The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT / 日本語能力試験) is widely used to describe Japanese reading and listening proficiency. Employers, universities, scholarship programmes and immigration routes each decide what evidence they accept, so a JLPT certificate is useful in many contexts but is not a universal requirement or guarantee.
This article preserves 2025 planning information for historical reference. Centres, dates, registration methods, fees and availability can change. Use the official JLPT overseas test-site list and the current local host notice before registering or paying.
JLPT is administered jointly by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES). It tests reading, listening, vocabulary, and grammar across five levels — N5 (easiest) to N1 (most advanced). There is no speaking or writing component, making focused preparation highly systematic.
JLPT does not publish official vocabulary or kanji lists for each level. The vocabulary and kanji figures below are common third-party study estimates, not official test specifications.
| Level | Study vocabulary estimate | Study kanji estimate | Duration | What You Can Do | Pass Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | ~800 | ~100 | 105 min | Basic daily expressions, read Hiragana/Katakana | 80/180 |
| N4 | ~1,500 | ~300 | 125 min | Basic Japanese in familiar everyday topics | 90/180 |
| N3 | ~3,700 | ~650 | 140 min | Everyday Japanese across a broader range of situations | 95/180 |
| N2 | ~6,000 | ~1,000 | 155 min | Japanese used in everyday situations and varied settings | 90/180 |
| N1 | ~10,000+ | ~2,000 | 170 min | Advanced comprehension across varied circumstances | 100/180 |
Choose a level from your present ability and the written requirement of the employer, university or programme you are applying to. Some Specified Skilled Worker (i) routes generally accept JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic as language evidence, subject to the current field-specific and immigration rules. MEXT, other scholarships and employers set their own criteria; do not assume one JLPT level automatically provides eligibility.
The 2025 dates and local-host links previously listed here are no longer registration guidance. Check the official overseas test-site list, follow the link for the city shown there, and confirm the session, level availability, deadline, identification rules, fee and refund policy on that host's current notice.
| Section | N5 | N4 | N3 | N2 | N1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language Knowledge + Reading | 50 min | 60 min | 70 min | 105 min | 110 min |
| Listening | 30 min | 35 min | 40 min | 50 min | 60 min |
| Passing threshold | 80/180 | 90/180 | 95/180 | 90/180 | 100/180 |
| Sectional minimum | 19/60 each | 19/60 each | 19/60 each | 19/60 each | 19/60 each |
Candidates must meet both the overall score and the applicable sectional thresholds. Practise every section and check the official scoring guidance for the level you plan to take.
These are sample planning blocks, not promised completion dates or pass outcomes. Adjust them to your current level, available study time and official test schedule.
Japanese and Hindi commonly use Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) sentence order. Some Hindi-speaking learners find that comparison helpful when first practising Japanese word order, although progress and exam results vary by learner, study time and prior experience. DIFL uses this comparison as one optional bridge in class. Call 9929-51 51 51 to ask about the next batch.