly never sat at the back table in Leblanc. Occasionally, there's a crossword puzzle left on the table. Completing these gives you a Knowledge point without passing time. It’s the "pro gamer move" for stat maxing.
The hints are often pun-based or specific to Japanese culture. "A type of Japanese citrus," for example. (It's Sudachi, usually). Or "What happens when it rains in the Metaverse?" (The answer is "Changes"). These puzzles are small, but they represent the density of the game’s design. Every corner of Tokyo in Persona 5 is trying to teach you something or test you.
Then there’s the TV in the cafe. On certain days, a quiz show will play. If you interact with the TV and answer correctly, you get—you guessed it—Knowledge. These are often about the law or social trends. It makes the world feel lived-in. The news reports aren't just background noise; they are part of the ecosystem of information you need to master.
The Royal Difference
If you're playing Persona 5 Royal, the "Third Semester" adds a whole new layer. The questions become more philosophical. They start reflecting the distorted reality that Dr. Maruki has created. The answers aren't just about facts anymore; they’re about how you perceive "happiness" and "reality."
The classroom experience shifts from being a trivia game to a thematic reflection of the endgame's moral conflict. It’s brilliant writing. It forces the player to engage with the school system even when the stakes of the "real" world have escalated to god-slaying levels of intensity.
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Strategies for a Perfect Academic Run
Look, nobody actually remembers all this stuff. Even the most dedicated fans usually have a tab open with a list of answers. But if you want to play "pure," here is the vibe you need to adopt:
- Think like a Japanese historian. Many questions revolve around the Edo period or the transition to the Meiji era.
- Pay attention to your Personas. Often, the answer to a question is a direct reference to the lore of a Persona you recently fused.
- Don't ignore the library. Hanging out there gives you the context for a lot of the higher-level literature questions.
- Check the "Network" feature. If you’re playing online, you can press a button to see what percentage of other players chose which answer. It’s basically "Ask the Audience" from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and it works 99% of the time.
Honestly, the "Network" button is a lifesaver. It feels like cheating, but in a game where you're a literal thief, maybe it’s just staying in character.
Why Do We Care So Much?
It’s funny. We play video games to escape school, yet Persona 5 makes us want to be the valedictorian. It’s because the game ties your academic success to your power. In the Metaverse, knowledge is literally power. It’s the fuel for your social links, which in turn gives you the XP boosts you need to fuse stronger demons.
If you don't answer the questions right, your Personas are weaker. If your Personas are weaker, you die in the Palaces. Therefore, knowing that "the heart of a shrimp is in its head" is unironically vital to saving the world from a corrupt politician. When you frame it like that, the classroom doesn't feel like a chore. It feels like training.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
To make the most of the Persona 5 questions and answers system and ensure you don't waste a single day of your social calendar, follow this logic for your next session:
- Prioritize Knowledge early. Get your Knowledge to Rank 3 as fast as possible. This unlocks the ability to start the Star Arcana (Hifumi Togo), whose abilities are essential for swapping party members mid-battle.
- Always check the Leblanc table. Never go to sleep without checking if the crossword is there. It’s a free stat point. Free. No time cost.
- Use the Thieves Guild. If you are unsure of an answer, use the touchpad (on PlayStation) or the equivalent network button. The majority is almost always right.
- Save before exams. Specifically, save on the night before the exam starts. If you mess up a multi-day test, you can’t just go back one day; you’ll have to reload the whole sequence.
- Talk to your teachers. Especially Kawakami. While she doesn't give you the answers to the tests, her confidant ability allows you to slack off in class and read books or make tools, which indirectly helps you prepare for the harder parts of the game.
By treating the Shujin Academy curriculum with the same tactical mindset you use for a boss fight, you'll find that the game opens up much faster. You'll have the "Charm" to talk to Makoto, the "Guts" to deal with Iwai, and the "Knowledge" to pass your exams with flying colors. It’s all connected. The life of a Phantom Thief isn't just about the mask; it’s about what you do when the mask is off.