トップ
Japanese-Language Proficiency Test
(Test Guide)
(Candidate MUST read carefully before applying for the test)
  1. Objectives
    The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test is conducted both in Japan and outside Japan to evaluate and certify the language proficiency of primarily non-native speakers of Japanese since 1984. In 2011, there were as many as 610,000 applicants throughout the world.
    In 2009, the JLPT started to be offered twice a year in July and December, as opposed to only once a year in December previously.
    From 2010, the test increases the number of test levels from 4 to 5 (N1, N2, N3, N4, N5). (N1 is the advanced level)
  2. Organizers
    "Japan Educational Exchanges and Services" is the organizer inside Japan. Outside Japan, the "Japan Foundation" co-sponsors the administration of the test with local cultural exchange and/or educational institutions, or with administrative committees specially established for this purpose. "Society of Japanese Language Education Hong Kong" is the co-organize the test in Hong Kong & Macau.
  3. Test time and summary of Linguistic Competence Required for each level
    Level N1 and N2 have TWO test sections each: (1) Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) and Reading, and (2) Listening.
    N3, N4 and N5 have THREE test sections each: (1) Language Knowledge (Vocabulary), (2) Language Knowledge (Grammar) and Reading, and (3) Listening.
    Level Content Linguistic Competence Required
    Category Time
    (Min)

    N1

    		 Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar).Reading
    Listening
    Total
    110
    55
    165    		 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

    		 Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar).Reading
    Listening
    Total
    105
    50
    155    		 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

    		 Language Knowledge (Vocabulary)
    Language Knowledge (Grammar).Reading
    Listening
    Total
    30

    70
    40
    140    		 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

    		 Language Knowledge (Vocabulary)
    Language Knowledge (Grammar).Reading
    Listening
    Total
    25

    55
    35
    115    		 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

    		 Language Knowledge (Vocabulary)
    Language Knowledge (Grammar).Reading
    Listening
    Total
    20

    40
    30
    90    		 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.
    Please refer to official website for more details.
  4. Test results
    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
    Please refer to official website for more details.
  5. 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.
    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.

    Overall pass marks and sectional pass marks for N1 through N5 are shown in the tables below.
    Level Total Score 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 0~180 100 0~60 19 0~60 19 0~60 19
    N2 0~180 90 0~60 19 0~60 19 0~60 19
    N3 0~180 95 0~60 19 0~60 19 0~60 19

    Level Total Score 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 90 0~120 38 0~60 19
    N5 0~180 80 0~120 38 0~60 19

