BHARATH INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

About JLPT Certification

What is the purpose of Jlpt?

The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) was developed to measure the proficiency level of non-native learners of Japanese. It is used by some companies and schools (especially schools in Japan) to determine an individual's Japanese language ability.

Levels in JLPT Certification:

The JLPT has five levels: N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5. The easiest level is N5 and the most difficult level is N1. N4 and N5 measure the level of understanding of basic Japanese mainly learned in class. N3 is intermediate level, clearing this level will help you get a Job both in INDIA and JAPAN and even in other foreign countries.

Objective and History

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has been offered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (formerly Association of International Education, Japan) since 1984 as a reliable means of evaluating and certifying the Japanese proficiency of non-native speakers. More number of examinees around the globe, making JLPT the largest-scale Japanese-language test in the world.

Over time, test applicants have become more diverse, and use of JLPT results has expanded from skill measurement to include employment screening and evaluation for promotions and pay raises as well as use as a form of qualification. Many outstanding suggestions for improvement were also submitted by a wide variety of individuals around the world.

Advantages of JLPT

JLPT certificates offer various advantages, ranging from recognition as academic credit and graduation certification at schools to preferential treatment at companies and acknowledgement of qualification in society.

1. Earn points for preferential treatment for immigration to Japan
2. One of requirements to take Japan's national exams for medical practitioners
3. One of requirements to take Japan's prefectural exams for assistant nurses
4. A test subject is waved on accreditation exam for completion of junior high school level education in Japan
5. One of requirements for the nurse/caregiver candidates

3 Main Key Characteristics

1.Measures communicative competence required to perform tasks

The JLPT places importance not only on (1) knowledge of Japanese-language vocabulary and grammar but also on the (2) ability to use the knowledge in actual communication. In order to perform various "everyday tasks" that require language, not only language knowledge but also the ability to actually use it are necessary. Therefore, the JLPT measures comprehensive Japanese-language communicative competence through three elements: "Language Knowledge" to measure (1), and "Reading" and "Listening" to measure (2).

Due to the large scale of testing, answers will be machine-scored. Note that the JLPT does not include sections to measure speaking or writing proficiency directly.

2.Select a suitable level from among five levels

The JLPT is offered in five levels (N1, N2, N3, N4, N5). In order to measure Japanese-language proficiency as thoroughly as possible, test items are designed for each level.N4 and N5 measure understanding of basic Japanese that is mainly learned in the classroom. N1 and N2 measure understanding of Japanese used in a broad range of actual everyday scenes. N3 bridges the gap between N4/N5 and N1/N2.

3.More accurately measures Japanese-language proficiency with scaled scores

Despite the best attempts to assure consistency, it is inevitable that the level of difficulty of the test will differ slightly from session to session. Using "raw scores" (based on the number of correct answers) could result in different test scores for individuals with the same ability, depending on the difficulty of tests. Instead of raw scores, the JLPT has adopted "scaled scores." Scaled scores are based on the equalization method and allow measurement on the same scale regardless of time the test is taken.Scaled scores enable the JLPT to more accurately and fairly indicate Japanese-language ability at the time of testing.

N1- N5 Summary of Liguistics Competence Required for each Level

The JLPT has five levels: N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5. The easiest level is N5 and the most difficult level is N1.

N4 and N5 measure the level of understanding of basic Japanese mainly learned in class. N1and N2 measure the level of understanding of Japanese used in a broad range of scenes in actual everyday life. N3 is a bridging level between N1/N2 and N4/N5.

Linguistic competence required for the JLPT is expressed in terms of language activities, such as Reading and Listening, as shown in the table below. While not noted in the table, Language Knowledge, such as Vocabulary and Grammar, is also required for successful execution of these activities.

