The New Japanese-Language

Proficiency Test (JLPT)

 Contents

What sort of test is the JLPT?

4 key points of the new JLPT

New test FAQs

More questions?
 What sort of test is the JLPT?
• The test evaluates and certifies Japanese-
language proficiency of non-native speakers.
• It has over 20 years of history since its
establishment in 1984.
• The test has been jointly conducted by the
Japan Foundation and Japan Educational
Exchanges and Services (JEES).
 Why has the JLPT been revised?
・　 The number of Japanese-language learners has increased.
・　 Their reasons for learning and using the language have
become more diverse.

　
　

The old JLPT until 2009 was reviewed and revised.

It became the new JLPT from 2010.
 4 key points of the new JLPT

1. Increased focus on communicative competence

2. The number of levels was increased to 5;
examinees can select a more suitable level
3. The scoring method was revised to ensure
more accurate measurement of Japanese-
language proficiency
4. What you can do in Japanese is easily visualized
1 ． Increased focus on communicative
competence
Japanese-language proficiency
that the new JLPT measures
① Knowledge of the Japanese language:
How much an applicant knows about the Japanese language,
including vocabulary and grammar
② Competence:
How well an applicant makes use of language knowledge
in practical communication

Measured through 3 test sections

Language
LanguageKnowledge
Knowledge
(Vocabulary/Grammar) Reading
Reading Listening
Listening
(Vocabulary/Grammar)
2 ． The number of levels was increased to 5;
examinees can select a more suitable level
Summary of Linguistic Competence Required
Level
for Each Level
The ability to understand Japanese used in a variety of
N1
circumstances
The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday
N2 situations and in a variety of circumstances to a certain
degree
The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday
N3
situations to a certain degree
N4 The ability to understand basic Japanese
N5 The ability to understand some basic Japanese
Level Corresponding Levels of New and Old Tests

Approximately the same level as the old Level 1 test,

N1 but designed to measure slightly more advanced
abilities

N2 Approximately the same level as the old Level 2 test

N3 Positioned at a level bridging the old Level 2 and

Level 3 tests Newly established
N4 Approximately the same level as the old Level 3 test
N5 Approximately the same level as the old Level 4 test
３． The scoring method was revised to ensure
more accurate measurement of
Japanese-language proficiency
Old JLPT scores: Raw scores
Calculated by the number of correctly answered questions
New JLPT scores: Scaled scores
　 ・ The same competency is given the same number of points
in each test
　 ・ The same scale is always used to calculate scores for the
same-level test
＊ The highest degree of fairness can be
maintained,
as scaled scores never fluctuate based on the
difficulty level of tests
＊ Scaled scores can indicate an applicant's
proficiency more accurately than raw scores do
Example: A-san’s test results in raw scores and
scaled scores
A-san took N2 level tests in July as well as in December.
Below are his Listening test results.

N2 Listening July December Both

（More difficult numbers are
than July test)
the same, 10.

The number of correctly 10 10

answered questions out of out of
20 20 Not sure if
A-san’s
　 Score per item 　 X 　 Number of 2 x 10 2 x 10
listening
correctly answered questions ability
＝　 Raw scores ＝ 20 ＝ 20 improved.

Clear that
Scaled scores 20 25 A-san’s
listening
ability
improved.

※The data shown is only an example to explain the new JLPT scoring system,
not for actual score calculation.
4 ． What you can do in Japanese is easily
visualized
　 Japanese-Language Proficiency Test “Can-do” List
(tentative name) will be released by March 2011.

Sample

I can understand the general content when I hear

Listening announcements at school, work or public places.
I can speak in detail of my hopes and experience
Speaking at interviews such as for a job or part-time work.
I can understand the content of newspaper or
Reading magazine articles about topics I am interested in.
I can write letters or emails to express my
Writing emotions such as appreciation or apology.
With the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test
“Can-do” list,
Test result
　 JLPT ”Can-do” List
Passed “N?”

I see. Those who passed the

“N ?” test THOUGHT they could
do these activities with the
Japanese language in study,
work and daily life.

