The Japanese language proficiency test (JLPT) is the number one proficiency test for non-native Japanese speakers. It covers general Japanese language knowledge, listening, and reading ability. The test is held in Japan and a few other countries in the world. It is done twice in a year, July and December.
Since its inception in 1984, it had only 4 levels, with n1 being the highest and n4 the lowest. But in 2009 to date, n5 was introduced, making it 5 levels. In the beginning, only 7,000 people sat for the test worldwide. In 2011, the number of examinees had skyrocketed to over 600,000 in over 60 countries. Recent studies show that there are over 3.66million people learning the Japanese language around the world. With the Japanese language being considered as one of the most difficult languages to learn, the number of its learners is always on the rise.
Benefits of JLPT
- An addition of JLPT certification will definitely look good on your CV. Even if you have written just n5, the fact that you have a certification can open you to more opportunities than you can imagine. You’ll be surprised at the kind of opportunities you are presented with when you are JLPT certified.
- When employing foreigners, most Japanese companies will prefer to employ someone who is JLPT certified than someone with other skills. They believe you have taken it upon you to develop your Japanese skills for easy communication, and that is the kind of drive they need. Although they prefer n2 and n1 certifications, n3 are also considered in some cases.
- If you intend to study in Japan or apply for a Japanese scholarship, then a JLPT certificate is important. Even though some universities in Japan do not request for JLPT when you apply for admissions, others consider it as an important criterion to consider you for admission.
- Migrating to Japan may not be as easy as you want it to be if you are not JLPT certified. Having an n1 or n2 certification will boost your qualifications for acquiring a visa.
- Preparing for the JLPT takes a lot of effort and time but develops your reading and comprehension skills. Since you will be cramming a lot, you will find out that you can comprehend a vast material even in a short time frame.
A detailed explanation of JLPT levels
N5 (basic level)
It is considered the easiest level of JLPT, and most people don’t bother sitting for it. They prefer to jump right to N4 since both have almost the same curriculum.
- Reading- you will be required to demonstrate a basic knowledge of sentences and expressions written in hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji.
- Listening- you should be able to listen and comprehend various conversations used on a daily basis, and understand the necessary information used in short conversations that are slowly spoken.
The total test time is 105 minutes, and you need to score at least 80 points to pass this level.
N4 (elementary level)
It requires that you understand some basic Japanese while N4 requires that you understand the entire basic Japanese.
- Reading- you should be able to understand various topics on basic conversations written in basic kanji and vocabulary.
- Listening- you will be expected to listen and comprehend basic conversations used on a daily basis. These conversations are said slowly but not as slow as in the N5 reading test.
The total test time is 125 minutes, and it requires at least 90 points to pass this level.
N3 (intermediate level)
This tests your ability to understand to some level, the Japanese used in day-to-day situations.
- Reading- you are required to be able to read and understand materials with contents about daily activities. You should be able to read out newspaper headlines as well as summaries. Also, it requires that you read and understand difficult writings and challenging phrases that are seen in everyday situations.
- Listening- you should be able to listen and understand conversations used in everyday lives, spoken at an average speed. You should be able to understand the contents of the conversation and infer the relationship between the speakers based on their choice of words and conversation style.
The total test time is 125 minutes, and it requires at least 95 points to pass this level.
N2 (pre-advanced level)
It tests your ability to understand the Japanese language used in everyday situations and various circumstances to some level.
- Reading- you should be able to read and understand contents written in magazines and newspaper commentaries, as well as articles. Also, you are required to read the narratives of general topics and understand the author’s intent.
- Listening- you should be able to understand news reports, as well as general conversations used in various settings, spoken in almost-natural speed. You need to also understand the points in the presented materials and the relationship among the people involved in the general conversation.
The total test time is 155 minutes, and it requires at least 90 points to pass this level.
N1 (advanced level)
It tests your ability to understand the Japanese language almost fluently.
- Reading- you should be able to read and understand abstract and complex writings from magazines or newspaper critiques and editorials. You are also required to understand the narratives as well as the intent of the writer
- Listening- you should have a near-native oral comprehension of the Japanese language spoken at varying speeds. You also need to understand the details of the conversations and the relationship between the people involved in the conversations.
The total test time is 170 minutes, and it requires at least 100 points to pass this level.
Tips for passing the JLPT
- Create a study routine with adequate study time.
- Learn to enjoy the learning and study process. Make it fun if it will help your memorization and retention.
- Get past questions and answer them. (go over them but don’t dwell too much on them because the idea is to prepare your mind on what to expect).
- Don’t just cram, read to understand.
- Watch YouTube videos and capitalize on the things you don’t know.
- Put your reading, listening, as well as comprehension skills to practice.
- Hire a tutor.