Level	A summary of linguistic competence required for each level
N1	The ability to understand Japanese used in a variety of circumstances. Reading One is able to read writings with logical complexity and/or abstract writings on a variety of topics, such as newspaper editorials and critiques, and comprehend both their structures and contents. One is also able to read written materials with profound contents on various topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers comprehensively. Listening One is able to comprehend orally presented materials such as coherent conversations, news reports, and lectures, spoken at natural speed in a broad variety of settings, and is able to follow their ideas and comprehend their contents comprehensively. One is also able to understand the details of the presented materials such as the relationships among the people involved, the logical structures, and the essential points.
N2	The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations, and in a variety of circumstances to a certain degree. Reading One is able to read materials written clearly on a variety of topics, such as articles and commentaries in newspapers and magazines as well as simple critiques, and comprehend their contents. One is also able to read written materials on general topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers. Listening One is able to comprehend orally presented materials such as coherent conversations and news reports, spoken at nearly natural speed in everyday situations as well as in a variety of settings, and is able to follow their ideas and comprehend their contents. One is also able to understand the relationships among the people involved and the essential points of the presented materials.
N3	The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to a certain degree. Reading One is able to read and understand written materials with specific contents concerning everyday topics. One is also able to grasp summary information such as newspaper headlines. In addition, one is also able to read slightly difficult writings encountered in everyday situations and understand the main points of the content if some alternative phrases are available to aid one’s understanding. Listening One is able to listen and comprehend coherent conversations in everyday situations, spoken at near-natural speed, and is generally able to follow their contents as well as grasp the relationships among the people involved.
N4	The ability to understand basic Japanese. Reading One is able to read and understand passages on familiar daily topics written in basic vocabulary and kanji. Listening One is able to listen and comprehend conversations encountered in daily life and generally follow their contents, provided that they are spoken slowly.
N5	The ability to understand some basic Japanese.. Reading One is able to read and understand typical expressions and sentences written in hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji. Listening One is able to listen and comprehend conversations about topics regularly encountered in daily life and classroom situations, and is able to pick up necessary information from short conversations spoken slowly.

Composition of Test Sections and Items

Test sections and test times

Level	Test sections 〈Test time〉
N1	Language Knowledge(Vocabulary/Grammar) Reading 〈110min〉		Listening 〈60min〉
N2	Language Knowledge(Vocabulary/Grammar) Reading 〈105min〉		Listening 〈50min〉
N3	Language Knowledge(Vocabulary)〈30min〉	Language Knowledge(Grammar) Reading 〈70min〉	Listening 〈40min〉
N4	Language Knowledge(Vocabulary) 〈30min〉 Test time is 〈25min〉 from the test in 2020 (December).	Language Knowledge(Grammar) Reading 〈60min〉 Test time is 〈55min〉 from the test in 2020 (December)	Listening 〈35min〉 No change of test time
N5	Language Knowledge(Vocabulary) 〈25min〉 Test time is 〈20min〉 from the test in 2020 (December).	Language Knowledge(Grammar) Reading 〈50min〉 Test time is 〈40min〉 from the test in 2020 (December).	Listening 〈30min〉 No change of test time

Composition of test items

Questions in each test section are categorized into type of test items according to competence to be measured. Each test item type contains multiple questions. Purposes of test item types are determined for each level.

Test section		Type of test items	N1	N2	N3	N4	N5
Language Knowledge Reading	Vocabulary	Kanji reading	○	○	○	○	○
		Orthography	―	○	○	○	○
		Word formation	―	○	―	―	―
		Contextually-defined expressions	○	○	○	○	○
		Paraphrases	○	○	○	○	○
		Usage	○	○	○	○	―
	Grammar	Sentential grammar 1 (Selecting grammar form)	○	○	○	○	○
		Sentential grammar 2 (Sentence composition)	○	○	○	○	○
		Text grammar	○	○	○	○	○
	Reading	Comprehension (Short passages)	○	○	○	○	○
		Comprehension (Mid-size passages)	○	○	○	○	○
		Comprehension (Long passages)	○	―	○	―	―
		Integrated comprehension	○	○	―	―	―
		Thematic comprehension (Long passages)	○	○	―	―	―
		Information retrieval	○	○	○	○	○
Listening		Task-based comprehension	○	○	○	○	○
		Comprehension of key points	○	○	○	○	○
		Comprehension of general outline	○	○	○	―	―
		Verbal expressions	―	―	○	○	○
		Quick response	○	○	○	○	○
		Integrated comprehension	○	○	―	―	―