We can better understand the test results in terms of

practical Japanese-language use.
 New test FAQs
Q 　 How will the test sections and times change?
Level Test Sections and Test Times
Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) ・ Reading Listening
N1 110 min 60 min

Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) ・ Reading Listening

N2 105 min 50 min

Language Knowledge Language Knowledge (Grammar)

Listening
N3 (Vocabulary) ・ Reading
40 min
30 min 70 min
Language Knowledge Language Knowledge (Grammar)
Listening
N4 (Vocabulary) ・ Reading
35 min
30 min 60 min
Language Knowledge Language Knowledge (Grammar)
Listening
N5 (Vocabulary) ・ Reading
30 min
25 min 50 min
Q 　 How should I decide which test level to take?

A 　 - See the table “Summary of Linguistic

Competence Required for Each Level”
- See the table “Corresponding Levels of New
and Old Tests”
　　 - See the book “Nihongo Nouryoku Shiken
Mondairei-Shuu”
(New Japanese-Language Proficiency
Test Sample Questions) on our official
website
Q 　 How can I receive test results?
Level Scoring Sections Range of
Scores
Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) ０～ 60
N1 Reading ０～ 60
N2 Listening ０～ 60
N3 Total Score ０～ 180
N4 Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) ・ Reading ０～ 120
Listening ０～ 60
N5
Total Score ０～ 180
・ Scores are indicated by scaled scores.

・ Listening section proportion increased from 1:4 to 1:3.

 Corresponding Sections
In test In test results 　　
　　　　　
Level Test Sections Scoring Sections Range of
scores

Language Knowledge Language Knowledge 0~60

(Vocabulary/Grammar)
N1 (Vocabulary/Grammar) ・ Reading
Reading 0~60
N2
Listening Listening 0~60
Language Knowledge Language Knowledge 0~60
(Vocabulary) (Vocabulary/Grammar)

N3 Language Knowledge (Grammar)

・ Reading
Reading 0~60
Listening Listening 0~60
Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) Language Knowledge
N4 Language Knowledge (Grammar) (Vocabulary/Grammar) 0~120
・ Reading ・ Reading
N5
Listening Listening 0~60
 Q 　 How is pass or fail determined?
　 A 　・
You need to take all test sections.
　　　・ You need to fulfill both ① and ② below.

Old JLPT New JLPT

Total Score ①total score needs to be at or above the point
Level 1: more than 70 ％ required for passing
Level 2-4: more than ② score in each scoring section needs to be at or
60 ％ above the minimum point required for passing

・ Failure to exceed the minimum point for any scoring section will result in
a determination of fail for the entire test, even if your total score is above
the minimum acceptable total score.
・ Minimum acceptable scores for the total and for each scoring section will
be announced in September 2010 for N1, N2 and N3. For N4 and N5,
they will be announced in March 2011.
Q 　 Can I pass by studying the way I have been
doing? Should I change the way I study?

A ・ The way you have been studying will still work.

　　　・ Please note that the new JLPT places importance

　　　　 not only on knowledge of the Japanese language
　　　　 but also on competence in using the knowledge
in practical communication.

　　　・ Make use of “Mondairei-Shuu.”

These sample questions cover all question styles
at all levels, and they will help you prepare for the test.
 Q 　 When will the new test be held?

　 A 　・ Twice a year, in July and December.

　　　　 *Certain countries/areas will only offer the test
in December and not in July.

　　　・ In 2010, the test dates are July 4th and

December 5th.
　　　　　 *The July 2010 test includes N1, N2 and N3 only.
*From the December 2010 test onwards, all five
levels will be included.
　　　
Q 　 Where is the test administered outside
Japan ?

A 　 See “List of Overseas Test Site Cities and Local

Host Institutions” on our official website.

・ You can find cities and countries/areas offering

the test.
・ You can also see if local host institutions
offer the test in July and/or December.
 More Questions?

・ JLPT official website welcomes you! 　　

http://www.jlpt.jp/e/ 　
Lots of information, such as the JLPT Guidebook, sample
questions, Listening audio samples, FAQs and more are waiting
for you.
　
・　 Send your inquiries in Japanese or
English from the inquiry page of
the official website.
　　　　 *Inquiriesregarding the JLPT outside Japan only.
For inquiries on JLPT administration in Japan, please call JEES,
the JLPT administrator in Japan.