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JLPT: the complete guide to the exam
The JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) is the world's most recognized Japanese certification. It has run since 1984 and is organized by the Japan Foundation together with JEES, with test sites in dozens of countries.
It has five levels, N5 up to N1, and it is entirely multiple choice: no writing, no speaking. This page explains how it works; from here you can reach the guide for each individual level.
What the JLPT measures (and what it doesn't)
It measures comprehension: vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening. It does not measure production — no essay, no interview. That is a known limitation: you can hold N2 and still feel clumsy speaking. Treat it as an objective measure of the Japanese you understand, not of the Japanese you can produce.
The five levels
N5 and N4 cover the basic Japanese of everyday life; N3 bridges towards real-world Japanese; N2 is the threshold employers and universities ask for; N1 opens up abstract, argumentative texts. You climb one at a time, but no level is a prerequisite for another: you can register directly for whichever you like.
How the scoring works
The total is always 180. At N5 and N4 it splits into two sections (language knowledge plus reading, 0–120; listening, 0–60); from N3 up into three sections of 0–60. Besides the overall pass mark there is a minimum in each section: one section below the line fails you even with a high total.
Why your score doesn't match your correct answers
The JLPT uses scaled scores rather than a raw count of correct answers: sessions are equated so that a slightly easier paper isn't worth more than a hard one. That is why two candidates with the same number of right answers in different sessions can end up with different scores.
When it is held and how to register
Twice a year, in July and December — but not everywhere: several countries only run the December session. Registration opens a few months earlier and seats at big test sites go fast. Your references are the official JLPT website and your country's Japanese cultural institute.
The five levels side by side
| Level | Kanji | Words | To pass | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | ≈ 100 | ≈ 800 | 80/180 | 90 min |
| N4 | ≈ 300 | ≈ 1,500 | 90/180 | 115 min |
| N3 | ≈ 650 | ≈ 3,750 | 95/180 | 140 min |
| N2 | ≈ 1,000 | ≈ 6,000 | 90/180 | 155 min |
| N1 | ≈ 2,000 | ≈ 10,000 | 100/180 | 165 min |
Kanji and word counts are estimates: since 2010 the JLPT no longer publishes official character or vocabulary lists. Test durations and pass marks, on the other hand, are official.
The guides, level by level
Prepare for the JLPT with Yukigo
Yukigo covers every level from N5 to N1 — kanji, grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening — with ordered lessons, spaced repetition, mock exams and an AI tutor for your questions. Free and ad-free.
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Frequently asked questions
Five: N5 (the easiest), N4, N3, N2 and N1 (the hardest). Until 2010 there were four; N3 was added to close the gap between the two middle levels.
Yes. No level is a prerequisite for another: you register directly for the one you want, and you can retake the same level as often as you like.
No, the result never expires. Some universities and employers may still ask for a result obtained within the last few years.
The fee varies by country and is set by whoever runs the local session. The exam is held in July and December, though several countries only offer December.
Choose by what you can read and hear, not by hours studied: take an official past paper for the level you have in mind and do the reading section against the clock. If you finish in time and follow the argument, that's your level.