Scoring sections, Pass or Fail,Score Report

1. Scoring sections and range of scores for each level
2. Correspondence between test sections and scoring sections
3. Determination of pass/fail
4. Notification of test results
5. Understanding Score Reports

1.Scoring sections and range of scores for each level

Test results are given according to scoring sections in the table below. N1, N2 and N3 have three scoring sections: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)," "Reading" and "Listening." N4 and N5 have two scoring sections: "Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) ・Reading" and "Listening."

Level	Scoring sections	Range of scores
N1	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)	0～60
	Reading	0～60
	Listening	0～60
	Total score	0～180
N2	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)	0～60
	Reading	0～60
	Listening	0～60
	Total score	0～180
N3	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)	0～60
	Reading	0～60
	Listening	0～60
	Total score	0～180
N4	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) Reading	0～120
	Listening	0～60
	Total score	0～180
N5	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) ・Reading	0～120
	Listening	0～60
	Total score	0～180

2.Correspondence between test sections and scoring sections

Test sections in the test and scoring sections in the test results correspond as given in the table below.

In test			In test results
Level	Test sections		Scoring sections	Range of scores
N1 N2	Language Knowledge(Vocabulary/Grammar) Reading		Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)	0～60
			Reading	0～60
	Listening		Listening	0～60
N3	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary)		Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)	0～60
	Language Knowledge(Grammar)・Reading		Reading	0～60
	Listening		Listening	0～60
N4 N5	Language Knowledge(Vocabulary)		Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)・Reading	0～120
	Language Knowledge(Grammar)・Reading
	Listening		Listening	0～60

3.Determination of pass/fail

In order to pass, (1) total score needs to be at or above the point required for passing (overall pass mark) and (2) score in each scoring section needs to be at or above the minimum point required for passing (sectional pass mark). If there is even one scoring section where the score is below the sectional pass mark, examinees are determined to have failed, no matter how high the total score he/she might have.

Scoring sections of N1-N3 and N4-N5 are different. Overall pass marks and sectional pass marks for each level are shown in the table below.

Level	Total score		Scores by Scoring Sections
			Language Knowledge （Vocabulary/Grammar）		Reading		Listening
	Range of scores	Overall pass marks	Range of scores	Sectional pass marks	Range of scores	Sectional pass marks	Range of scores	Sectional pass marks
N1	0～180 points	100 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points
N2	0～180 points	90 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points
N3	0～180 points	95 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points

Level	Total score		Scores by Scoring Sections
			Language Knowledge （Vocabulary/Grammar） Reading		Listening
	Range of scores	Overall pass marks	Range of scores	Sectional pass marks	Range of scores	Sectional pass marks
N4	0～180 points	90 points	0～120 points	38 points	0～60 points	19 points
N5	0～180 points	80 points	0～120 points	38 points	0～60 points	19 points

※The above standards were adopted beginning with July test in 2010 (December test in 2010 with N4 and N5).

Examinees will be judged to have failed if they miss a test section. Although they will receive a Score Report, it will not show scores for any test section, including those that have been taken.

4.Notification of test results

All examinees in each level will receive a Score Report.

Successful examinees will receive a Certificate of Proficiency.

5. Understanding Score Reports

※If an examinee misses a required test section, scoring is not conducted and he/she is judged to have failed. The examinee will receive a Score Report※1 yet it does not show scores for any test section, including those that have been taken. Scores are shown as asterisks (for example **/60) in the score columns.