JLPT TUTOR – Page 399 – How to Prepare for JLPT

Knowing your score will be one of your main concerns once you begin to prepare for the JLPT. There are five main categories of JLPT – N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5. It takes approximately 16 hours to complete the JLPT from level N5 to level N1. The goal of this article is to break down the scores you need to get to pass the JLPT at each level. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is the standard test used for evaluating the knowledge of a Japanese learner. It is the Japanese equivalent of TOEFL or IELTS. This Japanese language test comes in 5 different levels – N5, N4, N3, N2, and N1. The JLPT N1 is the highest and toughest level of this Japanese test whereas N5 is the lowest and easiest level. Lots of Japanese usually fail to get the 50% mark required for passing the JLPT N1. Due to its toughness, it is usually rumored that most native Japanese will not be able to pass JLPT N1. However, this is not true. According to an experiment, most native Japanese speakers will pass the JLPT N1. Of course, the majority of them will never be able to get 100% in the test as it involves lots of difficult questions, but they will likely get more than 50% in the test. Even a lot of junior high school kids will pass JLPT N1 without much stress. As expected, typical college or special school students and highly educated people will likely perform better than other individuals such as businesspeople. Nevertheless, most native Japanese speakers will pass the JLPT N1 in flying colors. Is JLPT N1 difficult? Knowing your score will be one of your main concerns once you begin to prepare for the JLPT. There are five main categories of JLPT – N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5. It takes approximately 16 hours to complete the JLPT from level N5 to level N1. The goal of this article is to break down the scores you need to get to pass the JLPT at each level. To be candid, taking and passing JLPT N1 requires lots of effort, time, and other resources. You are expected to know as much as 2,500 kanji characters, about 6,000 grammar points, and 10,000 vocabulary words. As a result of the challenges involved, several individuals are often afraid of taking this test. Therefore, you may start wondering whether N1 is worth the stress or not. The level of N1 essentially means that you are fluent in Japanese, both written and spoken. While this may be extremely difficult to achieve, someone at this level should have absolutely no issues conducting daily life in Japan. Testing at this level is also a great certification to have if looking for any jobs seeking Japanese language proficiency. Reading at the N1 level implies that even topics of complexity can be understood and responded to. Writing, as well, is expected to be at this level. One could write their own articles or even books if they so choose. Listening at this level means being able to track almost all daily conversation and other spoken forms. A key difference between the N2 and N1 level is being able to comprehend and actively respond to complex spoken ideas. In addition, details should be noted and understood more so than all other levels. Do You Need JLPT to Work in Japan? People with different goals and goals that require different things will tell you different things. You’ll hear everything from “JLPT certification is useless, and should not even be pursued,” to “JLPT certification is crucial for foreigners hoping to land a top-level job in the country.” Three main categories can be identified: People who do not need JLPT certificationPeople who can benefit from JLPT certificationPeople who must attain JLPT certification It can be difficult to figure out where you fit into the above categories; it is not necessarily black and white. The truth is this: the same job could theoretically be filled by three candidates, one from each category. Individual circumstances and insinuating circumstances are determining factors. We will discuss situations in which a passing JLPT is required later in the article. People Who Do Not Need JLPT Certification It is highly likely that you already understand the Japanese language well if you are going to work in Japan without JLPT certification. You do not need physical certification for certain jobs, as I mentioned previously. A language level that is tested only looks at how well you communicate and understand. Are there any jobs in Japan that don’t require any kind of Japanese language competency? For this category, you’ll want to look for jobs that teach Japanese natives languages like English. Certain programs, like the Jet Program USA, specialize in hiring United States residents to live in Japan for some time and assist in teaching English. Positions in this program do not require the applicant to have JLPT certification or any prior knowledge of the Japanese language for that matter. You will need a bachelor’s degree at the time of the program start, though. You simply apply and go through the guided program. Keep in mind that this kind of work is not the same as the kind of work JLPT certificate holders can attain. You get a limited visa and are bound to the strict rules of the program. Outside of tourism and limited foreign language teaching jobs, there is not much that one can do in Japan without JLPT certification or the knowledge it verifies. In the next section, we’ll talk about people who can benefit from certification, but don’t necessarily need it. People Who Can Benefit from JLPT Certification Before tackling this category, we’d like to specify what JLPT certification is not. It is not a golden ticket that guarantees you a job in your desired field. It is simply a measuring tool that many companies use to determine your level of Japanese language competency. Around 58% of jobs listed on Daijob.com state that the applicant is required to speak “fluent” Japanese. 