The JLPT Thread

[saladesu]

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has been offered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (formerly Association of International Education, Japan) since 1984 as a reliable means of evaluating and certifying the Japanese proficiency of non-native speakers.

The JLPT has five levels: N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5. The easiest level is N5 and the most difficult level is N1.
N1 difficult ←→ easy N5

N4 and N5 measure the level of understanding of basic Japanese mainly learned in class. N1and N2 measure the level of understanding of Japanese used in a broad range of scenes in actual everyday life. N3 is a bridging level between N1/N2 and N4/N5.

Linguistic competence required for the JLPT is expressed in terms of language activities, such as Reading and Listening, as shown in the table below. While not noted in the table, Language Knowledge, such as Vocabulary and Grammar, is also required for successful execution of these activities.

official website

This thread is for everything about the JLPT test - questions, tips, experiences...

[aegon-rokudo]

Hello,
I'm going to do the japanese proficency test level N4 the 5 of december. Someone in this forum knows a site where I can download materials for the exams?(past test, mp3 files ecc).
Someone already did the test? Does he have any tips to share?

[Dancing wind]

JLPT N4 is the old JLPT 3. So you just need to google materials for that one. Example: http://www.jlptstudy.com/N4/index.html
Good luck.

[saladesu]

Is anyone intending to take the test this year? Did anyone take the new "syllabus" (N_) last year? What was it like and was it what you expected?

The last time I took a JLPT was 2-kyuu in 2009 ("old" syllabus). I think I've gotten pretty rusty as I don't get to use a lot of the 2-kyuu words very much in "daily life" and manga translating I'm considering taking the N2 this year to see just how rusty I've gotten JLPT-wise.

[benelori]

I can help people who want to do the N5...I did 4 kyuu the last year the old system was still running...so if anybody needs any help with that I can deliver...