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JLPT N5
What N5 certifies
The ability to understand some basic Japanese.
- Reading: read and understand typical expressions and sentences written in hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji.
- Listening: comprehend conversations about topics regularly encountered in daily life and classroom situations; pick up necessary information from short conversations spoken slowly.
N5 measures basic Japanese "mainly learned in class". It is the easiest level.
Test structure
| Test section | Time |
|---|---|
| Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) | 20 min |
| Language Knowledge (Grammar)・Reading | 40 min |
| Listening | 30 min |
| Total | 90 min |
Scoring and pass mark
- Scoring sections: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)・Reading (0–120) + Listening (0–60) = 0–180 total.
- Pass: total ≥ 80 points AND Language Knowledge・Reading ≥ 38 AND Listening ≥ 19.
Item types at this level
- Vocabulary (4 types): Kanji reading; Orthography (kanji AND katakana for hiragana words); Contextually-defined expressions; Paraphrases. No Usage, no Word formation.
- Grammar (3 types): Sentential grammar 1 (selecting grammar form); Sentential grammar 2 (sentence composition); Text grammar.
- Reading (3 types): Short passages (≈80 characters — easy text on study, everyday life, work); Mid-size passages (≈250 characters); Information retrieval (≈250 characters, e.g. notices).
- Listening (4 types): Task-based comprehension; Comprehension of key points; Verbal expressions (with illustrations); Quick response.
Question counts (approximate, official composition)
Counts are the official guideline per sitting (小問数); the actual number varies slightly. The 2018 Official Practice Workbook confirms Vocabulary = 35 (items numbered 1–35 continuously: Kanji reading 12, Orthography 8, Contextually-defined expressions 10, Paraphrases 5) and Reading = 13.
- Vocabulary (35): Kanji reading 12; Orthography (kanji/katakana) 8; Contextually-defined expressions 10; Paraphrases 5.
- Grammar (22): Sentential grammar 1 — 12; Sentential grammar 2 — 5; Text grammar — 5.
- Reading (13): Short passages 4; Mid-size passages 4; Information retrieval 5.
- Listening (24): Task-based comprehension 7; Comprehension of key points 6; Verbal expressions 5; Quick response 6.
Practical notes
- All test content uses hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji — readings are often given for kanji in this level's materials.
- Time changes: Vocabulary and Grammar・Reading times were shortened from the December 2020 test (previously 25/50 min).
- Prep: official sample questions and the Official Practice Workbook (Vol.1/Vol.2) cover this level.