39% of the listings say that their applicants should speak “business level” Japanese. JLPT certification acts as verification of these requirements. It will simply grant you access to the job interview. As we mentioned above, you need to put in thousands upon thousands of hours of study just to prepare for JLPT N2 or N1 effectively. Certification in either test reflects all of those hard hours, and employers will greatly appreciate that. They look for driven individuals, and certification alone speaks volumes about the one who holds it. Not to mention, it equips you to communicate in Japanese at a business level, and that is a major factor every employer cannot ignore. There have been cases where a job listing stated that the applicant “must have N2 or N1 certification in order to be considered for the job,” and after applying and successfully being hired for the job, realized that their JLPT certification was never verified. This is because, in a lot of cases, companies don’t care if you’ve actually passed the test or not. They just want to know that you can pass the test. Remember, JLPT is a language competency test that measures your ability to comprehend and read the language. It does not test your speaking skills, and it does not test your writing skills. Saying that you’ve passed JLPT N2 or N1 on your resume can serve as a key phrase that lets companies know that you’re a committed individual. They may not specifically ask to see your certification, but they will certainly find out if you are, in fact, fluent in the language and familiar with the culture. Whether your JLPT certification will be verified or not is up to the employer. It’s always a good idea to be ready to prove your certification just in case they ask for it. In every case, though, being able to communicate in the language is more important than the certification itself. That being said, there are certain cases where JLPT certification is absolutely mandatory. People Who Must Attain JLPT Certification We’ve talked about cases where JLPT certification is not needed at all, and cases where having it will certainly benefit. But now, we’re going to talk about those special cases where JLPT N1 certification is mandatory. In most cases, those in the medical field need JLPT N1 certification before they can even apply to take Japan’s national exam for medical practitioners. However, other fields require certification as a part of the application. Here is a rundown of jobs with mandatory JLPT certification: DentistsNursesPharmacistsPublic Health NursesMidwivesRadiology TechnologistsDental HygienistsDental TechniciansClinical Laboratory TechniciansPhysical TherapistsOccupational TherapistsOrthoptistsClinical EngineersProsthetistsEmergency Medical TechniciansSpeech TherapistsVeterinarians (Source: NSC) Japan has an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Under this agreement, Indonesian and Filipino nurse/caregiver candidates must have a JLPT certificate of N5 or higher. Vietnamese candidates need JLPT N3 certification or higher. What are the benefits of taking JLPT? JLPT is an exam that measures a non-native’s competency and comprehension to speak and use the Japanese language in everyday life. JLPT certification proves that you’ve mastered the basics and are comfortable functioning in day-to-day life. The test is split into five difficulty levels: N5, N4, N3, N2, and N1. N5-N3 are the easier tests of the bunch and do not offer any type of certification that grants access to employment opportunities. N2-N1, on the other hand, are difficult tests that measure full fluency. Passing one of these tests gives you the certification that can garner special benefits. Deciding whether to attain JLPT N2 or N1 certification is entirely up to the individual. N1 is the hardest level and proves absolute mastery and fluency in the Japanese language.N2 is still very hard to attain, but if you’re going up against someone with N1 certification for one of the benefits we’ll describe soon, then you’ll have a clear disadvantage. Even if you’re more fluent than the N1 certificate holder, the “N1” title alone distinguishes them above the rest. N2 certification is still valuable, but if you have time before going to Japan, it never hurts to reach for N1 certification. Something that people like to do with their JLPT certificates is using them as wall decorations; this can be compared to framing high school diplomas or college degrees. This is okay because if you’re applying for something that requires JLPT certification, you won’t send the certificate itself. There’s an important document you obtain that contains a “passed notification.” This document includes a unique