If you’re a student of Japanese language and culture, then there’s a high chance that you’ve heard of JLPT. It’s that big Japanese-language test that measures your ability to listen, speak, and effectively communicate thoughts and ideas in the language. The JLPT N1 is the hardest level of the test, and passing it is no simple task. The level of dedication one must express in order to prepare may seem overbearing to some. But it’s not impossible by any stretch.
How many hours of study do you need in order to prepare for JLPT N1? The answer to this question depends on the individual and their past experience with kanji. Students with prior understanding of kanji (speakers of Korean or Chinese) typically need 1700-2600 hours of study. Students with no prior kanji knowledge will need a heftier 3000-4800 hours of study.
Everyone with an interest in JLPT comes from different backgrounds with varying levels of knowledge in Japanese. Whether you’re a beginner who is only now learning the word “kanji” or a seasoned student with JLPT N2 certification, there is a place for you to start towards the goal of passing JLPT N1. Whatever category you find yourself in, the following paragraphs will give you an idea of how many hours you’ll spend studying, and what those hours will be filled with.
Are There Official Study Hours for JLPT N1?
JLPT comes in five levels of difficulty. From easiest to hardest, the levels are N5, N4, N3, N2, and N1. N4 and N5 measure a student’s understanding of basic Japanese that is mainly taught in a classroom. N1 and N2 measure understanding of Japanese that is used in a wide array of everyday encounters. N3 acts as the bridge between the easy levels and the hard levels. Every level, while structured similarly, requires its own level of understanding, and a certain amount of study hours to prepare for.
Is there an official listing of hours needed o study for JLPT N1? Currently, that answer is no. Before 2008, Japan Educational Exchanges and Services did, in fact, have a published study hour guide that came with every JLPT application. Here is a list that came with an old test book from 2007:
- JLPT Level 1 (N1): over 900 hours of study
- JLPT Level 2 (N2): over 600 hours of study
- JLPT Level 3 (N3): over 300 hours of study
- JLPT Level 4 (N4): over 150 hours of study
This list has since then disappeared. Though no official reason has been stated as to why the study hours are no longer listed, there are a few particularly good assumptions that we can make. It is generally assumed that the above list referred to classroom hours, and not independent study.
A few factors to consider when estimating the required study time can vary between each individual. These factors include, but are not limited to:
- Individual learning styles: Each and every person is unique and retains information differently. Individuals who take JLPT N1 have ranged from children to seniors. There’s no restriction as to who can take the test, and “readiness” is subjective from case to case.
- Prior knowledge: You do not need to have taken JLPT N5-N2 prior to taking JLPT N1. If you’ve never taken JLPT before, then there is nothing to stop you from going straight to JLPT N1. Some people begin their studies at a beginner level and start with JLPT N5. Others have prior knowledge and begin their studies at the JLPT N2 skill level, requiring fewer hours of study to reach the N1 level.
- Understanding of Kanji: One cannot hope to pass JLPT N1 without a suburb understanding of kanji. Your knowledge of kanji is going to depend based on what part of the world you grew up in. Beginner students from China or Korea will have a broader knowledge of kanji than that of a beginning American student. You’ll need to factor this into your studies, and it has a direct effect on your required amount of study hours.
The Japanese Language Education Center is a service that lists numerous Japanese language schools in Japan. They have their own list of recommended study hours for each level of JLPT. As with the previous list, this one has no explanation as to how these numbers came about, but it’s generally trusted to represent accurate figures. The needed hours of study for each level re as follows:
- JLPT Level 4 (N4): about 250 to 400 hours of recommended study
- JLPT Level 3 (N3): about 500 to 750 hours of recommended study
- JLPT Level 2 (N2): about 1400 to 2000 hours of recommended study
- JLPT Level 1 (N1): about 3100 to 4500 hours of recommended study
Something to keep in mind about the above list is that it describes the average study times for students who have no prior knowledge of kanji. For Asian students, or students who have studied Chinese in the past, these study times will be significantly less.
