What is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test?
This is an examination for people who do not speak Japanese as their native language.
In Japan, the Japan Association for the Support of International Education and the Japan Foundation are conducting this program with the cooperation of local organizations overseas.
Implementation date
July and December every year (Please note that the class and venue held vary depending on the country.)）
Application procedures
1. Examination guide (with application form) – It is sold for 500 yen at major bookstores nationwide.
2. Examination fee: 5,500 yen (tax included)
Judgment of pass or fail
The overall score and the reference point of the score division are two points to make a pass or fail judgment.The reference point is the score that requires at least this for each scoring category.If even one goal in the scoring category does not reach the reference point, no matter how high the overall score is, it will fail.The purpose of establishing a standard for each score category is to comprehensively evaluate the learner’s Japanese ability.
Announcement of results, etc.
1. The pass or fail is determined for each class, and all examinees will be notified by the pass/fail result notification.
2. Successful applicants will receive a Japanese language proficiency certificate for each class.
3. Students who have taken the entrance examination in an overseas city where the Japan Study Abroad Examination has not been conducted and wish to study at a Japanese university, junior college, or vocational school will be notified through the Japan Association for International Education Support only if there is an inquiry from a university or school.
4. If there is an inquiry from a Japanese language education institution (a maintenance member of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education) who is taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test overseas and wishes to enter a Japanese language education institution in Japan, the Japan Foundation will notify you of the results through the Japan Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education.
What’s in the exam?
There are three types of each class: “letters and vocabulary”, “listening comprehension”, and “reading comprehension and grammar”.The composition of the examination and the criteria for classification are as follows:
N1 (1st grade level)
| By Species | Time | Distribution point |
| Language knowledge (characters, vocabulary, grammar) | 110 min | 0 to 60 |
| Reading comprehension | 60 Minutes | 0 to 60 |
| Listening | 0 to 60 |
N1 Certification Standards
It is possible to understand the Japanese used in a wide range of situations.
It is possible to understand the composition and content of sentences by reading logically complex sentences and highly abstract sentences, such as editorials and commentaries of newspapers written on a wide range of topics.
It is possible to read reading materials with depth in the content of various topics, and understand the flow of the story and the intention of detailed expression.
・You can listen to natural, speeded conversations, news, and lectures at a wide range of situations, and understand the flow and content of the story, the logical composition of the relationships and contents of the characters, and grasp the gist.
N2 (2nd grade level)
| By Species | Time | Distribution point |
| Language knowledge (letters, vocabulary, grammar) | 105 min | 0 to 60 |
| Reading comprehension | 50 minutes | 0 to 60 |
| Listening | 0 to 60 |
N2 Certification Standards
In addition to understanding Japanese used in everyday situations, you can understand Japanese used in a wider range of situations to some extent.
It is possible to understand the content of sentences by reading clear sentences such as articles and explanations of newspapers and magazines written on a wide range of topics, plain criticism, etc.
It is possible to understand the flow of the story and the intention of expression by reading the reading material about a general topic.
In addition to everyday situations, it is possible to listen to cohesive conversations and news at a speed close to nature, understand the flow and content of the story, the relationship between the characters, and grasp the gist.
N3 (semi-second level)
| By Species | Time | Distribution point |
| Language knowledge (letters, vocabulary, grammar) | 30 minutes | 0 to 60 |
| Reading comprehension | 70 mins | 0 to 60 |
| Listening | 40 minutes | 0 to 60 |
N3 Certification Standards
It is possible to understand the Japanese used in the everyday scene to some extent.
It is possible to read and understand sentences that represent specific content written about everyday topics.
You can get an overview of the information from newspaper headlines, etc.
Sentences with a slightly higher degree of difficulty to see in everyday situations, if given a paraphrase expression, it is possible to understand the gist.
In everyday situations, you can listen to a conversation with a sense of speed that is a little close to nature, and you can almost understand the specific content of the story together with the relationship of the characters.
N4 (3rd grade level)
| By Species | Time | Distribution point |
| Language knowledge (letters, vocabulary, grammar) | 30 minutes | 0 to 60 |
| Reading comprehension | 60 Minutes | 0 to 60 |
| Listening | 35 mins | 0 to 60 |
N4 Certification Standards
You can understand basic Japanese, and yo
u can read and understand sentences on familiar topics in everyday life written using basic vocabulary and kanji.
If it is a conversation that is spoken a little slowly in everyday situations, the contents can be almost understood.
N5 (4th grade level)
| By Species | Time | Distribution point |
| Language knowledge (letters, vocabulary, grammar) | 25 min | 0 to 60 |
| Reading comprehension | 50 minutes | 0 to 60 |
| Listening | 30 minutes | 0 to 60 |
N5 Certification Criteria
You can understand basic Japanese by rea
ding and understanding typical words, sentences, and sentences written in hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji used in daily life.
・In classrooms, personal situations, and other situations that you often meet in your daily life, you can listen to the necessary information if it is a short conversation that is spoken slowly.