About the Test
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (nihongo nÅryoku shiken), or JLPT, is a standardized test to evaluate and certify the language proficiency of non-native Japanese speakers. It is held once every year, on the first Sunday of December. The JLPT has four levels beginning at level 4 and progressing to level 1 - the most difficult. The Japan Foundation estimates that level 4 is reached after approximately 150 hours of study and level 1 after approximately 900 hours of study.
To study for the JLPT visit our resources page or go to StudyJapanese.org to drill the vocabulary and kanji.
The Test Specification
The content of the test is determined by the Test Content Specification. The Test Content Specification was first published in 1994 and partially revised in 2002 and serves as a reference for examiners to compile test questions (rather than as a study guide for students). The JLPT student is therefore required to obtain past-exam papers or other publications that reference the Test Content Specification in order to determine what to study.
The test specification is written in Japanese and consists of kanji lists, expression lists, vocabulary lists and grammar lists for all four JLPT levels.
The JLPT exam does not require the examinee to write in Japanese, as all of the questions are multiple choice. The questions classified as writing involve choosing the correct word or grammar to complete a sentence, or choosing which kanji is used in a particular word.
Test content and requirements summary
| Level | Kanji | Vocabulary | Listening | Hours of Study | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | ~100 (103) | ~800 (728) | Beginner | ~150 | 60% |
| 3 | ~300 (284) | ~1,500 (1409) | Basic | ~300 | 60% |
| 2 | ~1000 (1023) | ~6,000 (5035) | Intermediate | ~600 | 60% |
| 1 | ~2000 (1926) | ~10,000 (8009) | Advanced | ~900 | 70% |
Exam sections
- Part One: Characters (Kanji) and Vocabulary - 100 points The first part of the exam has an average of between 35 and 45 questions that require knowledge of kanji characters and vocabulary. That is, identifying the right kanji character; selecting the correct katakana and hiragana reading; and choosing the most appropriate word for a given sentence.
- Part Two: Listening Comprehension - 100 points Consists of two sections. The first, involves identifying the correct picture from a selection of four, based on a given conversation. In section two, a conversation is also heard but four possible answers are given orally.
- Part Three: Reading Comprehension and Grammar - 200 points Approximately 20 to 30 questions regarding grammatical constructions, and 20 to 30 questions based on reading comprehension are given in Part Three. These may include fill-in-the-blank parts of a conversation and answering problems or paraphrasing.
Duration of answering time for each section
| Level | Kanji and Vocabulary | Listening Comprehension | Reading Comprehension and Grammar | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 25 min | 25 min | 50 min | 100 min |
| 3 | 35 min | 35 min | 70 min | 140 min |
| 2 | 35 min | 40 min | 70 min | 145 min |
| 1 | 45 min | 45 min | 90 min | 180 min |
* This information was taken from Wikipedia, published under the GNU Free Documentation License.