The JLPT is this Sunday. Thousands of people will be traveling to take the test. I won’t be among them, but I do plan to take 1 kyuu one day. I passed 2 kyuu in 2000 and since being back in the States, I have had neither the desire to study as hard as I did while in Japan nor the desire to drive 8 hours to the nearest test city. (mostly the latter)

ABOUT THE TEST

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test tests your proficiency in the Japanese Language. (Wow! Now that was an original definition ) It is held once a year on the first Sunday in December. It is given throughout Japan and in some 40 other countries. For better or worse, the JLPT has become the standard for measuring Japanese ability for getting into Japanese universities, applying for Japanese related jobs and for general bragging rights.

You do not need to know how to write kanji—only read and know the pronunciations. (Unless this has changed since 2000!) The main sections include:

• Kanji & Vocabulary
• Listening
• Reading
• Grammar

Currently there are four levels; four being the easiest and one being the hardest (I know it seems backward). Level Four can be passed fairly easily with basic Japanese grammar and kanji. Level One requires advanced grammar and all 1945 Joyo kanji.

The following number of kanji and vocabulary requirements is based on the Wikipedia’s article. I will double check tomorrow with my JLPT Specifications Book.

I hear they may add a pre-1 level in the next few years. The English proficiency test is set up that way.

For more on the JLPT and to read my ‘testimony,’ see the JLPT page on TJP.
For more ‘official’ information see the Japan Foundation’s JLPT page.