The above lists, and others that you can find around the web, do not detail how many of the stated hours are to be spent in the classroom, and how many of them are homework or self-study hours. Some people prefer to take classes, while many choose to self-teach using online resources.
No matter which method you choose or what your preferred learning style is, though, you’re bound to find that your final study hour count for JLPT N1 will stretch across several years. This, of course, depends on how many hours per day you commit to studying.
How Many Hours Are Needed for Each JLPT N1 Topic?
JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is exactly what the title suggests. It’s a test that examines and certifies the proficiency of Japanese in non-native speakers. Placing importance on the knowledge of Japanese-language vocabulary and grammar, the test evaluates the tester’s ability in actual communication.
Splitting your time and committing specific hours of study to certain topics covered on the test is a good way to approach study. JLPT N1 measures an individual’s ability to comprehend Japanese that is used in an assortment of circumstances. There are two main components to the test: reading and listening. An individual’s linguistic competence is measured through vocabulary and grammar by testing language comprehension and the successful execution of that knowledge. Here is a summary of competence individuals must display for JLPT N1:
- Reading: Successful individuals with JLPT N1 certification can read complex and/or abstract writings with logical complexity that covers a variety of topics, such as newspaper editorials and critiques. They can understand both the structure and content of these materials. They can also read items written with profound content on a variety of topics while following their narratives, as well as understanding the intent of the writers comprehensively.
- Listening: Successful individuals with JLPT N1 certificationcan comprehend orally presented materials, including lectures, news reports, and coherent conversations, all spoken at natural speed in a wide variety of settings. They can follow the ideas and comprehend their contents comprehensively. They also understand nuanced details within each presented material, such as the relationships between everyone involved, the essential points, and all logical structures.
What Topics Are Covered in JLPT N1?
We’ve looked at the general number of hours you’ll spend studying for JLPT N1, but what exactly do you need to study, and how many hours should you spend on each subject? As with everything, the answer to this depends entirely on each individual, but the topics covered in JLPT N1 are grammar, vocabulary, kanji, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension. The following list describes what students planning to take JLPT N1 will need to know:
- 2136 Kanji Characters: By the time an individual has reached JLPT N1 level, they’ll know all 2136 joyo kanji characters. It can take native Japanese individuals their entire high school career to reach this level, while most non-native learners never get this far, despite years of study. But committed individuals can reach this level in 90 days with proper discipline.
- 10,000 Vocabulary Terms: Those who attain JLPT N1 certification are fluent in Japanese, can participate effectively in any conversation. They need to have 10,000 Japanese vocabulary words committed to knowledge. This means much more than general day-to-day conversation. With 10,000 words, an individual understands words used in specialized or administrative documents.
- 400 Grammar Rules: This is usually the most difficult element to overcome when learning Japanese. Native English speakers already have a challenging time with our own grammar rules, but it’s an entirely different story with another, non-romantic based language. With Japanese, the ruleset is entirely different from English, and an individual will need to have over 400 grammar rules committed to memory if they’re going after JLPT N1.
Those figures may seem frightening at first glance, but you can organize your hours of study in a way that effectively targets each area covered in JLPT N1. We’d like to spend the rest of this article sharing resources that have been effective study tools for people who have attained JLPT N1 certification. Let’s face it, if you’re reading this, then no matter where you are in the study process, you most likely have more than 1000 hours to go before passing JLPT N1 even begins to feel attainable.
Before we begin, we’d like to state that this entire article should serve only as a guideline. There is no sure way to track an exact count for the required hours of study because every individual learns differently. We will provide general examples that you can frame your personal learning off of, and upon receiving your JLPT N1 certification at the end of the line, your total study hours logged will vary greatly between the others who took the test at the same time as you.
