| The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (日本語能力試験, nihongo nōryoku shiken?), or JLPT, is a standardized criterion-referenced test to evaluate and certify the Japanese language proficiency of non-native speakers. It is held twice a year in East Asia and once a year in other regions.The JLPT has four levels, with Level 4 the most basic and Level 1 the most difficult. The Japan Foundation estimates that approximately 150 hours of study are necessary to pass the Level 4 exam and 900 hours of study are required to pass the Level 1 test,although the figures may be significantly higher for native English speakers. In 2008, the Japanese government announced a plan under consideration to use the JLPT to screen applicants for long-term and permanent resident visas.
History and statistics
The JLPT was first held in 1984 in response to growing demand for standardized Japanese language certification.Initially 7,000 people took the test. Until 2003, the JLPT was one of the requirements for foreigners entering Japanese universities. Since 2003, the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) is used by most universities for this purpose;unlike the JLPT, which is solely a multiple-choice exam, the EJU contains sections which require the examinee to write in Japanese.
In 2004, the JLPT was offered in 40 countries, including Japan. Of the 302,198 examinees in that year, 47% (around 140,000) were certified for their respective level.[8] The number of candidates continued to rise to 523,958 in 2007,[9] while the percentage of candidates certified has fallen below 36%.[10]
Administration
In Japan, the JLPT is administered by the Ministry of Education[11] through the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES). Overseas, the Japan Foundation co-proctors test administration with local cultural exchange and/or educational institutions, or with committees specially established for this purpose.
Format
All instructions on the test are written in Japanese, although their difficulty is adjusted to remain appropriate to each test level. The subject matter covered at each level of the examination is based upon the Test Content Specification (出題基準, Shutsudai kijun?), first published in 1994 and revised in 2004. This specification serves as a reference for examiners to compile test questions, rather than as a study guide for candidates. It consists of kanji lists, expression lists, vocabulary lists, and grammar lists for all four JLPT levels. However, about 20% of the kanji, vocabulary, and grammar in any one exam may be drawn from outside the prescribed lists at the discretion of exam compilers.
Test content summary Numbers in brackets indicate the exact number in the Test Content Specification, 2004 edition. Level Kanji Vocabulary Listening Hours of Study Pass Mark
4 ~100 (103) ~800 (728) Beginner 150 (estimated) 60%
3 ~300 (284) ~1,500 (1409) Basic 300 (estimated)
2 ~1000 (1023) ~6,000 (5035) Intermediate 600 (estimated)
1 ~2000 (1926) ~10,000 (8009) Advanced 900 (estimated) 70%
Test sections
The JLPT is divided into three sections: "Characters and Vocabulary" (100 points), "Listening Comprehension" (100 points), and "Reading Comprehension and Grammar" (200 points).
The first section (文字･語彙, moji, goi) tests knowledge of vocabulary and various aspects of the Japanese writing system. This includes identifying the correct kanji characters for given situations, selecting the correct hiragana readings for given kanji, choosing the appropriate terms for given sentences, and choosing the appropriate usage of given words.
The second section (聴解, chōkai) comprises two sub-sections that test listening comprehension. The first involves choosing the picture which best represents the situation presented by a prerecorded conversation. The second is of a similar format but presents no visual cues.
Section three (読解･文法, dokkai, bunpō) uses authentic or semi-authentic reading passages of various lengths to test reading comprehension. Questions include prompts to fill in blank parts of the text and requests to paraphrase key points. Grammar questions request that examinees select the correct grammar structure to convey a given point or test conjugations and postpositional particle agreement.
Exam duration Level Kanji and
Vocabulary Listening
Comprehension Reading Comprehension
and Grammar Total Duration
4 25 min 25 min 50 min 100 min
3 35 min 35 min 70 min 140 min
2 35 min 40 min 70 min 145 min
1 45 min 45 min 90 min 180 min
Results are announced the following February for examinees in Japan, and March for overseas candidates. Test results are sent to the examinees through the testing organization or centre to which they applied.[16] All examinees receive a report indicating their scores by section. Those who pass also receive a Certificate of Proficiency.
Results of the 2007 JLPT in Japan[10] Level Applicants Examinees Certified % Certified
1 47,761 42,923 14,338 33.4%
2 34,782 31,805 11,884 37.4%
3 16,808 15,710 8,664 55.1%
4 3,908 3,383 2,332 68.9%
Results of the 2007 JLPT overseas Level Applicants Examinees Certified % Certified
1 135,616 110,937 28,550 25.7%
2 186,226 152,198 40,975 26.9%
3 143,252 113,526 53,806 47.4%
4 64,127 53,476 27,767 51.9%
Results of the 2008 JLPT in Japan Level Applicants Examinees Certified % Certified
1 52,992 46,953 18,454 39.3%
2 41,924 38,040 16,289 42.8%
3 22,016 20,351 13,304 65.4%
4 4,524 3,903 2,765 70.8%
Results of the 2008 JLPT overseas Level Applicants Examinees Certified % Certified
1 138,131 116,271 38,988 33.5%
2 187,482 157,142 58,124 37.0%
3 147,435 120,569 69,605 57.7%
4 65,877 55,828 31,227 55.9%
Revised test
A revised test pattern, originally scheduled to be implemented from December 2009, has been postponed until 2010. The revised test will consist of five levels: N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5, with N1 being the highest level and N5 the easiest.
N1: the same passing level as the original level 1, but able to gauge slightly more advanced skills, possibly through equating of test scores
N2: the same as the original level 2
N3: in between the original level 2 and level 3
N4: the same as the original level 3
N5: the same as the original level 4
The revised test will continue to test the same categories as the original, but the first and third sections of the test will be combined into a single section.[18] Sections on oral and writing skills will not be introduced.
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