serial number that JLPT test givers issue, and it uniquely identifies you. When including JLPT certification on your resume, you’ll want to include these serial numbers. What Does a JLPT Certificate Prove? Moving forward, we’ll distinguish JLPT N2 certification from JLPT N1 certification as it applies. Overall, JLPT is one big test that measures your language skill, no matter what level you’re at. Beginners often start with JLPT N5-N3 as a benchmark for their personal growth and in preparation for N2-N1. The following table illustrates the basics of what an individual must know to gain JLPT certification at any level: Test DifficultyStudy HoursKanjiVocabularyGrammarN550 – 100 hours103 Kanji Characters681 Vocabulary Terms40 Grammar RulesN4100 – 150 hours300 Kanji Characters1500 Vocabulary Terms90 Grammar RulesN3500 – 750 hours350 Kanji Characters3750 Vocabulary Terms150 Grammar RulesN21400 – 2000 hours1000 Kanji Characters6000 Vocabulary Terms250 Grammar RulesN13100 – 4500 hours2136 Kanji Characters10,000 Vocabulary Terms400 Grammar Rules As you can see above, JLPT certification proves that an individual has spent thousands of hours learning thousands of kanji, vocabulary terms, and hundreds of grammar rules. Gaining JLPT certification displays incredible commitment. But what can you use it for? Immediate Benefits of JLPT Certification If you have your sights set on immigrating to Japan, then there’s a high chance that you’ve heard of their “Points-based Preferential Immigration Control and Residency Management Treatment for Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals.”Japan introduced this system on May 7th, 2012; this is what they use to promote the entry of highly skilled foreign professionals, as it favors skilled individuals on a ranked “point” system. There are three categories that can classify a highly skilled professional: Advanced Academic Research Activities: This category covers activities that engage in research, research guidance, and/or education based on contracts that are entered into with public or private organizations in Japan.Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities: This category covers activities of work engagement requiring specialized knowledge or skills in fields of natural sciences or humanities that are based on contracts entered into with public or private organizations in Japan.Advanced Business Management Activities: This category covers activities that engage in operations or the management of public or private organizations in Japan. (Source: Immi-Moj) An individual attains points set to each item based on academic background, professional career, annual salary, and other things of the like. If an individual’s points reach 70, then they gain priority in preferential immigration control and residency management (Immi-Moj). This is great, but you may be wondering what this all has to do with JLPT certification. Attaining JLPT certification will garner you points towards this system. JLPT N2 certification earns an individual 10 points, and JLPT N1 certification earns 15 points. Japan looks for individuals who can “bring innovation to Japanese industries and promote the positive development of specialized and technical labor markets via friendly competition with Japanese people while increasing the efficiency of the Japanese labor markets” (LOC). In other words, they want team players who can help flourish alongside Japanese natives. JLPT certification proves a command in the language and an understanding of the culture, so individuals who hold it are more likely to chart high in the system. The following list shows the benefits of Japan’s “Highly Skilled Professionals”: Granted permission for numerous activities“5 years” period of stay grantedRequirements for permanent residence are easedSpouse of Highly Skilled Professional granted permission to work in the countryUnder certain conditions, the parents of Highly Skilled Professionals are permitted to accompany them under certain conditionsDomestic workers granted permission to accompany Highly Skilled Professionals to Japan under certain circumstancesThe entry of the country and residence procedures receive preferential processing (Source: NLECFI) Usually, foreigners seeking Japanese citizenship are required to take a Japanese language accreditation exam that shows proficiency in at least a junior high school level in Japan. Holders of JLPT N2 or N1 certification have this entire test waived, as those tests cover more than what you’ll find on the exam. What JLPT Certification Says About You There’s a reason that having JLPT certification waives certain accreditation exams. Employers and schools alike don’t want to worry about students who are not fluent in the language. Your JLPT certification acts as proof that you understand Japanese at a level that allows you to work and co-exist with Japanese natives in a constructive way. What does JLPT certification say about you? The answer to this question depends upon which level of JLPT you are certified in. As stated above, anything below N2 certification will not garner superb results, but it’s still a good thing to have if that is your current level. JLPT certification at any level shows commitment to the learning of the language and promises that you are on your way to learning.