Preparing for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test

Preparing for the
Japanese Language Proficiency Test

Introduction | Official Sites | Tech Support
JLPT Study Sites | General Japanese Study Sites | Commercial Sites

Introduction

The Nihongo Nouryoku Shiken, or Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), is a widely-recognized test certifying the taker's Japanese language ability. The test consists of three sections: writing/vocabulary, listening, and reading/grammar. All questions are multiple-choice. It is offered just once a year in select cities around the world. The test is offered at four levels of difficulty:

Level 4	Requires knowledge of 800 words and 100 kanji. 150+ hours of study or completion of half an elementary course recommended.
Level 3	Requires knowledge of 1,500 words and 300 kanji. 300+ hours of study or completion of an elementary course recommended.
Level 2	Requires knowledge of 6,000 words and 1,000 kanji. 600+ hours of study or completion of an intermediate course recommended.
Level 1	Requires knowledge of 10,000 words and 2,000 kanji. 900+ hours of study recommended.

Official Sites

JLPT Communication Square: Official information on taking the JLPT. Has an in-depth FAQ, a list of locations where the test will be offered around the world, and a sampling of actual questions from previous years' tests in PDF form.
JEES Japanese Language Proficiency Test Home: Japan Educational Exchanges and Services website. Official information on taking the JLPT in Japan.
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles: Official information on taking the JLPT in the United States.

Tech Support

こんにちは！

If you see gibberish instead of Japanese text in the box above, go to the "View" menu, choose "Encoding" or "Character Coding," and try selecting Unicode or one of the Japanese options. If there aren't any Japanese options, see the links below for help viewing Japanese text in your browser.

Monash University ACCESS-J Japanese WWW Page Viewer: When you're using a computer that doesn't support Japanese text and you can't install any software to help, this online viewer works around the problem by replacing the text with images of Japanese characters. Crude and ugly, but a life-saver if you're using a borrowed computer.
Declan's Guide to Installing and Using Microsoft's Japanese IME: How to get your Windows 98/2000/XP computer to be able to display and write Japanese. The software is free from Microsoft; you don't have to buy anything from Declan.
Christopher Bolton's Japanese for your Mac: Macintoshes are generally very Japanese-friendly, but this page has some advice if you need it.

JLPT Study Sites

Japanese Language Proficiency Test Vocabulary Lists: Vocabulary lists for the JLPT, with each word linked to its definition.
Kanji-a-Day: Has lists of kanji and vocabulary for each level of the JLPT. You can select items to customize your own list of kanji and words that you need to study. Registration required (but it's free, painless, and worthwhile).
Mic-J AV Resources for Japanese Language Instruction: Listening-comprehension quizzes for levels 1-3 of the JLPT, complete with audio files (MP3 or QuickTime), images, answers, and scripts. From Tokyo Metropolitan University.
MLC (Meguro Language Center): Gauge your JLPT level with their level-check quizzes. They also have free PDF files of JLPT kanji, vocabulary, and grammar lists (untranslated) and general study materials. You don't need to fill in your personal information or buy their books.
Nihongo Kyouzai Toushokan (Japanese Teaching Materials Library) (JAPANESE ONLY): Has many sample grammar questions (with answers) for JLPT levels 1-3.

General Japanese Study Sites

Jim Breen's WWWJDIC Japanese-English Dictionary Server: More than just an excellent dictionary, the site also has a kanji/English dictionary and a text and website translator.
Tae Kim's Japanese Guide to Japanese Grammar: Don't worry, it's written in English, although you'll need to be able to read hiragana and some kanji (use POPjisyo, below, if you need help with the kanji). Has very good explanations and examples of fundamental points of Japanese grammar, arranged from most basic to most advanced.
POPjisyo.com: Put the URL of any Japanese web page into the box, press GO!, and POPjisyo will give you a popup containing the Japanese pronunciation and English definition of any Japanese word you hold your mouse over.
Giongo/Gitaigo: Nihongo o Tanoshimou! (JAPANESE ONLY): In-depth Japanese explanations and examples of giongo and gitaigo onomatopoeic words. This will be on the test! From the National Institute of Japanese Language.
A Select List of Japanese Language Study Sites: Compiled by Charles Kelly. Lots of good links.

Commercial Sites

Sasuga Japanese Bookstore: A US-based import bookstore with a section just for JLPT prep books.
Priceline: If you need to travel to another city to take the JLPT, Priceline lets you look for cheap airfare, hotel, and car rental rates.
STA Travel: More cheap travel. Aimed at students.

Created by Anne Sumire Hillier
Last updated November 2, 2005
Graphics by U*M factory (JAPANESE ONLY)