Japanese Language Proficiency Test
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The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (日本語能力試験 nihongo nōryoku shiken?), or JLPT, is a standardized test to evaluate and certify the language proficiency of non-native Japanese speakers. It is held once every year, on the first Sunday of December.
The JLPT has four levels beginning at level 4 and progressing to level 1 - the most difficult. The Japan Foundation estimates that level 4 is reached after approximately 150 hours of study and level 1 after approximately 900 hours of study.[1]
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[edit] History and statistics
The JLPT was first held in 1984 in response to growing demand for standardized Japanese language certification. Up until 2003, the JLPT was one of the requirements for foreigners entering Japanese University. Since 2003, the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) is used by most universities for this purpose. [2]
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. [3]
[edit] Administration
The JLPT is administered by Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) in Japan. Overseas, the Japan Foundation co-sponsors the administration of the test with local cultural exchange and/or educational institutions, or with committees specially established for this purpose. [4][5]
[edit] Content
The content of the test is determined by the Test Content Specification (出題基準 Shutsudai kijun?). The Test Content Specification was first published in 1994 and partially revised in 2002 and serves as a reference for examiners to compile test questions (rather than as a study guide for students). The JLPT student is therefore required to obtain past-exam papers or other publications that reference the Test Content Specification in order to determine what to study.
The test specification is written in Japanese and consists of kanji lists, expression lists, vocabulary lists and grammar lists for all four JLPT levels.
The JLPT exam does not require the examinee to write in Japanese, as all of the questions are multiple choice. The questions classified as writing involve choosing the correct word or grammar to complete a sentence, or choosing which kanji is used in a particular word.
| Level | Kanji | Vocabulary | Listening | Hours of Study | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | ~100 (103) | ~800 (728) | Basic | ~150 | 60% |
| 3 | ~300 (284) | ~1,500 (1409) | Intermediate | ~300 | |
| 2 | ~1000 (1023) | ~6,000 (5035) | High Level | ~600 | |
| 1 | ~2000 (1926) | ~10,000 (8009) | Sufficient for life in Japan | ~900 | 70% |
Numbers in brackets indicate the exact number in the current Test Content Specification (Revised Edition, 2004). Note that about 20% of the kanji, grammar or vocabulary in any one exam may not be in the prescribed lists and may be selected at the discretion of exam compilers. [6]
[edit] Exam sections
[edit] Part One: Characters (Kanji) and Vocabulary - 100 points
The first part of the exam has an average of between 35 and 45 questions that require knowledge of kanji characters and vocabulary. That is, identifying the right kanji character; selecting the correct katakana and hiragana reading; and choosing the most appropriate word for a given sentence.
[edit] Part Two: Listening Comprehension - 100 points
Consists of two sections. The first, involves identifying the correct picture from a selection of four, based on a given conversation. In section two, a conversation is also heard but four possible answers are given orally.
[edit] Part Three: Reading Comprehension and Grammar - 200 points
Approximately 20 to 30 questions regarding grammatical constructions, and 20 to 30 questions based on reading comprehension are given in Part Three. These may include fill-in-the-blank parts of a conversation and answering problems or paraphrasing.
[edit] Duration of answering time for each section
| Level | Kanji and Vocabulary | Listening Comprehension | Reading Comprehension and Grammar | Total |
| 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 |
[edit] Application procedure
An application form must be submitted during a particular time period - usually from early July to early September - along with a small fee. The fee is a fixed price for all examinees in Japan, while outside of Japan, fees are determined by the local host institution in consultation with the Japan Foundation. [7]
[edit] Results
All examinees receive a report including a breakdown of their score for each section of the test. Those who pass also receive a Certificate of Proficiency. Exams take several months to process, hence results are announced the following February for examinees in Japan, and March for overseas candidates. Test results are given to the examinee through the testing organization or centre to which they applied. [8]
[edit] Results of the 2005 JLPT
| Level | Examinees | Certified | % Certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32,605 | 12,999 | 39.9% |
| 2 | 17,496 | 7,432 | 42.5% |
| 3 | 8,652 | 5,495 | 63.5% |
| 4 | 2,704 | 1,984 | 73.4% |
| Level | Examinees | Certified | % Certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80,620 | 23,888 | 29.6% |
| 2 | 93,864 | 28,498 | 30.4% |
| 3 | 73,976 | 35,187 | 47.6% |
| 4 | 46,327 | 23,833 | 51.4% |
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ What is the JLPT like?. Japan Foundation. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ What is EJU?. Japan Student Services Organisation. Retrieved on May 30, 2006.
- ^ JEES Lv3&4, 2005, pages 88,99
- ^ Guidelines, page 1
- ^ JEES Lv 1&2, 2005, page 122
- ^ Test Content, Foreword
- ^ JEES Lv 1&2, 2005, page 122
- ^ JEES Lv 1&2, 2005, page 122
- ^ JEES Lv 1&2, 2005, page 124
[edit] References
- The Japan Foundation and Association of International Education, Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Test Content Specifications (Revised Edition), Japan, 2004. ISBN 4-89358-281-X
- JEES & The Japan Foundation, The 2004 Language Proficiency Test Level 3 and 4 Questions and Correct Answers, 2005. ISBN 4-89358-586-X
- JEES & The Japan Foundation, The 2005 Language Proficiency Test Level 1 and 2 Questions and Correct Answers, 2006. ISBN 4-89358-609-2
- [1] JEES & The Japan Foundation, The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (Guidelines), 2006
[edit] External links
- JEES Japanese Language Proficiency Test Homepage
- MLC School's Download Page Past JLPT Exam papers and related downloads
- JLPT Study Page Vocabulary, Kanji, Expression and Grammar lists for JLPT Levels 2,3 & 4
- JLPT CommunicationSquare The Japan Foundation's JLPT Page in English