Number of Hours Needed to Learn Kanji
In extreme cases, certain individuals have committed to learning kanji in just 90 days! We don’t expect you to follow suit, but let’s take a look at some of the math involved. 2136 kanji dispersed across 90 days means that you’re learning 24 new kanji every day! This isn’t just simple memorization. You need to commit the kanji to your own knowledge in a way that you won’t forget as you go on learning new kanji every single day.
The amount of time you spend each day will vary between every individual. It might be slow starting out, but let’s use an example and say it takes you three hours every day to learn 24 kanji. At the end of the 90 days, you’ll have spent 270 hours learning! Keep in mind that this figure only reflects the time you spent initially learning the kanji. This is only the beginning.
You need to retain this information and be able to use a vast combination of it at a moment’s notice in order to pass JLPT N1. Your 270 hours spent learning all 2136 kanji characters might be suitable for JLPT N5, but if you’re gunning for JLPT N1, then it’s only the first stepping-stone. As with all things in learning, this takes practice, practice, and even more practice! Here are some excellent resources to fill the time spent learning kanji:
- Kanji in Context Complete Set: This set is designed for the advanced learner in mind. JLPT N1 is not a test for beginners, and this collection aims to educate those beyond the basics. It covers all 2136 kanji and contains an on-kun index, a form index, a stroke index, and even a vocabulary index. With two volumes, it’ll be easy to organize your learning on a day-by-day basis. Once you get the hang of your routine, you should be able to pinpoint the number of hours you will take to learn all material in the book.
- Anki: Think of Anki as your digital set of smart flashcards. You can download it as an app for whatever device you’re reading this very article on. It uses “spaced repetition” to help you commit kanji to retainable knowledge. It will automatically schedule re-exposures to particular cards based on how difficult they are for you and won’t let you forget kanji you’ve already learned. Setting an allotted amount of time per on studying day will make your total study hours seem more manageable.
Number of Hours Needed to Learn Japanese Vocabulary & Grammar
This is another completely subjective variable. You can find articles that boast hacks that will enable you to learn 1000+ Japanese words per week. But even in these extreme cases, you still need to know katakana and hiragana, which are entirely different matters to cover for another article.
The fact is, even if you learn and retain all 10,000 vocabulary words present in JLPT N1 in under 100 hours, you still need to be able to organize them all using proper grammar. JLPT N1 expects you to effectively communicate advanced ideas in conversation spoken at a normal pace, after all.
The JLPT N1 testing process only lasts 170 minutes. You won’t have time to think back on your studies. The hours you spend studying must be represented through retainable knowledge available in an instant. The following books are good for JLPT N1 prep, and can serve as a guide for mapping out an estimated number for hours you’ll spend studying:
- 3000 Essential Vocabulary for the JLPT N1: Don’t be fooled by the title. This book covers more than 3000 terms. Each word covered will present its part of speech, an English and Chinese translation, and a Japanese example sentence; this makes it easy to chart and predict progress, helping you understand how many hours it will take to learn all the terms.
- Nihongo Power Drill N1 Vocabulary: This book makes it very easy to estimate the total amount of hours you’ll spend studying. It contains 30 lessons that can be completed in 10 minutes each. It’s designed with the same style as JLPT, so you can familiarize yourself with the testing format while learning the material.
Conclusion
Remember: there is no certain number of hours needed to spend studying for JLPT N1. Every posted guide is conflicting, and it’s all dependent upon the individual’s prior knowledge, and commitment to the craft. JLPT N1 is one of the hardest Japanese-language tests in the world, and it would be wise to anticipate thousands of hours spent studying.
Whether you’re a beginner looking at an estimated 4500+ of study, or a student with prior knowledge anticipating 900 hours of study, your mission is JLPT N1. Once you find your recommended study tools, it’s completely up to you how you want to disperse those study hours. Japanese is considered to be one of the hardest languages to learn, but once you set up your plan, the only thing left for you to do is to start spending those study hours!
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