Japanese-Language Proficiency Test

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Certificate awarded for passing the JLPT N1 exam in 2010

The Japanese- Language Proficiency Test ( JLPT , Japanese 日本語 能力 試 験 nihongo nōryoku shiken ) is a standardized test to test the knowledge of the Japanese language for non-native speakers, mainly in the area of ​​reading and listening comprehension. It was developed and implemented by the Japan Foundation in 1984 to provide participants with an assessment basis for their listening and reading comprehension of the Japanese language. Until 2003 also a requirement for foreigners to enroll at Japanese universities, the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU, examination for the admission of foreign students to Japanese universities ) must now be taken.

Exam location

The test is held annually on the first Sunday in December both in and outside of Japan. In some countries, the test is also held on the first Sunday in July. In German-speaking countries, it can be taken at the Japanese Cultural Institute in Cologne together with the Düsseldorf Adult Education Center , the Stuttgart Adult Education Center and the Center for Language and Culture of Japan at the Humboldt University in Berlin ; since 2005 also at the adult education center in Bern and since 2010 at the University of Hamburg . It is recognized by around 12,000 educational institutions worldwide. In 2006 the JLPT took place in 47 countries. Of the 437,360 candidates (533,189 registrations), 196,749, i.e. 45.0 percent, passed.

Exam content

The test has been carried out in five different levels of difficulty (also known as level, Japanese 級 kyū ) since 2010 , with level N5 (Japanese 5 級 gokyū ) being the easiest and level N1 (Japanese 1 級 ikkyū ) the most difficult. The N stands for “New” and “Nihongo”. This new division served to bridge the large gap between the previous levels 2 and 3. Levels N1 and N2 are divided into 2 parts, vocabulary / grammar knowledge / reading comprehension and listening comprehension. Levels N3 to N5 are further divided into 3 parts, vocabulary, grammar knowledge / reading comprehension and listening comprehension . It is neither spoken nor written. Cultural and historical aspects are not taken into account in this test. The JLPT assessment does not provide for grades.

Level Parts time Points Content Participants - Success Rate (2011 July)
N1 Speech comprehension / reading
comprehension
Total listening comprehension		 110 min
60 min
170 min 		120
60
180 		2,000 Kanji
10,000 vocabulary
In Japan: 22,782 28.7%
Abroad: 76,991 26.7%
Total: 99,773 27.1%
N2 Speech comprehension / reading
comprehension
Total listening comprehension		 105 min
50 min
155 min 		120
60
180 		1,000 Kanji
6,000 vocabulary
In Japan: 17,957 50.4%
Abroad: 79,716 37.9%
Total: 97,673 40.2%
N3 Vocabulary
grammar / reading
comprehension listening comprehension
total 		30 min
70 min
40 min
140 min 		60
60
60
180 		650 Kanji
3,000 words
In Japan: 5,211 48.2%
Abroad: 29,507 44.8%
Total: 34,718 45.3%
N4 Vocabulary
grammar / reading
comprehension listening comprehension
total 		30 min
60 min
35 min
125 min 		60
60
60
180 		320 Kanji
1,500 words
In Japan: 3,358 42.6%
Abroad: 15,453 37.5%
Total: 18,811 38.5%
N5 Vocabulary
grammar / reading
comprehension listening comprehension
total 		25 min
50 min
30 min
105 min 		60
60
60
180 		120 Kanji
800 vocabulary
In Japan: 649 71.5%
Abroad: 10,510 58.1%
Total: 11,159 58.9%

If the tests are passed, the participants receive an official certificate from The Japan Foundation , which is awarded centrally. It can take until March of the following year for all participants to receive their certificates.

Necessary study hours

Necessary learning hours to pass:

(Comparative data from 2010 to 2015)
Level Students with knowledge of Kanji

(e.g. Chinese or Korean)

Other students

(without knowledge of Kanji)

N1 1700-2600 hours 3000-4800 hours
N2 1150-1800 hours 1600-2800 hours
N3 700–1100 hours 950–1700 hours
N4 400-700 hours 575-1000 hours
N5 250-450 hours 325-600 hours

fees

For all levels there are currently examination fees of 60 euros each.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Figures from the Japan Foundation homepage .
  2. ↑ http://www.jlpt.jp/e/ Status 2010.
  3. ↑ As of 2005.
  4. ^ Past Test Data - Data of the test in 2011 (July). The Japan Foundation, accessed January 22, 2012 .
  5. ↑ Necessary learning hours to pass (comparative data from 2010 to 2015) . The Japan Language Education Center. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  6. ↑ http://iaaw.hu-berlin.de/japan/jlpt/anmeldung

Web links