JLPT Guide/About JLPT

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) (日本語能力試験 nihongo nōryoku shiken) was created in 1984 in response to the increasing demand of students of the Japanese language to certify their proficiency. There are five levels: N5 (easiest) to N1 (hardest).

Application

The JLPT tests are held twice a year. In December all five levels can be taken but in July only the most difficult levels, levels 1 and 2, can be taken. The test date for winter is in December and the application period is usually September-October.

If you are interested in applying for the JLPT test, you can find your nearest test center online. Also ask about the application period and application fee as they differ in each country. The JLPT is offered in approximately 85 countries.

In Japan, the test is administered by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) (財団法人 日本国際教育支援協会 zaidan hōjin nihon kokusai kyōiku shien kyōkai), while the Japan Foundation (独立行政法人 国際交流基金 dokuritsu gyōsei hōjin kokusai kōryū kikin) administers overseas tests.

Criteria

Important note to students wishing to study in Japanese universities:

The JLPT certification was a requirement for entry into Japanese universities until 2003. The Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) replaces JLPT as the requirement for university entry in Japan. More on this will be written on a separate page.

Test sections

Level	Test section (test time)			Total duration
N1	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)・Reading (110 min)		Listening (60 min)	170 min
N2	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)・Reading (105 min)		Listening (50 min)	155 min
N3	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) (30 min)	Language Knowledge (Grammar)・Reading (70 min)	Listening (40 min)	140 min
N4	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) (30 min)	Language Knowledge (Grammar)・Reading (60 min)	Listening (35 min)	125 min
N5	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) (25 min)	Language Knowledge (Grammar)・Reading (50 min)	Listening (30 min)	105 min

To pass the test, the test taker must be over the minimum overall score and also over the minimum score in each section. N1, N2 and N3 have three scoring sections, while N4 and N5 have two scoring sections.

Level	Overall pass mark (180 points total)	Language knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar）	Reading	Listening
N1	100 points	19 points	19 points	19 points
N2	90 points	19 points	19 points	19 points
N3	95 points	19 points	19 points	19 points
Total possible	180 points	60 points	60 points	60 points

Level	Overall pass mark (180 points total)	Language knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar） / Reading	Listening
N4	90 points	38 points	19 points
N5	80 points	38 points	19 points
Total possible	180 points	120 points	60 points

Above tables from Japanese Language Proficiency Test.

Estimated Study Time

Study hour comparison data published by the Japanese Language Education Center:

JLPT Study Hour Comparison Data 2010-2015

Level	Students with kanji knowledge (e.g. speakers of Chinese or Korean)	Other students (no prior kanji knowledge)
N1	1700~2600 hours	3000~4800 hours
N2	1150~1800 hours	1600~2800 hours
N3	700~1100 hours	950~1700 hours
N4	400~700 hours	575~1000 hours
N5	250~450 hours	325~600 hours

Old test levels

In 2010, the test changed from four levels to five. Additionally, the criteria for passing the JLPT was changed, requiring a passing mark in all sections of the test, not just an overall passing mark. Some websites have not been updated to reflect this change, but the material on them for N5, N4, and N1 can be considered fairly reliable, since those tests are much the same as before.

Year	Equivalent levels
Past - 2009	Level 4	Level 3	Level 2		Level 1
	⬇	⬇	⬋ ⬊		⬇
2010 - present	N5	N4	N3	N2	N1

External links

• Official JLPT Website (in English)