The Five Levels at a Glance
The JLPT runs from N5, the easiest, to N1, the hardest — numbered in reverse. All five levels are scored out of 180, and all require a minimum score in every scoring section, so you cannot pass by being strong in one area.
About these numbers
The JLPT does not publish official word or kanji lists, and it does not publish study-hour requirements. These figures are the standard planning estimates used across textbooks and schools — useful for deciding when to book, not as a syllabus.
N5 and N4: The Foundations
N5 — basic Japanese
Hiragana, katakana, about a hundred kanji, and the grammar needed for introductions, shopping and simple daily exchanges. Classroom Japanese at the end of a first term.
N4 — everyday basics
Roughly three times the vocabulary of N5, basic verb forms, and the ability to follow short conversations about familiar topics. The jump from N5 to N4 is mostly volume; the grammar itself is still beginner-level.
Both levels are sat in three sections of 60 points. N4 and N5 combine vocabulary and reading into a single scoring section, so the sectional minimums are 38 and 19.
N3: The Real Divide
N3 is where the exam stops feeling like a textbook and starts feeling like Japanese. Passages get longer, conversations speed up, and vocabulary roughly doubles from N4. It is the level most learners underestimate, because the number on the scale (one step up) understates the size of the step.
N2: Where Employers Start
N2 is the level most often named in job adverts and university admissions. It certifies that you can read newspaper articles and follow coherent conversation on a wide range of topics, including work contexts.
The distance from N3 to N2 is larger than from N4 to N3. Vocabulary nearly doubles again, and reading begins to include opinion and argument rather than description.
N1: Adult Register
N1 is not simply "more N2". It tests abstraction: editorials, essays and lectures where the answer depends on what the author implies. For most learners it is the result of years of exposure rather than a single study push.
Which Level Should You Take?
Choose the level where you can already score around 60 to 70 per cent on a mock, then give yourself one study cycle to close the gap. Sitting a level far above your current ability wastes a test fee and four months of motivation.
The two-cycle rule
For most learners, one level every six to twelve months is a sustainable pace. Trying to skip a level rarely works above N4, because the jump compounds vocabulary, kanji and listening speed at once.
Study Plans for Each Level
Start with the N5 plan if you are new, move to the N4 plan, then the N3 plan. For the upper levels, read the N2 guide and the N1 guide.
FAQ
Is N5 or N1 the hardest?
N1 is the hardest and N5 the easiest; the levels are numbered in reverse. Each step up roughly doubles the vocabulary requirement, and the jump from N3 to N2 is the largest in the series.
How long does it take to go from N5 to N1?
For a learner starting from zero without kanji background, roughly 2,000 to 3,000 hours in total — typically three to five years at a steady pace. Learners with Chinese character knowledge progress considerably faster.
Can I skip a level?
You can sit any level directly, and many learners skip N5. Skipping N4 to N3 or N3 to N2 is riskier, because the missing vocabulary and grammar resurface in reading and listening.
Which level do I need to work in Japan?
N2 is the level most commonly named in job requirements and by vocational programmes. N1 widens options further, particularly where you read documents written for native readers.
Do the JLPT levels expire?
Certificates do not expire, but some employers, schools and visa routes ask for a result obtained within a certain period. Check the requirement of whoever is receiving the certificate.