What is JLPT, why you should take and how to pass the test successfully

Have you ever heard of JLPT? What does N5, N4, N3, N2, N1 mean?

In this article I’ll talk all about JLPT, the only exam you need to take if you want your Japanese level to be certified and work or study at a university in Japan.

🔴 What’s JLPT

It stands for Japanese Language Proficiency Test, an official test certifying your Japanese language knowledge.

🟠 How is structured

JLPT is divided into 5 levels: N5, N4, N3, N2, N1.

N5 is the easiest, and N1 is the hardest.

First, you decide which level to get, then register for it.

(image via Japan Foundation)

As you can see, depending on the level you take, the exam structure differs a little, but the test covers:

✅ Vocabulary

✅ Grammar

✅ Reading

✅ Listening.

There’s no conversation🤯 Also, all questions are multiple-choice, so you won’t need to write short paragraphs or essays.

That doesn’t sound so scary anymore, right?🥳

❓Why you should take it

If you’re a person who struggles with motivation, registering for the test could be a great way to push yourself. Not only would you get so much better at Japanese, but you would also get a certificate recognized worldwide.

Also, it’s required to enter Japanese universities and many jobs in Japan. The required level depends on the job and the university, but if you plan to move to Japan and enter university or have a job, I suggest you aim for N3 or N2, which is even better. N2 level is the conversation level spoken in daily life, so N2 should be your ultimate goal, but if you’re not living in Japan, N3 is enough.

📆 When and where is held

You can register for the JLPT 2 times a year, in July and December. Test day is usually the first Sunday of July and the first Sunday of December.

But some countries do it only once per year.

Usually, you would register months in advance and then take the test on the official date.

Every country has its dedicated center, so I recommend you visit the JLPT official site (https://www.jlpt.jp/e/index.html), search for the country where you want to take the test and search for the city and institution.

On the institution’s website, you can see whether registrations are open.

👩🏻‍🏫 How to pass it successfully

In my courses, JLPT N5, N4, and N3 (stay tuned for the advanced ones), I will teach you all the tips and tricks to pass the exam successfully.

If you take my course, you’ll become an expert on how the JLPT works, and you will recognize many patterns that this exam has!

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