    Please refer to official website for more details.
  6. Application methods
    Please refer the details inside our web-site.
    Candidates must observe HKSAR/Macau SAR government’s latest epidemic prevention measures and the venue’s house rules during admission for the test. Candidate who fails to comply with such rules may be barred from entering the venue, in which case their application fees would not be refunded.
  7. Notes
    1. The test for N1, N2 and N3 will be conducted in the afternoon and test for N4 and N5 will be conducted in the morning. Candidate can sit for 2 tests of different levels in one day provided that the 2 tests are not conducted at the same time. Online enrolment for two tests that conducted at the same time is not acceptable. Please note that test venue of morning session and afternoon session may be different. Test duration (For reference only): N1-N3:1:25pm~5:30pm,　N4-N5:8:15am~12:00pm
    2. JLPT (Jul) candidates can check their results online in late August before applying for the JLPT (Dec).
    3. Test fee should be paid by specified methods.
    4. Candidate who intends to apply for 2 tests of different levels must fill in two separate forms and submit with two separate payment slip.
    5. Test Centers will be assigned to candidates through a computer allocation system. Requests for change of test centers will NOT be considered. Please note that test fees, once paid, are not refunded. Addresses of the test centers will be sent to candidates together with the Test Voucher.
    6. Announcements during the test will be made in Cantonese and supplemented with some Japanese.
    7. Since the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is conducted in various parts of the world on the same day, no supplementary test could be offered. Under exceptional circumstances beyond our control, such as typhoon signal, black rainstorm warning, act of nature, civil commotion...etc., the test must be cancelled. In this situation, candidates may opt to sit for the next test without re-enrollment or request refund of 50% of test fee paid. Our Society shall not be liable for any claim for loss due to such cancellation.
    8. If you require special arrangements in the examination due to physically challenged, you must contact our office before enrolment deadline at Tel: 2866-9991.
    9. Test fee once paid for a specific level is not refundable or transferrable nor can it be used for enrolment for change of test level. No subsequent request for change of test venue or test level will be entertained.
    10. We reserve the right to reject any applicant without giving reason. In case of any dispute, the Society reserves the right of final decision.
  8. Test Day
    1. For participating the test, you must bring the Test Voucher, medium-soft <No. 2 or HB> black-lead pencils, plastic eraser and the ID card/Passport which you used for applying this test. Only the above mentioned materials can be placed on the table.
    2. No admission into the Examination Hall is allowed 10 minutes after the start of the “Language Knowledge” examination. For the “Listening Examination”, no one is allowed to enter the Examination Hall once the question CD is set to run. Candidates who are absent from any section or early leave during the test will obtain no score in all sections.
    3. If you are unable to produce the Test Voucher when participating in the examination, a temporary Test Voucher could be issued on request at the test venue with a handling charge of HK$100.
    4. You are advised to bring your own watch (must be put on your wrist) as a reference to measure the time for the examination because no clock will be set inside the examination centers. Please note that time for the examination is measured according to the watch of the examination instructor. You are not allowed to use your mobile phone for timekeeping during the examination.
    5. There may be extra questions in the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test which do not count toward your score. These questions work in order that the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services are able to make test scores comparable across administrations or to determine how new questions function under actual test conditions.
    6. Candidate’s test result will be invalidated if candidate commits a misconduct. No score will be given and test fee is non-refundable.
      Your action or attempted action will be considered as misconduct if:
      1. your mobile phone or watch alarm sounds or vibrates during the test;
      2. you have provided others with your answers, obtained answers from other examinees, used a dictionary, textbook, reference book, crib sheet, or mobile phone, written answers in advance on your desk or writing equipment;
      3. you are found to have taken the test in someone else's place, or to have engaged someone to take the test on your behalf, or your identity could not be verified due to the use of a false ID or other such reason;
      4. you refuse to follow the proctor's instructions;
      5. you take the test papers and/or answer sheets outside the test center with you, take photos of the test papers and/or answer sheets, or take the test contents outside the test center by copying them or recording them;
      6. you have disturbed other examinees in any way;
      7. you share the test contents and answers, photos of the test papers/ or answer sheets, or audio content of the listening test via the Internet or any other means of communication with the third party, and vice versa;
      8. you cooperate with someone committing misconduct (2), (3), (5), (6) and/or (7).
      If you commit a misconduct during the test(from the beginning of distribution of question booklet until final checking of the answer sheet and question booklet by the proctor (all section)) , the proctor will order you to stop the test and leave the test center. You will not be able to take the rest of the test. If you commit any of these misconducts or if the Japan Foundation determines for any reason that there are doubts about the propriety of your score, the Japan Foundation reserves the right to re-administer the test, invalidate your test results (including those from past tests), refuse to notify you of your test result, and ban you from taking future Japanese-Language Proficiency Tests. If there is an inquiry about your performance from a company, school, organization or other entity when your past test results have been invalidated, the Japan Foundation will notify the corresponding company, school, organization or other entity that your results are invalid.
      The Japan Foundation will not be responsible for any damages suffered by the examinee nor any other type of claim made as a result of re-administering the test, your not being notified of your score, having your score invalidated, or being banned from ever taking the test again.
    7. More important notes about the exam will be sent together with test voucher to all candidates.
  9. How to fill in the Answer Sheet
    How to mark the answers   (Click here)
    How to mark each part   (N1, N2)  (N3, N4, N5)

  10. Notification of Test Results
    1. All examinees will be notified to collect their score report within a specific period at "Society of Japanese Language Education Hong Kong". Those examinees who successfully pass each level will also receive a proficiency certificate. Score reports and certificates will not be sent by post or delivered to examinees.
    2. Score sheet and certificate for Dec Test will be issued in coming mid-March. Score sheet and certificate for Jul Test will be issued in coming early October.
    3. The organizer-The Japan Foundation examine all the test papers carefully by checking them many times. Request for additional checking will not be accepted. The organizer will not respond to inquiries regarding test scores.
*The above information is subject to change. Please check back for updated information.
Please refer to the official website for more details about the test.
For enquiries, please contact us at 2866-9991 or via email [email protected]