The following is a colored version of the Belt Test Requirement list.  The color with a black stripe indicates a second degree belt.  

A student starts as a white belt and will move progressively up the ranks one belt at a time.  As the student approaches the upper belt ranks, techniques become more critical.  An advanced student will be required to demonstrate a technical level within the Black belt genre.  An advanced belt test (for 2nd degree Blue and up) is performed in Japanese only.   You must know the Japanese names for all punches, blocks, chops, falls, stances, kicks etc. 

STUDENT CREED: For orange belts and above.
ESSAY: A short literary composition on Karatedo. Approximately 20 pages (for black belts only)