If you have ever taken or heard about the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) before, you would have known that there are 5 levels of the test (N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5). In general, the JLPT N5 is regarded as the easiest level to pass. It is the first level that most Japanese learners will take as they are trying to improve their understanding of the Japanese language.
But how hard is JLPT N5? Without mincing words, many learners often pass the JLPT N5 at the first attempt as the test level is relatively easy to pass. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can just stroll into the test venue and pass without studying. In fact, lots of people have equally failed N5 on the first try. This is usually because many of them assumed that it would be easy to pass and, therefore, didn’t prepare enough for it. So, despite how easy it is to pass the JLPT N5, you must prepare adequately for it.
Of course, the goal of taking any test or exam is to pass it. So, as you are preparing for N5, you must be focused on what you need to do to pass. According to some Japanese language tutors and students, you will need to dedicate about 100 hours of study to pass this test. However, such 100 hours of study may not work for students without previous familiarity with Japanese or other related languages.
Factually, if you are relatively unfamiliar with the language, you may need to spend more hours studying to pass the test. It has been estimated that you will need to spend around 250 to 500 hours studying Japanese if you want to pass the JLPT N5. By the end of these hours of study, you will not just be able to take N5, but you should also be good enough to have a decent conversation in the Japanese language.
Overall, if you can study intensely, you may be ready to take the test after learning for 3 or 4 months. But if you are learning leisurely, you may need about 6 months or more to prepare for the JLPT N5.
What is the essence of taking N5?
When talking about how hard N5 is, some people may advise you to skip the test because it is too easy and may not have any benefit. Truthfully, taking and passing the JLPT N5 is not beneficial to your stay, work, or travel in Japanese in any tangible way. Firstly, it is not enough to get any reasonable employment opportunities, school admissions, etc. Secondly, it only helps you to know little Japanese; hence, the application of N5 is minimal. These two factors are the reasons many people believe that N5 is too easy.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that taking N5 is entirely useless. Foremost, it shows your commitment to learning the Japanese language. In fact, it can serve as a stepping stone for you to become an expert in the language as you proceed to the higher levels of the test. Furthermore, this level of the test can help you to learn what you need to have a basic conversation in Japanese. So, whether you are meeting someone, describing your day, or shopping for a new product, N5 can help you.
Also, taking N5 can serve as a motivation that you need to take other levels of this proficiency test. Therefore, N5 should be the first level of the JLPT that you will take.
What you need to pass the JLPT N5
If you intend to pass the JLPT N5, there are some important things you need. These include:
The JLPT N5 has lots of everyday Japanese grammar. This is why the level can help you to hold basic conversations in the Japanese language. The grammar will also include past and non-past tenses. Similarly, it will show you casual or polite ways to use verbs in the Japanese language.
Although there is no official list of the grammar points that will be used in N5, the points are usually covered by most classes and books. This is because the grammar points in the test in the past 10 years are relatively similar.
- Kanji and vocabulary
Kanji characters are some of the most difficult things to learn in the Japanese language. Luckily, the JLPT N5 doesn’t have lots of kanji characters. You just need to master about 100 kanji characters to be able to pass the test. By learning kanji, you will be introduced to numerous Japanese vocabularies that can help you to boost your knowledge of the language. It should be noted that you will not write any Japanese words during the test.
- Reading and listening
Reading and listening are the remaining parts of the exam you need to pass. While both reading and listening sections of N5 are not hard, you may still struggle with them if you don’t have any previous understanding of Japanese. However, if you can study regularly, it is possible to pass these parts of the test.
From the points above, you will agree that the JLPT N5 is not hard to pass, especially if you have prepared enough for the test. Given this, you need to get some important resources that can assist you to pass the test in flying colors. A few of these resources are:
- Genki I – this book covers many of the things you need to pass N5. Thankfully, it is easily available in different parts of the world.
- WaniKani – this resource is good for covering the basics of kanji for N5.
- Anki or Memrise – these resources can help you to prepare as you prepare for the test.
- Japanese101.com – this learning website will show the things you need to master the basics of Japanese.
There are also podcasts and online libraries that you can explore for N5.
Conclusively, N5 is not too hard as long as you are ready to study extensively for the test.